Universities in Guyana

University study in Guyana is centred on one institution. The University of Guyana (UG) describes itself as the country's sole national higher education institution, and it is the university listed in our directory. For international students, Guyana offers degrees taught in English, an admission system based on Caribbean and British school examinations, and a location on the north coast of South America with close ties to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

UG was founded in October 1963, three years before Guyana became independent. It first held classes at Queen's College in Georgetown and moved to its Turkeyen campus in Greater Georgetown in 1970.

How university study works in Guyana

The University of Guyana offers more than 180 programmes in over 80 disciplines, at every level from certificates and diplomas to associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and PhDs. Programmes are taught face to face, online or in a blended format.

UG teaches through a system of eight campuses. Besides Turkeyen, they include a second major campus at Tain in Berbice, opened in 2000, the Makatau Forest Campus, and the Institute for Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), which runs classes in Georgetown and in towns such as Anna Regina, Linden and New Amsterdam. The university has over 11,500 students, nine faculties and ten research institutes and centres. Its faculties include engineering and technology, agriculture and forestry, natural sciences, education and humanities, social sciences and an accredited College of Medical Sciences. Examples of degrees are:

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Petroleum Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Technology
• Commonwealth Master of Business Administration

Admission for international students

Applicants must be at least 16 years old in the calendar year of admission. The general entry requirement for a degree is one of the following:

• three GCE Advanced Level subjects plus two CSEC, IGCSE or GCE Ordinary Level subjects
• two Advanced Level subjects plus three CSEC, IGCSE or GCE Ordinary Level subjects
• at least five CSEC General Proficiency, IGCSE or GCE O Level passes

English Language must be among the subjects, and in most cases Mathematics too. Caribbean CAPE results are also accepted. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, and mature applicants aged 21 or over, can sit the University of Guyana Entrance Examination (UGEE). Students with qualifications from other systems should ask the Admissions Division how their certificates compare.

Transfer students can bring credits from another university when UG considers the courses equivalent to its own, provided that at least half of the courses for the degree, including the final year, are taken at UG. Certificates from tertiary institutions registered with Guyana's National Accreditation Council, or with an accreditation body in another country, can give entry into year one or two of a programme.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees apply to non-Guyanese students only: Guyanese students are covered by state funding from the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. Foreign students pay a standard fee of US$5,711 per year for certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Some programmes cost more, such as the MBBS and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery at US$8,853 per year. Fees for master's programmes are generally higher than for undergraduate programmes. All students also pay a facilities fee of US$250 a year. UG notes that fees are subject to change and that the listed amounts are first-year tuition.

For housing, UG has two halls of residence, the Dennis Irvine Hall and the New Building Society Hall.

Visas

Citizens of CARICOM states move freely within the Community. Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lists countries whose nationals can enter without a visa, including holders of ordinary passports from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia for 90 days (list updated 17 July 2025). For study, the ministry issues student visas, and the Ministry of Home Affairs handles landing permits for student status. Check the current rules with a Guyanese embassy before you travel.

How to choose a programme

• Level: certificate, diploma, associate degree, bachelor's or postgraduate degree
• Campus: Turkeyen in Greater Georgetown, Tain in Berbice, or distance study through IDCE
• Format: face to face, online or blended
• Entry route: school examinations (CSEC, CAPE, A Levels) or the UGEE
• Cost: the standard foreign-student fee or a higher programme fee, plus the facilities fee
• Housing: a place in a hall of residence or private accommodation in Georgetown

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Guyana?

The University of Guyana describes itself as the country's sole national higher education institution. It has eight campuses and more than 11,500 students.

What qualifications do I need to study at the University of Guyana?

For a degree, you normally need A Level and CSEC/O Level passes or at least five CSEC/O Level passes, including English Language. Applicants without these can sit the University of Guyana Entrance Examination.

How much does it cost for a foreign student?

The standard fee for foreign students is US$5,711 per year for most undergraduate programmes, plus a US$250 facilities fee. Medicine and dentistry cost US$8,853 per year.

Is teaching in English?

Yes. Programmes at UG are taught in English, and English Language is a required subject for admission to its degrees.