Core/Compulsory courses refer to courses  required by a degree programme and listed explicitly among the programme of study requirement. Core or compulsory courses are  essential for all students within a specific major or field of study.

Course and credit load refers to the number of courses a student is required to take based on their enrolment status and academic standing.

Credit refers to a unit of study counting towards a degree or diploma. Undergraduate courses in the Faculty normally carry a weighting of three (3) credits. A number of courses, however, carry a weighting of six (6) credits.

Credit hours earned refers to the credits for each course that count toward the degree requirement and for which a passing grade is obtained.

Electives are courses that students select based on their personal interests and academic goals, as opposed to core/ compulsory courses mandated by their degree programme.

Electives (Departmental)  are courses specified by a student's department, typically by discipline and level. For example, the requirement may call for “two Level III Psychology electives”.

Electives (Free) refers to courses that students can choose from any department or discipline within the University, provided they meet the necessary prerequisites and level requirements.

English Language Proficiency Test is used to assess whether persons applying to pursue studies at the UWI possess satisfactory level of writing and reading proficiency in English for university academic purposes.

Exemption (with credit) refers to cases where a student is granted exemption from UWI courses because the student has already passed courses in other programmes at the UWI or passed courses of similar content at other recognized institutions. Students are not required to take replacement courses. Click here for Exemption Regulations.

Exemption (without credit) refers to cases where a student is granted exemption from UWI courses because he/she has already passed equivalent courses at another recognized institution or from other examination bodies. Students granted exemption without credit are required to take replacement courses. Click here for Exemption Regulations.

Finalising student refers to a student who has no more than 10 courses remaining to complete the degree programme.

Foundation courses refer to courses that are designed to promote sensitivity to and awareness of distinctive features of Caribbean cosmologies, identities and culture. Learn more.

Good Standing is an academic status assigned to students whose semester GPA is 2.0 or higher, allowing them to retain a normal course/credit load.

Leave of absence is granted to a student who is unable to continue his/her studies for a semester or more for financial, work related, personal or medical reasons. Permission must be requested using the Automated Student Request System (ASRS) accessed via the Student Administrative System (SAS).

LeveI represents the different standard of courses that must be completed in the degree programme. There are three levels, namely level I, level II, and level III representing the three years for completion of the BSc degree.  These are designated by the first numeral in the course code, e.g., ECON1002 (level I), GOVT2004 (level II) and SOCI3025 (level III). 

Major comprises 90 credits, with at least thirty (30) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III.  A double major is made up of 90 credits, with at least thirty (30) credits in each of the two subject areas at Levels II and III.

Major and one (1) minor is comprised of a minimum of 90 credits with at least thirty (30) Levels II and III credits in the subject area of the Major and fifteen (15) Levels II and III credits in the subject area of the minor.

Major and two (2) minors is comprised of a minimum of 90 credits with at least thirty (30) credits in the major subject area at Levels II and III and fifteen (15) credits in the  respective subject areas for each minor at Levels II and III.

Minor consists of at least fifteen (15) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III and must be pursued in conjunction with a major

Part-time in the FSS is defined by a student's courseload per semester and does not mean evening studies.

Pre-requisite is a course which must be completed before being permitted to register for a higher level course, e.g. PSYC1000 must be successfully completed before taking PSYC2002.

Probation refers to an academic standing assigned to a student whose GPA remains below 2.0 in the subsequent semester. Students on probation are normally restricted to a reduced credit load of between six (6) and nine (9) credits per semester.

Special is comprised of a minimum of 90 credits with forty-five (45) credits in the subject area at Levels II and III.

Warning refers to an academic status assigned to students whose GPA falls below 2.0 for one semester. Students placed on warning are monitored closely while being permitted to retain a normal credit or course load.