Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant Programme funds tuition and compulsory course fees for full-time students of UB.  The application for all grants is a one-time process. Applicants must be Bahamian citizens and enrolled in an undergraduate degree programme. Current students must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. Additionally, applicants must register for 12 or more credits during the Fall and Spring semesters. Students enrolled in less than 12 credits in their final year may apply for the grant during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Compulsory course fees covered under the programme are:

• Technology fee;
• Student activity fee;
• Library fee;
• Course lab fee;
• Mandatory course external examination fee.

The grant does not cover non-instructional fees like the security deposit, application, drop/add fees books and repeated courses. It does not include payments for courses taken during the summer. However, Internship courses in Nursing and Hospitality & Tourism Studies are covered during the Summer Semesters I & II only.

The Accommodation Grant makes payments up to $500 per person for the duration of the academic year (August to April only) to each student who meets the criteria. To be eligible for an accommodation grant, a student must:

• Have moved from another island of The Bahamas to undertake the course of study, or otherwise be (or have been) a ward of the state, in foster care, or in a children’s home;
• Be enrolled full-time;
• Be less than 25 years old at the time of enrolment;
• Remain academically eligible for the grant programme. However, if following the grace period for academic probation, a student fails to increase his/her GPA to the minimum 2.00, then the accommodation payments will cease.

To receive the Accommodation Grant, students must meet the criteria outlined by the Department of Housing and Residential Life. For further details, contact 302-4433.

Teacher Education Stipends are offered to eligible students who plan to enroll or who are enrolled in a Teacher Education Programme at the University. Applicants must be full-time (enrolled in 12 or more credits), Bahamian students with a minimum 3.00 grade point average (GPA). New students must possess a minimum of 5 BGCSE passes, including Math and English, with ‘C’ grades or above.

To remain eligible, students must maintain a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.00 per semester and pursue a minimum of 12 credits hours per semester.

Approval for the stipend is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Education.

The Nursing Education Stipend is available to eligible students who are enrolled in a nursing programme at UB. Students must be enrolled full-time, taking at least 12 credits in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

To remain eligible, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 per semester and pursue a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.

Approval for the stipend is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Health.

The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, along with private donors provide financial aid to help meet the financial needs of UB students.  Financial aid is designed to ensure that no student is deprived of the opportunity to earn a UB degree because of financial constraints. Currently, financial aid is available to students in undergraduate degree programmes only.  All awards are contingent upon available funding. 

Financial aid is awarded to students who are eligible and who apply. To be eligible, current or prospective students must be Bahamian citizens who are enrolled, or plan to enroll, full-time in a UB undergraduate degree programme. Students on academic probation are not eligible for financial aid.  To be considered for financial aid, students must submit an online application to the following link

https://studentssb-prod.ec.ub.edu.bs/StudentSelfService/ssb/studentProfile

Financial aid is allocated according to a measurement of demonstrated financial need. All expenses related to attending UB and all financial resources available to the applicant are assessed to determine the amount of aid to be awarded. The calculation of need also takes into account whether the student is a ‘dependent applicant’ for whom responsibility for the payment of tuition and fees is primarily that of the student and the student’s family or an ‘independent applicant’ for whom responsibility for the payment of tuition and fees is primarily that of the student alone. The amount of aid awarded is based on the level of need that is calculated. Best measures are taken to ensure that the aid meets the difference between what students can afford to pay and the costs they incur to attend UB.

There are a number of private awards that are available. Each award has different eligibility requirements. Please check the UB website for information on these awards.

At the beginning of each semester, financial aid is paid directly to the student’s account. No money is given to the student and the amount of aid awarded will not exceed the cost of attending UB. Students who withdraw from or fail a course are not eligible for financial aid to cover the cost of repeating the course.

Financial aid recipients are advised that:

• Financial aid is awarded annually based om the student’s need and subject to the availability of funds.
• Financial aid is awarded to assist with tuition and laboratory fees for the Fall and Spring semesters only; financial aid is not awarded for courses taken during the Summer session.
• Students who reduce their course load without prior written approval of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will forfeit part of their award in accordance with the calculation of the cost of attending UB. The forfeit will take the form of a charge against the student’s account.
• Students who change their programme of study without prior written approval of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships may forfeit all or part of their award. This decision will be based on the terms of the award, the circumstances leading to the student’s decision and the costs already incurred. A cancelled award will take the form of a charge against the student’s account.

To remain eligible for financial aid, students must:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00;
• Continue to be enrolled full-time in a bachelor or associate degree programme at UB;
• Register for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester or get prior written approval from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to reduce their course load to fewer than 12 credit hours;
• Submit a copy of their transcript to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the end of every semester;
• Get prior written approval of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to change their programme of study;
• Submit a completed Application for Renewal of Financial Aid along with all required documents to the following link [https://studentssb-prod.ec.ub.edu.bs/StudentSelfService/ssb/studentProfile.
• Not exceed 6 years of full-time study in a bachelor degree programme or 3 years of full-time study in an associate degree programme;
• Submit true and accurate information.

• Fall Disbursement of the Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant – After the first week in July.
• Spring Disbursement of the Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant – After the last week in November
• Private Scholarships Application Deadline for Fall semester (August) – third Friday in September.
• Private Scholarships Application Deadline for Spring semester (January) – last Friday in January.
• Fall Online Application for Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant opens on the third Wednesday of May and closes on August 31^st.
• Spring Online Application for the Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant opens on the Second Wednesday of November and closes on the final Wednesday of January.