Government Assistance Schemes

Jamaica Values and Attitudes (JAMVAT)

Jamaica Values and Attitudes (JAMVAT) is a programme sponsored by the Government of Jamaica to assist with the payment of tuition fees. (See list under Student’s Loan Bureau).

How the JAMVAT programme works

Applications to the programme, for assistance in the next academic year, take place between February and April each year.

Accepted applicants are usually notified in the month of June. An accepted applicant will receive an information package from the JAMVAT Office. Among items in the package is an agreement form that must be completed.

A student participating in this programme will be requires to work for a stipulated number of hours, and, in turn will get financial assistance towards a portion of h is/her school fees.

Student’s Loan Bureau

Applications to the SLB, for assistance in the next academic year, take place between January and April each year. Students registered in the following Departments / Programmes are eligible for assistance from the SLB (and JAMVAT):

• Computer Studies
• Business Studies (including Utech BBA)
• Tourism Hospitality and Entertainment Management
• Performing Arts
• Library Technical Assistants
• Technical Vocation and Entrepreneurial Department
• UWI Preliminary Sciences (N1)
• Uwi Certificate/ Bachelor’s programmes (e.g. nursing)

An applicant to the SLP will receive a letter from the Bureau outlining the status of his/ her application. Applicants must follow the procedures outlined in the letter before school fees are disbursed to the College. Applicants who provide evidence of special needs may also be able to access grants-in-aid in order to purchase books, stationery etc.

National Youth Service

NYS is a government-sponsored programme. Applicants who work for the Government for a period pf six months to one year will receive a percentage of their tuition fees paid by the NYS office.

Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP)

Members of Parliament are usually allocated funds from the SESP Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister. These funds are sometimes used by the Parliamentarian to assist students in their constituencies to attend tertiary institutions.

Students who are sponsored through NYS or SESP must present a letter of commitment to the Student Affairs Office from the relevant bodies before registering.

NB.
In cases where the sponsorship does not cover the entire school fees, students are required to make the necessary arrangements to pay the balance on the fees.