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The UWI-GSM Opens Its Doors: A New MD Programme Rooted in Over 75 Years of Medical Education

For Release Upon Receipt - September 8, 2026

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - 8 September 2026 - The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce the official start of academic instruction at its Global School of Medicine (UWI-GSM), following an intense period of planning, curriculum development and regulatory review to bring the new school to life.

The UWI-GSM opens its doors with an inaugural class of 33 students, a number that carries special significance for The UWI community. It is the exact size of the first cohort of medical students who began their studies in 1948, the year The UWI (then the University College of the West Indies) was founded. More than seven decades later, that same number marks the beginning of the university's newest chapter in medical education. The first cohort of students comes from various parts of the world.

"Our UWI St. Augustine Campus has proudly produced internationally recognised medical professionals, from epidemiologists to neurosurgeons. With our university's strong legacy of over 75 years in medical education, we continue to provide globally recognised education backed by a commitment to academic excellence and medical training that meets international standards," said Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine.

The launch coincides with another major achievement: the UWI-GSM has been awarded candidacy status by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), a sought after designation for any new medical school. The school is also accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT), and its Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum has been approved by The UWI's Board for Graduate Studies and Research and accepted by the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago.

"At the Global School of Medicine, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of physicians, researchers, and healthcare leaders who will address the evolving challenges of modern medicine," said Professor Terence Seemungal, Director of the UWI-GSM.

The UWI-GSM offers a four-year postgraduate Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme modelled after the North American medical education systems. The programme is structured in two phases: two years of Basic Sciences training, followed by two years of Clinical Sciences training, with clinical rotation options at hospitals in North America, the United Kingdom, and Trinidad and Tobago. The school forms part of a broader medical education network linking the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility, and the UWI-GSM's own campus facilities. The program also includes a pre-medicine qualifying programme.

Established in 1948, The University of the West Indies has grown into a leading regional and international institution of higher education. Medical education has been central to The UWI's mission since its founding and enjoys an enviable reputation. The launch of the Global School of Medicine represents the next stage in that legacy, extending The UWI's international reach and its comittment to excellence.

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Photo Caption: Pro-Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine photographed at UWI Life with some members of the inaugural class of UWI's Global School of Medicine (UWI-GSM).

About The University of the West Indies 

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region. 

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world. 

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

This recognition has also spring boarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development. 

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu. 

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