UWI Five Islands Law Programme May Face Enrollment Cap After 137 Applications Received

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua — The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus may be forced to limit enrollment in its new law degree programme after receiving far more applications than anticipated, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturday.

According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the disclosure during the Browne and Browne radio programme, revealing that 137 prospective students have already applied for admission — a figure that has raised concerns about whether the campus has sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants when the programme launches.

"We have about 137 applicants already," Browne said. "The challenge now is whether we have the space to accommodate all of them."

The Prime Minister described the level of interest as a strong vote of confidence in the programme, which is designed to give students in Antigua and Barbuda and across the region greater access to legal education without the need to study abroad.

Browne acknowledged that university officials are now examining whether enrollment will need to be capped in the programme's inaugural year. "We may very well have to cap the number," he said, noting that demand has exceeded initial expectations.

The government and the university are exploring options to expand capacity while maintaining academic standards and ensuring students receive a quality educational experience, Browne added.

The Prime Minister also used the occasion to defend the government's investment in higher education, arguing that expanding access to tertiary studies is critical to national development and social mobility. He confirmed that the administration has committed to subsidizing tuition costs, with the government expected to cover approximately half of all tuition expenses for students entering the law programme.

Browne said the law programme forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Antigua and Barbuda's educational pipeline by increasing access to professional training and reducing the financial burden on families.

The Prime Minister said the unexpectedly high applicant numbers demonstrate pent-up demand for legal education locally and validate the decision to establish the programme at the Five Islands Campus.

University officials are expected to determine in the coming weeks how many students can be accommodated in the first intake and whether additional measures will be required to meet demand.