Study in Jamaica

Do you love listening to reggae tunes?! Is Bob Marley one of your idols? Do you rock all things green-yellow-red whenever a chance pops? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will likely enjoy study abroad in Jamaica, one of the biggest islands in the Caribbean.

Choosing one of the best universities in Jamaica to study abroad for a degree program is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Not only that but applying with RocApply will widen your chances of realizing an education here.

However, these surface-level connections are just a primer to all there is to explore in Jamrock. While Jamaica’s bobsled teams are pretty stunning, most folks come to the island to soak up it’s laidback way of life and fascinating, diverse culture, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Usain Bolt before he darts out of sight!

The Caribbean nation will serve as a great beginning for your career path and also give you the best path you need to excel in your line of study. Universities, colleges, medical schools, engineering schools, and law schools in the country have met the set standards of formal education with high-standards and well-known in the academic community.

While the country offers more than its fair share of desirable destinations for study abroad, not all locations are built equal. Here are a few of the top locations for study abroad in Jamaica:

The capital and largest city, Kingston, is an excellent place for study abroad students to tour. Situated in the southeast part of the island, credible universities, such as the University of the West Indies, the Caribbean Institute of Technology, Western Hospitality Institute, and Northern Caribbean University, can be found here.

The city is graced with beautiful parks, including Emancipation Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens at Hope, perfect spots to spend an afternoon reviewing for your next test!

Protestant churches abound and left-hand driving is the norm, both obvious tips of the ol’ hat to their former British colonial law.

Students here would be wise to avoid the northern coast of the island as it has largely been eroded by the ocean. The south side, however, has plenty to provide even the most curious of swimmers.

Visiting is a perfect opportunity, but with a slight downfall, it can get exorbitant. It’s important to travel, learn, and be integrated in another tradition.

In order to avoid the too much costs of study abroad in Jamaica, be diligent in applying for scholarships and grants, and find creative ways to fundraise for your travel!

Students in North Cyprus

About Jamaica

Infused with vibrant, iconic beaches, awash with waterfalls, and infested by Rastafarians and reggae-loving locals, the country is one of the hottest Caribbean destinations for both travelers and cruise ships.

The birthplace of Bob Marley, Usain Bolt and Rihanna, many are drawn to the home of these foreign talents to see what all the fuss is about. Montego Bay is the main city, close to miles of resort arrayed beaches in Negril.

East is Ocho Rios, both of which are very popular vacation sites. Enjoying the beaches and water sports are the main pastimes, with Doctors Cave in ‘MoBay’ being the most popular.

The striking interior of lush hills and historic plantations is another draw, as is shopping for handicrafts, Jamaican rum and duty-free souvenirs.

Daytrips usually involve boat trips, scuba diving, tours of coffee or sugar plantations, or a walk down to the lively capital to check out its colonial highlights.

The island nation is awash with traditional fishing villages that get less press, such as Port Antonio in the east, while high profile attractions like Dolphin Cove have huge family appeal.

The country is a good value for the money and the locals are warm. There is a glut of all-inclusive preserves at the main beach, some of which have their own private beaches, luxury spas and golf courses.

Jamaican food is a big part of life and eating out is obligatory, from beachside shacks where jerk chicken and fresh seafood are ubiquitous and inexpensive, to posh restaurants with high end local and international delicacies.

Music is another big part of Jamaican life and visitors will hear it everywhere, from the liveliest Kingston watering hole to the backstreets of old colonial towns, and even up in the hills. All festivals basically include fun street parties, the banging of steels drums, soca dancing, and dressing up.

The country isn’t the most well-connected island, with no regular rail service and roads that are fairly roundabout. Reaching the next beach from Montego Bay, Negril or Ocho Rios is easy enough by taxi or local bus, however.

RocAply Car rental can be fun for trips along the coast and into the mountains, and there are smaller airports dotted about the island for fast travel. Most foreigners visit in the winter when the weather is agreeable and there are no hurricanes. At this time, booking hotels at least three months in advance is a must.

Highlights

• Sunbathe on Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay

• Trek Dunn’s River Falls and frolic in its refreshing pools

• Hike the Blue Mountains or Cockpit Country to discover historic plantations

• Grab a lazy bamboo raft down the Rio Grande

• See homage to the master of reggae at the Bob Marley Museum

• Explore the laid back nightlife along Negril’s seven-mile beachfront

• Tour the oldest Anglican church outside the UK at Spanish Town

About the Jamaica's Economy

We value your itinerary! This is evidenced by the services we offer students who intend to study abroad right onto our website!

We have transitioned from traditional agents that will only focus on the application process (which we do offer for free) to help the student appreciate more about their desired study abroad country.

To this aid, we have made this guide to share with you the economic performance of Jamaica to strengthen your research for the study abroad decision you made!

The country is the largest island in the English-speaking Caribbean, and the most populated with 2.93 million people. Like its neighbors, Jamaica is vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding and the effects of climate change.

The Caribbean nation has an upper middle-income economy that is nevertheless struggling due to low growth, high public debt, and exposure to external shocks.The island has a relatively large and diversified economy.

It grew strongly in the early years of independence, but then stagnated in the 1980s, burdened with persistent large fiscal and external deficits, due to heavy falls in the price of bauxite (bauxite and alumina make up the vast of exports by value), fluctuations in the prices of agricultural commodities (sugar being the largest export after alumina and bauxite), and economic policies that left the island with high inflation, a fast devaluating currency, growing external debt and a large public sector containing many loss-making industries.

Substantial efforts have been made to lure investors through a range of tax, customs and other incentives, developing its equity markets, and supporting joint ventures and privatisation, notably of hotels.

The free-trade zones at Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town allow duty-free importation, tax-free profits and free repatriation of export income. The USA, China and Taiwan have provided most investment in these regions.

Tourism and manufacturing are important sectors. Investment and remittances from Jamaicans abroad make a significant contribution to GNI. The financial sector was troubled from late 1994, with many banks and insurance companies suffering heavy losses and liquidity troubles.

The government set up the Financial Sector Adjustment Company (Finsac) in January 1997 to assist these banks and firms, providing funds in return for equity, and acquired substantial holdings in banks and insurance companies and related companies, bringing government expenditure on financial-sector rescues to more than US$2.8 billion by 2001, exacerbating the economic troubles and saddling the country with a large external debt.

From 2001, once it had restored these banks and companies to financial health, Finsac divested them.

In 2013, the island country launched an ambitious reform program to stabilize the economy, reduce debt, and fuel growth, gaining national and international support.

Public debt fell below 100% of GDP in 2018/19 and is expected to drop below 60% by 2025/26, in line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Law. The rate of unemployment also fell to a historic low of 7.2% in October 2019, which is almost half the rate at the beginning of the reform program.

Inequality in Jamaica is lower than in most countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region, but poverty at 19% in 2017 is still prominent. Stronger and more resilient economic development is needed to eliminate poverty and boost shared prosperity.

Poverty is expected to decline further with rising per-capita GDP, lower unemployment, and strengthened safety bounds. As its neighbors across the Caribbean, Jamaica is vulnerable to extreme weather patterns and climate change.

Over the last 30 years, Jamaica suffered high debt and low performance. As the country continues implementing an ambitious program of economic reforms, Jamaica’s economy has begun to revive.

Why Study in Jamaica

Affordable Tuition Fees in Jamaica
Interesting study abroad destination:
The country is the third largest island in the Caribbean and holds the enviable position of being one of the most popular vacation destinations in the American continent and world at large. The tropical island, a mere 4,411 sq. miles in size, is popular for its infectious reggae melodies, terrific white-sand beaches, picturesque waterfalls and diverse topography. In the last decade, the country has become even more popular as the world’s top track and field’s nation with celebrated sprinters like Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser.
Affordable Accomodation in Jamaica
There is a lot to do in Jamaica!
Being in the Caribbean with great weather and warm water, the potential for getting active in Jamaica is huge. There are numerous beaches from which to experience traditional water sports such as jet-skiing and banana boats. All main beaches and resorts are awash with companies providing tours and instruction, while many hotels have their own facilities for visitors. Diving, snorkeling, and fishing are all pastimes, while the interior is lofty and conducive to great hiking and things to do on land.
International Environment in Jamaica
The atmosphere in the country is refreshing!
Most people come to Jamaica to lie on the beach and let their problems slip away. If sunbathing has you antsy, there are plenty of water sports to participate in. Some of the top-of-the-world surfing is over at Boston Bay in the Port Antonio area, while San San Beach has great snorkeling (and windsurfing in winter). The diving is also top draw.
Great Weather in Jamaica
Dive into the Caribbean waters while fishing!
Fishing has always been a major pastime throughout the the islands, with deep-sea, reef and freshwater fishing all popular. Most charters are in the north and west and some even organize spear-fishing through the reefs. The annual Blue Marlin Tournament in September is a well-known event. For more information contact our standby team. The country is surrounded by stunning reefs making for great scuba diving and snorkeling sites.

Scholarships in Jamaica

Truly, there are no good reasons not to pursue meaningful study abroad, and financial restraints should definitely not be one of them.

After all, it is not a bad idea to consider financial aid for your travels especially now, with academic and higher education course costs increasing every year.

That is where travel scholarships abroad come in!

It might be a little overwhelming to sift through all of the options available through our RocApply guide to all things travel scholarships should suffice to assist.

Jamaica Student Visa

To study in Jamaica you need the Jamaican Student visa or permit depending on where you are coming from.

RocApply is glad to assist you in figuring the best way to obtain your student visa with much hassling! To apply for a student visa, you require a passport valid for at least six months after your intended return from Jamaica.

Visa requirements for international students vary based on nationality; with that in mind, students should do some personal research to ensure they have the right documentation prior to departing their home country!

Students are typically allowed to stay for one year in Jamaica without exiting, but will be required to bring proof of enrollment at a local college or university.