With the local post-secondary landscape developing rapidly, it’s no surprise that a number of students are choosing to stay in Cayman to pursue their higher education degrees. With an incredible location and competitive fee schedules, Cayman has also become a hotspot for foreign students to come and study professional degrees, especially in the fields of Law and Medicine.
The Truman Bodden Law School
Established in 1982, the Truman Bodden Law School (TBLS) has been affiliated with the University of Liverpool in the UK since the late 1980s. The University validates and awards the undergraduate LL.B degree programmes which are offered on a full and part-time basis. The University of Liverpool is a Russell Group University (equivalent to the US Ivy League) and these qualifications are internationally recognised accordingly.
The LL.B Degree is recognised as a Qualifying Law Degree by the Joint Academic Quality and Standards Committee of England and Wales, the Cayman Islands’ Legal Advisory Council and by the National Committee on Accreditation, Canada. This recognition makes LL.B graduates eligible to pursue postgraduate professional qualifications in Cayman, the UK, Canada and other common law jurisdictions. At a postgraduate professional level, TBLS also enjoys an affiliation with Oxford Brookes University. Successful completion of the law school’s nine-month-long Professional Practice Course (the precursor to Articles of Clerkship) leads to the award of the OBU Diploma in Legal Practice.
International College of the Cayman Islands
The International College of the Cayman Islands (ICCI) is the birthplace of higher education in the Cayman Islands. The college has awarded certificates, Associate's, Bachelor’s and Master's degrees. It has been recognised by the CI Ministry of Education since 2002 and is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) in the US and the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC) in the UK. ICCI focuses on career readiness, enhancement and personal development of the student.
Courses Offered: Associate's and Bachelor's degrees in Business, Finance, Accounting, Information Systems Management, Community Health, Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Liberal Studies. Online, face-to-face and hybrid formats are offered. Courses start at the end of September, January, April and July. Master's degrees include the MBA, Human Resources Management and Management Consulting.
University College of the Cayman Islands
UCCI offers international accreditation for its courses and has nearly 2,000 students and 89 full-time faculty and staff members with a wide range of expertise, representing 42 different nationalities. It has international partnerships with global universities and offers students a study abroad option. Local students can also access numerous internship and scholarship opportunities in Cayman. New courses introduced in 2024 include Early Years Education, Watersports, Computer Science and AI, Solar Installation and much more. UCCI is also renowned for its robust STEM programme, and in 2023 hosted the biggest STEM Conference ever to be held in the Cayman Islands, with speakers from across the globe and thousands of people in attendance.
Courses offered: Preparatory Studies for Year 12 students who are on a Dual Enrolment Programme, and this includes compulsory courses intended to establish a proper basis in English and mathematics, and provides the tools needed to get through a student’s college experience. They also offer Associate's Degree Programmes, Bachelor's Degree Programmes and a handful of Graduate Programmes, which include a Masters in Human Resource Management (MHRM), Master of Business Administration (CEMBA), Master of Public Administration (CEMPA) and the Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE - Primary). Additionally, they offer many Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Vocational Certificate Programmes.
St. Matthew's University School of Medicine
Cayman has a thriving medical school called St. Matthew’s which attracts most of its student population from America and other overseas countries. Students complete five semesters (three per year) of Basic Science and Pre-Clinical studies in Grand Cayman, and are then transferred to do clinical rotations at teaching hospitals in the US, Canada or UK to complete their medical degree programme. St. Matthew's MD programme is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) and is one of the few international medical schools with approvals in the key states of New York and Florida.
St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary students complete seven semesters (three per year) of Basic Science instruction in Grand Cayman before doing a year of clinical instruction at an affiliated US or Canadian veterinary school. With the smallest class sizes of any veterinary school in North America, students have an unprecedented level of faculty support and attention. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 20 students. It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, including from diverse, transfer and second-career applicants. St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine is a Member Institution of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Both the medical school and the veterinary school are located in the Regatta Business Park, between Lime Tree Bay Avenue and West Bay Road, Grand Cayman.
Other Local Further Education Options
Brainchild Learning & Development Centre
Caymanians can apply to the Scholarship Secretariat to take a course with Brainchild Learning which then leads to a certification. Options include courses in healthcare, agriculture, construction, plumbing, early childhood development and customer service.
Cayman Career Academy (CCA)
CCA is the first locally CIDESCO-accredited, and more recently EduQual-accredited, beauty school in the Caribbean. It offers CIDESCO diplomas in Beauty Therapy and Beauty and Spa Management and certificate courses in Aesthetics, Body Therapy and Manual Facial. Through EduQual they offer diplomas in Massage Therapy, as well as shorter award courses in waxing, manicures and pedicures. CCA is open to anyone 16 and over. Scholarships are available through the Ministry of Education for Caymanians, and payment plans are also available. See page 96 for more information.
Civil Service College (CSC)
The CSC provides learning and development opportunities for those in the Civil Service. Its aim is to equip civil servants with the knowledge and skills they need to undertake their roles effectively, and it ensures continual professional development so that existing staff can progress and advance in their careers.
Construction Trades Training Centre (CTTC)
A division of the Public Works Department, the CTTC offers training and apprenticeships in plumbing, masonry, A/C refrigeration, electrical installation, welding, carpentry, plumbing and Advanced Construction Management. Candidates must be ages 16-29 and be Caymanian. The training leads to a City & Guilds certification which is internationally recognised.
Inspire Cayman Training (ICT)
Through its partnership with Invince Learning Management System and C1st Online Academy Limited, Inspire Cayman Training offers over 12,000 online professional development courses across various industries including IT, Healthcare, Tourism, Customer Services, Human Resources, Leadership and Management just to name a few. All courses are self-paced, so you can choose the course that will fit with your schedule.
ICT also offers the CareerFitter Test which is done through CareerFitter.com. This test analyses your personality in the workplace and is designed to give insight into which careers you should consider based on your work personality. The test generates a detailed description of your optimal work environment, your strengths, your preferred management style, your work personality traits and more. The test results then show you a list of jobs that fit your personality best.
Financial Services Institute
The FSI has partnered with a number of institutions to deliver course offerings of a high standard which are recognised internationally. They are affiliated with Modul University in Vienna which is one of their accreditation partners. The FSI’s two Diploma programmes—the Cayman Islands Compliance Diploma and the Diploma in International Financial Services—are both certified by Modul University. Students who have successfully completed the FSI’s Diploma programmes will be awarded a certificate jointly signed by the FSI and Modul’s Director of Continuing Education. The FSI is now fully approved as a Post Compulsory Educational Institution by the Cayman Education Council, enabling Caymanians to apply for scholarships to pursue their diplomas.
Sunrise Adult Training Centre
For adults with additional learning needs, the Sunrise Adult Training Centre empowers students and maximises their independence, potential and quality of life, and helps to promote full inclusion within the larger community. The centre offers life-skills training, functional academics, occupational therapy, supported workshops in crafts and horticulture, recreational and fitness programmes, plus in-centre vocational training, coupled with community-based internships and supported employment opportunities.
University of the West Indies Global Campus (UWI)
The UWI Global Campus serves 17 English-speaking Caribbean countries, and they serve the Cayman Islands through their Cayman site. They facilitate access to formal education and training and are extensively involved in numerous training and education outreach programmes within the Cayman community.
With a thriving student population of over 20,000, the UWI Global Campus offers a diverse range of learning opportunities, including online programmes as well as continuing and professional education courses/programmes.
The UWI is proud to hold a full seven-year accreditation, granted in 2019 by the Barbados Accreditation Council. Additionally, The Times Higher Education ranks The University of the West Indies (UWI) as #1 in the Caribbean and within the top 1.5% of recognised universities worldwide. Visit www.global.uwi.edu to explore the programmes and learn more about the application process and how to sign up.
