All Disciplines

The education sector in Jamaica has a long history of review and reform, predating political independence. The tertiary education sector is highly skewed toward particular professions such as business, governance, law, medicine, teacher education, nursing and to a lesser extent security, psychology, history, the creative and performing arts, maritime studies and agriculture. The number of institutions offering tertiary education has grown to include a number of international institutions offering distance degrees. However, the focus of studies has not shifted to meet all the requirements for technological, financial development and strategically positioning the country for growth.  Many academic specializations in developed countries are not offered locally, even with several Masters' degrees and PhD programs accessible. The last two decades have seen a disproportionate focus on law, maritime logistics, finance and management services and tourism as areas of study at the tertiary level. The local academic community is in transition due to natural attrition (retirement and seeking other employment opportunities) and youthful personnel with limited research and publishing experience.  This has affected the quality of impact and output at the three major local universities, alongside limited resources and reactive responses to development needs, in turn also slowing growth and research funding. The upside is that the potential for critical impact on the policy environment is high for incoming and visiting academics, where and when specialists are trained or research conducted.

The U.S. Embassy, Kingston is eager to support Jamaican universities seeking to expand, create and strengthen linkages between U.S. universities/think tanks and Jamaican institutions. This includes universities, think tanks, quasi-government agencies and government agencies. The U.S. Embassy actively seeks to encourage educational exchanges in non-traditional areas of study such as criminal justice, security, taxation, auditing and accounting, public policy, urban planning, restoration and architecture, museum management and culture, agriculture, advocacy, university management, STEM-related fields and journalism. The academic calendar is late August to early June in Jamaican universities with room for a third, contracted summer session at the three major universities during the summer months of June and July. It is worth noting that due to resource constraints, housing is not provided directly by host institutions to incoming Fulbright grantees.  Recent grantees have sought housing through reputable realtors, online platforms and recommendations from academic colleagues with knowledge of available spaces on or near the campus.

Prior to arrival, a grantee must apply for and complete the visa process through a Jamaican Consulate in the USA. Fulbright grantees are discouraged from entering the country as a regular visitor (for tourism purposes). If this is done, the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) officials may require that you return to the USA and apply for a visa and pay a penalty fee. The Jamaican Ministry of Labor also requires that U.S. citizens receive a work permit before beginning their Fulbright grant. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Security require that you get a work visa (prior to arrival to Jamaica) and an extension of stay document (after arrival). The process can take as much as 8 weeks on average to acquire the work permit. Your extension of stay typically must be done 2-3 weeks after arrival.  The work permit requirement must be initiated and documented by the host university, early in the placement process. The host university is responsible for liaising with the Ministry of Labor for the work permit/work permit waiver process and must invest in the required fees to benefit from the services of the incoming scholar.  For applicants with dual Jamaican citizenship ties (by birth, descent or marriage) an alternate, permanent landing status process is the exception to the work permit requirement and there will be no extension of stay requirement.  

Both the work permit and unconditional landing status require official verification processing through the Jamaican Ministry of National Security, once a grantee is in Jamaica.  The verification is done at the PICA, an agency of the Ministry of National Security.  

All the major universities are located in well-established communities, which are close to major hospitals, shopping and business districts as well as schools, for those applicants with minor dependents. Most minor dependents attend satisfactorily resourced private, preparatory schools; costs vary according to preference and services offered.  Government-funded schools are not typically recommended and there may be restrictions on access. Cost of living is more affordable than in the USA given the exchange rate, but inflation and importation can mean some prices for groceries in particular are much higher than in the USA.  A number of grantees have also noted that the variety/availability, cost and quality of fruits and vegetables are concerning in comparison to the USA.  

Public transportation is unreliable and often overcrowded.  Reputable taxi companies, private contractors and bus tours can be arranged online or by telephone for individual comfort and safety. If you choose to lease/rent a vehicle (purchase is an option but resale values and processes may be a deterrent for many), be sure to find reputable vendors.  The driving environment is not ideal because of the number of fatal accidents annually, inadequate insurance coverage and poor driving habits of many local road users.  Pedestrians also do not always practice safe road use. Caution, defensive driving and awareness need to be exercised to avoid any negative outcomes, including legal action. 

The healthcare system has been under strain and is under-resourced.  Medical specialists in particular sub-fields may be minimally available--with only 1 or 2 doctors on the island for example--or non-existent locally. Typically, Jamaican public hospitals are under-resourced with equipment but medical professionals are well-trained and resourceful. Where some services cannot be provided locally, this may require a visit to Florida, which is the nearest state to Jamaica, or to your home state. Personal medical insurance, including coverage for a medevac, is encouraged for the grant period. There are roughly four private medical facilities that may have state of the art facilities to deliver certain services, including surgery and post operative care, but they come at a premium cost and still have limitations.   

As you prepare your Fulbright application, we encourage you to read the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.