UG lowers age requirement for ‘mature students’ seeking entry

The University of Guyana (UG) has lowered the age requirement for students seeking admission to study at most faculties at the institution, the Vice Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed- Martin said on Thursday.

Based on its general admission criteria, a high school student at least 16 years of age can apply for a degree programme if they possess a minimum number of passes after sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) or the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations.

In addition to these entry requirements, persons who are at least 26 years of age but did not meet the minimum entry requirements could have been considered for admission if they were able to satisfy the University that they had a suitable education. Those students would usually sit an entrance examination.

Now, however, the University has made the decision to drop the age of mature students to 21. Once those students apply, they will be required to take the standard university entrance examination before they can commence their studies.

“This is one of those initiatives we are taking at the policy level we’re trying to get more people so that you can get in more quickly,” the Vice Chancellor said at the opening ceremony of UG’s Open Day and Job Fair 2023.

She, however, noted that this change does not apply to the College of Medical Sciences or any technical subject areas.