Frequently Asked Questions - CAPE SCHOLARSHIP FAQs 

The Scholarship usually covers the cost of:

 

  • Tuition and Compulsory fees
  • Book Allowance
  • Special Equipment Allowance
  • Personal Maintenance Allowance (P.M.A.)
  • Return Economy Airfare (where applicable)
  • Disability Allowance (where applicable)
  • Warm Clothing Allowance (where applicable)

    Other types of scholarships may cover “tuition only” while others are for “partial-tuition”.

• President Medal Winners obtain funding (Tuition and Allowances) to complete the undergraduate and post graduate degrees up to a maximum of seven (7) years, at any ACTT Accredited or recognized Tertiary Education Institution in the world. In the case of President Medal Winners wishing to pursue Medicine in the USA only, they will be funded up to a maximum of nine (9) years. 
• Open Scholars obtain funding (Tuition and Allowances) to pursue an undergraduate bachelor’s degree, at any ACTT Accredited or recognized Tertiary Education Institution in the world.
• Additional Scholars obtain funding to pursue an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine) or any other Locally ACTT Accredited Tertiary Education Institution.

Generally, the following required documents must be submitted with the Data Capture Form:

  • Electronic Birth Certificate (with affidavit where necessary)
  • Banking /UTC (Unit Trust Corporation) Information. Note that Joint Accounts are not accepted.
  • Proof of Change of Name (where necessary)
  • Bio data page from valid Trinidad and Tobago Passport.
  • National Identification Card or Drivers Permit
  • Persons born outside of Trinidad and Tobago must provide evidence of citizenship (copy) and residency Academic Certificates, Degrees of Diplomas
  • Medical certificate from a certified medical practitioner
  • Proof of a valid address (e.g. Bank statement/Utility bill)
  • Statement of Recognition of Academic Institution and Programme from (ACTT) except those listed as accredited on the ACTT website
  • Proof of acceptance at an academic institution
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies at the academic institution.
  • Course outline of the programme of study
  • Proof of valid address for Guarantor
  • Proof of income for Guarantor
  • Letter of Declaration from Guarantor if self-employed
  • Letter of Declaration for the Guarantor (to indicate that the Guarantor is also a resident of Trinidad and Tobago for at least 5 years)

When you are awarded scholarship you must:

 

  • Agree to submit to the discipline, supervision and control of the academic authority at the University, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Trinidad and Tobago diplomatic representative in the country of study.
  • Apply yourself diligently to your studies throughout the entire course of study.
  • Authorize the university or institution of study to release information to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago relating to your progress during the tenure of the award.
  • Agree not to abandon your course of study without permission
  • Agree not to take up paid employment during the period of the award without the written permission of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.5 or equivalent per academic year is required and transcripts must be submitted to their Scholar Support Officer once a semester or academic year.

Cost of Scholarship             

Period of Obligatory Service

Up to $100,000   

One (1) year

Over $100,000 and up to $300,000

Two (2) years

Over $300,000 and up to $400,000

Three (3) years

Over $400,000 and up to $600,000               

Four (4) years

Over $600,000 and above 

Five (5) years

  • A scholarship is a loan which provides funds for a scholar’s tertiary programme in terms of tuition, compulsory fees and certain personal allowances. The nature of the loan requires both a guarantor and repayment, either through national obligatory service or return of funds with interest.
  • A guarantor is the person who accepts liability for the repayment of the amount expended on the scholarship in event the scholar breaches the Scholarship Agreement.
  • A guarantor must fulfil the following prerequisites:
    • Must be gainfully employed;
    • Must be a citizen and be residing in Trinidad and Tobago;
    • Must be between the ages of 18 to 60 years;
    • Must not be the spouse of the scholar.
    • Must not be the guarantor of another scholar
  • All guarantors must provide proof of income, even if self-employed.
  • Once you have not signed your scholarship agreement, you may change your programme and/or institution of study. If you have already executed your agreement you must get prior approval from the Ministry of Education before you make any such change.
  • The scholarship is tenable at any accredited academic institution for the duration of the course of study. However, your type of award affects the value of the award. Scholars may be required to secure additional funding.
  • The scholarship is tenable at any accredited academic institution for the duration of the course of study. However, your type of award affects the value of the award. Scholars may be required to secure additional funding.
  • For local institutions and programmes, you can do a search on ACTT’s website. For overseas institutions and programmes, you can apply to the ACTT for a statement of accreditation status for a fee of $100 TT. These forms are available on www.actt.org.tt.
  • Additional Scholars may pursue their course of study at any ACTT recognized Regional or International Tertiary Education Institution, however the Tuition and Allowances paid will be equivalent to what is paid to a scholar studying the same or a similar field at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad.
  • Yes, but one of the majors must remain the named course of study as executed within the scholarship agreement. When the scholar has returned to fulfil their obligatory service, he/she will be placed in the field of study from their contracted major and not the field of study of the other major or minor. However, if the scholar wishes to pursue further studies in the alternative major, he/she may do so
  • The Scholarship are used to fund Undergraduate Bachelor Degree programmes only. If a scholar registers for an integrated programme, the GoRTT in its discretion may fund part of the programme
  • Exchange programs are funded for Open scholarship winners and President’s Medal scholarship winners only.
  • You will not be considered as breaching your contract. However you must inform SATD and enquire about the documents needed to obtain approval.

• Yes. The SATD will provide the scholar with a letter after signing the scholarship agreement which informs the institution to send invoices to GoRTT instead of GATE

•No. You would not receive funding from both as one will be cancelled; therefore you will only be required to serve the GoRTT under obligations from one agreement.

  • You will be required to liaise with the SATD for an award letter confirming that you have accepted a scholarship from the GoRTT. This letter can be given to GATE to ensure that you are withdrawn from the program to pursue studies regionally or internationally. Once you are accepted into the other programme, the scholarship agreement will be executed. Allowances will be paid in accordance to the type of scholarship awarded. If GATE has already paid the tuition, fees will be waived.
  • Scholars are provided with additional allowances and all mandatory fees are paid, they are also required to accept employment provided by the GoRTT upon completion of their programme of study.
  • GATE covers Tuition only and persons are allowed to seek their own employment within Trinidad and Tobago upon completion of their Programme of Study
  • You cannot obtain other grants from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) such as GATE during any point of your Scholarship. Grants from agencies outside of the GORTT, such as your respective university, may be accessed provided that they are not in conflict with the obligations under your scholarship agreement. In addition, approval for your acceptance must be sought from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry administering the scholarship. The Ministry of Education will not pay for expenses covered by another scholarship.
  • Where the programme of study is not offered by UWI, the Ministry will map the core courses to the most closely aligned faculty at the University of the West Indies – St. Augustine in order to determine the equivalent tuition payable.
  • The Ministry will pay your tuition fees, and you will have to request a reimbursement of the fees paid by you from the tertiary education institution.
  • Tuition fees are paid directly to the tertiary education institution.
  • The first payment can be expected within eight (8) weeks after the execution of the contract.
  • The tuition fees can be expected to be paid directly to the Academic institution within eight (8) weeks of the submission of its invoice.
  • Scholars should contact their scholar support officer for updates with regards to payment of tuition fees and allowances.

• Yes. Scholarship funds can be accessed through a UTC account or a bank account. The account must not be a joint account with any other party.
• The allowances of International scholars are paid through the UTC. Scholars will be required to open a UTC US Account with the UTC.

• Yes. The Personal Maintenance Allowance continues during the semester break(s) up to the end of the final academic semester, with the exception of scholars who are suspended. You may also take up short-term employment during these breaks for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

  • A Personal Maintenance Allowance is paid, this can be used at the scholar’s discretion as it is paid directly to him/her. It is usually used to cover the costs for meals, rent and other personal maintenance fees incurred during the scholarship period
  • For study abroad economy class return airfare is provided in cases where a full international scholarship is awarded.
  • For partial scholarships, airfare payment will be defined by the framework governing that scholarship.
  • For an Additional A ‘level scholar opting to study regionally/ internationally, no airfare will be covered.
  • The scholar MUST notify SATD in writing of their request and await approval from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education to proceed. The scholar shall not pursue studies other than the approved course of study without written approval from the GoRTT.
  • Failure to be granted written approval from the GoRTT before changing your course of study and/or institution will be considered a breach of the scholarship agreement.
  • Scholars may pursue courses during the semester breaks provided that this does not increase the total cost of the scholarship. The Ministry will not pay for courses that are repeated or examinations.
  • Permission for Leave of Absence must be obtained from the academic authorities and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education. This may affect the payment of allowances to the scholar and will also affect the date that the scholar has to report in to SATD to begin service to the GoRTT.
  • Official transcripts must be submitted by the institution to verify the academic performance of the scholar. However, the scholar can notify SATD of failures or performances below the expected GPA of 2.50.
  • If a scholar fails to maintain the expected standard of performance at any time during the entire period of the study, the scholarship may be suspended or terminated at the sole discretion of the GoRTT.
  • The responsibility for re-registering for classes each year lies with you, the scholar. Exceptions will only be made if the scholar is ill and present a valid medical certificate to the GoRTT seeking a leave of absence.