Universities in Bermuda

Bermuda has no university of its own. Higher education on the island means Bermuda College, a public community college created by the Parliament of Bermuda through the Bermuda College Act in 1974 and described by the college as Bermuda's only post-secondary educational institution. Most students who want a bachelor's degree start at Bermuda College and then continue abroad, in the UK, the US, Canada or the Caribbean.

Our directory lists two institutions in Bermuda: Bermuda College in Paget, and the ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), a marine research station that offers courses for visiting university students.

How higher education in Bermuda works

Bermuda College grew out of three older institutions: the Bermuda Technical Institute (1956), the Bermuda Hotel and Catering College (1965) and the Academic Sixth Form Centre (1967). It awards associate degrees, certificates and diplomas, organised as the Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science and Associate in Science, plus diploma and certificate programmes. It is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The college is small: it reported 565 students in 2024, 37 full-time lecturers and an average class size of 15.

The associate degree is designed as a first step towards a bachelor's degree. Bermuda College has a network of 45 articulation agreements with institutions in the UK, the US, Canada and Europe, and it reports that 55% of its graduates transfer to overseas institutions. A recent example is an electrical engineering pathway: students complete the first year in Bermuda and then transfer directly into year two of the degree at Dalhousie University in Canada.

ASU BIOS works differently. It began in 1903, when scientists from Harvard University and New York University opened a marine biological station in Bermuda, and it has been at Ferry Reach, St. George's, since 1932. Today it is a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. It does not award its own degrees to visiting students; it offers summer courses and fall and spring semester programmes in marine biology, open to students from any university. The fall semester lasts 15 weeks, and students must check that their own university will give them academic credit.

Admission

Bermuda College accepts high school graduates, students with an International Baccalaureate diploma or certificate, students with a GED and mature applicants. Placement depends on your results: for example a grade C or level 4 in English and maths at IGCSE/GCE/GCSE, or SAT scores of 480 in reading and writing and 530 in maths. Applicants below these benchmarks take the Computerised Placement Test (CPT). Admission is rolling, with a decision within about four weeks of receiving all the documents. For the BIOS semester programmes, students from universities without a partner agreement apply directly to ASU BIOS by 30 April.

Entry requirements for international students

According to ASU BIOS, foreign nationals travelling to Bermuda do not require an entry visa, but proof of residency or a valid multi re-entry visa for the US, the UK or Canada may be required, depending on your country of origin. The Government of Bermuda confirms that travellers from the countries listed in its visa order must present such a visa, and that it must be valid for 45 days after the end of the stay. Check the Department of Immigration's requirements before you travel. BIOS also requires students to buy overseas medical insurance.

Costs and funding

Bermuda College charges per credit, and most courses are worth 3 credits. Bermudian students pay $155 per credit. International students pay the same tuition plus a differential, and non-resident international students must take at least 12 credits per semester: 12 credits cost $3,360 and 15 credits $3,825 a semester. The application fee is $100 for international students (Local: $50), and a $200 admissions deposit is applied to tuition once you enrol. Textbooks and materials are extra. Needs-based funding, which about 40% of students receive, is limited to Bermudians, while the college disburses between $50,000 and $100,000 in scholarships each year.

How to choose

• Your goal: an associate degree or diploma in Bermuda, a first step towards a bachelor's degree abroad, or a semester of marine science
• Transfer route: check which of Bermuda College's articulation agreements fits the university and degree you have in mind
• Credit recognition: for BIOS courses, confirm with your own university before you apply
• Cost: international students pay a differential on top of tuition and must study full time

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a bachelor's degree in Bermuda?

Not on the island itself. Bermuda College awards associate degrees, certificates and diplomas, and many graduates transfer to universities abroad through its articulation agreements to finish a bachelor's degree.

How much does Bermuda College cost for international students?

Tuition is $155 per credit plus an international differential. A non-resident international student taking 12 to 15 credits pays $3,360 to $3,825 a semester, plus lab fees, books and a $100 application fee.

Can I study marine biology in Bermuda?

Yes. ASU BIOS runs summer courses and fall and spring semester programmes in marine biology for university students. Credit comes from your home university, so check that it will recognise the courses.

Do I need a visa to study in Bermuda?

According to ASU BIOS, foreign nationals do not need an entry visa for Bermuda, but travellers from some countries must hold a valid multi re-entry visa for the US, the UK or Canada. Check the Government of Bermuda's visa rules for your nationality.