The University of the West Indies, Mona, in Kingston admitted its first 33 medical students in October 1948. For 2026/2027, international students pay USD 15,000 a year, or USD 555 per credit, for most undergraduate programmes in humanities and education, science and technology and social sciences, and USD 28,000 a year for Medicine and Dental Surgery; students from Caribbean contributing countries pay lower rates. Most full-time graduate programmes, including the MBA and LLM, also cost international students USD 15,000 a year. There is no charge to apply for undergraduate study, and admitted students pay a J$35,000 commitment fee. Graduate applications for January 2027 entry close on 31 October 2026. Applicants whose first language is not English need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 82, with section minimums of 22 in writing and 20 in reading, listening and speaking, and applicants without a top grade in Caribbean or GCE English take an English proficiency test on entry. Graduate applications for August or September entry closed on 31 March 2026, and for clinical programmes and the MSc Economics on 31 December 2025.
The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency grants extensions of stay to foreign nationals enrolled in an educational institution registered by the Ministry of Education. Students must visit a PICA office within two weeks of arriving in Jamaica. They provide a passport valid for at least six months, a letter of registration from the institution addressed to PICA's Chief Executive Officer, a return ticket valid for one year, an entry visa where applicable and the fee. The processing fee for an extension of stay is JM$10,000, and non-Commonwealth nationals over 16 who stay longer than six months also pay a JM$2,000 registration fee. Extensions are processed within three working days. Whether an entry visa is needed depends on nationality, and visas are issued by Jamaica's consular posts. PICA's pages do not publish a funds requirement, the length of a student extension, rules on working while studying or options to stay after graduation.