Understanding the education system in Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda adopts the British model of education, which includes both public and private schools. Preschool is open to children aged 3 to 5, and all children are entitled to 6 years of compulsory primary education until the age of 11. Secondary education lasts for 4 to 5 years and is provided to students who pass qualifying exams; private schools have their own qualification tests, while public schools use standardized tests.
Post-secondary education is provided by the Antigua State College and the branch campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI). Antigua State College offers two-year programs divided into five faculties: Teacher Training, Advanced General Education, Business, Engineering, and Hospitality and Service Management. Upon completion of the program, students will obtain certificates from external institutions such as UWI, the University of Cambridge, and the Royal College of Art in London through examinations. Students attend the UWI local branch for one year of study, followed by continuing education at campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad, or Barbuda.
There are two renowned medical universities in Antigua.
The American University of Antigua College of Medicine was established in 2004 to address the growing shortage of physicians in the United States. AUA has developed into an international educational hub with the support of the world-renowned Manipal University, focusing on a newly constructed 150,000 square foot, state-of-the-art campus. AUA's basic science curriculum is divided into two semesters each academic year. It is based on the curricula of top medical schools in the United States, combined with AUA's new campus, providing an unparalleled learning experience in the Caribbean.
The University of Health Sciences Antigua - School of Medicine, established in 1982 and located in Dowhill, is an outstanding academic institution dedicated to educating exemplary physicians, nurses, graduates, and researchers according to the highest professional standards, integrating clinical, biomedical, and behavioral knowledge to promote the health and well-being of patients and communities.
