As old as the University of the West Indies itself, the School of Continuing Studies is the official outreach arm of the institution, dedicated to adult, continuing and public education beyond the campuses.

The School is also the UWI's representative in non-campus countries. For many years we were known as the Extra-Mural Department of the University. The the Extra-Mural Department was established in academic year 1948/49 on the advice of the Irvine Committee of the Asquith Commission, whose report led to the establishment of the University College of the West Indies, as it was then known.

The Asquith Report strongly recommended that the new Commonwealth universities should take a leading part in the development of adult education in the territories in which they were located. Therefore, from the very start, the University recognised that in addition to teaching and research, the institution had a responsibility to reach out directly into the community.

The School operates University Centres in Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & The Grenadines.

In the campus countries, it functions from locations on- and off-campus. In Jamaica, at Kingston and Montego Bay; in Barbados, at Pine Hill; in Trinidad & Tobago at St. Augustine, Port-of-Spain, San Fernando, Sangre Grande and Signal Hill, Tobago.

In Anguilla and Turks & Caicos Islands, there are no established offices of the School, but the governments of these countries maintain relationships with the School and the UWI through named representatives. (Click here for more information on University Centres)

Over the years, the work of the School has been strongly determined by the needs in each country where it functions. Under the general heading of continuing studies, both credit and non-credit courses are provided in a wide range of areas. Much of the substantive work of the School involves adult education and the upgrading of professional and para-professional skills and new knowledge in a variety of fields.

Under our revised mandate, we are in the process of laying the groundwork for new initiatives in programme and service offers. In the meantime, we are continuing to provide facilities for University education for students in all the territories of the English-speaking Caribbean.

Our work is a manifestation of the UWI's main mission to create opportunities for continuous adult learning to address regional needs.