Caribbean Students Win Climate Scholarships at UWI
Students from across the Caribbean can pursue UWI climate and disaster programmes with support from CCRIF SPC's scholarship awards.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Should businesses fund scholarships for students studying climate and disaster risk?
CCRIF SPC has awarded scholarships to nine Caribbean students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), with US$112,000 invested for the 2026/2027 academic year. The nine awardees will pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness at UWI campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Why it matters
The awards are aimed at strengthening Caribbean capacity in climate resilience, disaster risk management, and sustainable development, making them a funding route for students who want to study those fields. For students weighing postgraduate study in the region, the awards show that specialized climate and disaster programmes can receive dedicated scholarship support.
This year's awards include five postgraduate scholarships of up to US$11,000 each, and the postgraduate recipients come from Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago. The total 2026/2027 investment is US$112,000, and since 2010 CCRIF has provided more than 200 scholarships valued at over US$2.2 million.
The players
CCRIF SPC
A Cayman Islands-based regional risk-pooling organization that funds Caribbean climate and disaster resilience, including the scholarships through its Technical Assistance Programme.
University of the West Indies (UWI)
A regional public university with campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, hosting the scholarship awardees' studies.
The details
CCRIF SPC, which is based in the Cayman Islands, funds the scholarships through its Technical Assistance Programme. The awards extend a longstanding partnership between CCRIF and the University of the West Indies, and the recipients will study at UWI's Cave Hill campus in Barbados, Mona campus in Jamaica, or St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago. Students interested in applying should check with the UWI campus or CCRIF for the specific eligibility rules and application process.
Timeline
Since 2010: CCRIF began providing scholarships to Caribbean students.
2026/2027 academic year: The nine UWI awardees begin their studies.
Education Landscape
The awards sit within CCRIF's scholarship work since 2010, which has supported more than 200 students with over US$2.2 million in funding. They reflect a regional push to build specialized expertise in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness at Caribbean universities.
Students interested in climate adaptation or disaster preparedness programmes at UWI should ask the campus's financial-aid or admissions office about current scholarship options. The awards show that specialized postgraduate study in these fields can be supported by regional funding, so it is worth checking eligibility rules early in the application cycle.
The takeaway
Regional funders such as CCRIF SPC are investing in students who study climate and disaster resilience. Students should check with the University of the West Indies or CCRIF about eligibility and deadlines for future awards.
Further reading
For more on how funding routes like this work, explore the Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CANANews.
Live Poll
Should businesses fund scholarships for students studying climate and disaster risk?
