Government and the private sector offer a variety of scholarships to create higher education opportunities for Cayman’s youth.
This financial assistance can open doors for those who may not otherwise have the chance to pursue the career of their choice. As well as easing the burden of student loans, scholarships can help cover the cost of tuition, books, room and board, and living expenses.
The following is a sample list of scholarships on offer. Visit the websites for full details on the application process, qualifying criteria, application deadlines and to download forms or apply online.
APPLEBY
The Liesl Richter Legal Scholarship programme provides funding for the law degree course and subsequent professional practice courses at the Truman Bodden Law School, or an approved overseas university, and is worth more than US$100,000 over the duration of the degree and practice courses. The scholarship covers tuition fees, examination fees, as well as the cost of necessary textbooks , and recipients are also provided with a living allowance of US$2,400 per month and four weeks’ work experience each summer in one of the company’s practice groups. Deadline for applications is 1 March, 2024.
BUTTERFIELD
The Butterfield Undergraduate Scholarship provides financial assistance to a Caymanian student between the ages of 17 and 25 with proven academic and leadership skills. The recipient receives up to US$30,000 per annum for up to four years of study. Application deadline is 31 March, 2024.
CAMPBELLS
Campbells offers an overseas undergraduate scholarship of up to US$20,000 in both the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Applications are accepted for legal and non-legal undergraduate programmes, but preference will be given to legal studies. Successful applicants have the potential to be supported for the duration of their degree programme (three years), with the opportunity for additional support throughout their PPC, LPC (BVC), BPTC or equivalent. Applicants must be Caymanian or status holders to be eligible for the Cayman scholarship and a BVIslander or BVI Belonger for the BVI scholarship. Application deadline is 1 April, 2024.
w: campbellslegal.com/students-and-graduates/scholarships
CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT
The Ministry of Education, through the Education Council, offers an overseas scholarship for an undergraduate degree to a maximum of $30,000 per annum, for up to four years, per successful applicant, and a post-graduate award of up to $35,000 per annum. The ministry also offers an Educational Scholarship which provides a maximum of $35,000 per annum for applicants pursuing teaching qualifications. The local application deadline is 30 April, 2024. The annual application period for overseas scholarships is from 15 Nov. to 31 Jan.
The ministry also offers The Government High Schools Scholar Award, valued at up to $100,000 per year, which aims to provide full tuition support to the most outstanding Caymanian male and female scholars accepted to pursue overseas undergraduate tertiary studies at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.
w: gov.ky/education/scholarships
The Education Council, in collaboration with other entities, also provides scholarships in specialty areas specific to boat building (the Gwen Bush Scholarship) and the maritime industry (the MACI scholarship).
w: moescholarships.gov.ky/res/p/documents
CAYMAN ISLANDS MINISTRY OF TOURISM
The Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism scholarship programme offers partial and full scholarships to Caymanians interested in pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in tourism or a tourism-related discipline. It offers a scholarship of US$25,000 per academic year, for a maximum of four years. Students are required to return to Cayman and work in the tourism field for the period equivalent to their scholarship.
CAYMAN ISLANDS MONETARY AUTHORITY (CIMA)
CIMA’s Thomas Jefferson Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of the late Thomas Jefferson, former Financial Secretary and Leader of Government Business. It offers an award of $25,000 per year for students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, statistics, public administration, or business administration. Recipients are required to work at CIMA during school breaks, and on completion of their studies for a period of up to four years.
CAYMAN ISLANDS MARKETING PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION (CIMPA)
The CIMPA Scholarship is an annual CI$5,000 scholarship that is awarded based on merit to a local student with an interest in pursuing a career in marketing or related field. Applicants must be enrolled in an educational institution, or an accredited online educational programme. It is open to residents ages 16 to 25, with qualified Caymanians given preference.
CAYMAN NATIONAL
Cayman National invites all Caymanian students, ages 17 to 25, seeking financial support for their studies to apply for the Peter A. Tomkins Scholarship if they are business-focused, community-oriented individuals passionate about the development of the Cayman Islands through their talent and skills.
Applicants must possess five or more higher-level passes (CXC, GCSE, GCE) and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher to apply. Cayman National also offers internships.
w: caymannational.com/about/careers
CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP
Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme aimed at developing global leaders. Chevening scholarships offer full financial support to relocate to the UK and study any of the 12,000 available master’s degree courses at more than 150 UK universities. Beyond financial support, Chevening provides a platform for extensive networking, cultural immersion, and access to a global alumni network of influential leaders. The process of selecting Chevening scholars takes a minimum of eight months. The next intake is for 2025/26 scholars. Check the website for application dates and selection timeline.
COMPASS MEDIA
Compass Media offers a journalism scholarship worth $2,500 to Caymanian applicants with a desire to pursue further education locally or overseas with a view to a career in the journalism industry. They must have been accepted, or have a pending acceptance from an accredited college, university, or vocational school.
w: caymancompass.com/scholarships
CONYERS
Conyers offers a Legal Education Award, which provides up to US$40,000 for the first year of study, renewable for a maximum of three further years. Offered annually to a Caymanian enrolled in a recognised law degree course leading to a Commonwealth legal qualification. Application deadline is 1 March, 2024. Visit the website for application forms and guidelines.
w: conyers.com/about-us/careers/graduates-students
DART
Dart offers two scholarships: one is for Caymanian high school students entering Grade 9/Year 10, that includes all school, book and uniform fees at the local school of choice, for four years of study; the other is the William A. Dart Memorial University Scholarship, which is awarded to a Caymanian student entering a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited overseas institution, with an annual renewal subject to academic performance. Both scholarships offer paid summer work experience at Dart as well as mentorship opportunities with Dart employees.
DELOITTE
Deloitte awards annual scholarships to Caymanian students, typically those interested in accounting and finance. Other disciplines relevant to Deloitte’s service offerings are also considered. Deloitte’s scholarships are valued at up to US$30,000 per academic year for a maximum of five years. Scholarship students gain professional experience through paid summer internships and have an opportunity for full-time positions with Deloitte upon completion of their degree.
w: www2.deloitte.com/ky/en/pages/careers/articles/cayman-scholarship-programme.html
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
The Government of Canada offers the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program. It provides students from post-secondary institutions in eligible Caribbean countries and territories with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions, at college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
w: educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/can/institutions/elap-pfla.aspx?lang=eng
EY
The EY Scholarship is valued at up to US$30,000 per annum and is renewable for up to a maximum of five years until the recipient has completed the minimum educational requirements to qualify for a professional licence. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at an approved college or university; working toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance, computer science, actuarial science, mathematics, data analytics or other appropriate major, with a strong academic record. Applications are accepted on an annual basis from 15 Jan. to 15 April. Scholarship recipients must agree to pursue full-time employment with EY for a minimum of three years after completing their educational requirements.
w: ey.com/en_us/bbc/the-ey-scholarship
INSPIRE CAYMAN TRAINING
Inspire Cayman Training established the non-profit Build Your Future Cayman Scholarship Fund to assist Caymanians aspiring to careers in construction, automotive, PADI dive certification, computer science and other careers in the Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) industry. Scholarship recipients must complete both technical and soft-skill training courses. The application period is open year-round.
ISLAND HERITAGE
The Island Heritage Educational Grant of US$10,000 is awarded annually to provide financial support to a Caymanian student, 16 to 25 years old, who is pursuing full-time studies at an accredited college or university. A broad range of degree programmes/majors will be considered. As well as academic excellence, criteria for selection includes leadership experience and community service.
w: islandheritageinsurance.com/educationalgrant
KIMPTON SEAFIRE RESORT + SPA
The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa seeks to recruit Caymanians between the ages of 16 and 20 who are interested in pursuing a career in hospitality. Its scholarship programme awards two students up to US$25,000 per academic year. Candidates must have been accepted as a full-time student into an accredited programme in a field related to the hospitality industry.
w: seafireresortandspa.com/hotel-scholarship-program
KPMG
KPMG offers scholarships to qualified Caymanian students who have attained strong academic achievement and want to complete an undergraduate degree, locally or overseas. Students should have an interest in pursuing a career in accounting, finance, tax, accounting information systems or sustainable finance in the Cayman Islands. KPMG provides financial assistance to attend university locally, and up to US$30,000 per academic year for a maximum of five years for overseas studies. Priority deadline for submission was 26 Jan., however all applications must be submitted online through the company’s Graduates and Students webpage at kpmg.ky by 31 March, 2024.
MAPLES
Maples Group offers both legal and non-legal scholarships to outstanding Caymanian students who can establish a need for financial assistance. Legal scholarships are awarded up to US$40,000 per academic year; and non-legal up to US$15,000 per academic year. Legal scholarship application closes 1 March, annually, and non-legal on 30 April, annually.
w: maples.com/careers/students-and-graduates/scholarships
MOURANT
The Chantal Whittaker Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the memory of a beloved colleague. Mourant’s scholarship programme provides financial assistance towards the cost of study for Caymanian students who intend to qualify, or who are appropriately qualified and have been accepted into an accredited institution to pursue a career in law. It also provides paid summer work experience, mentoring and the opportunity of a training contract with Mourant upon completion of studies. Application deadline is 30 April, 2024.
w: mourant.com/career/cayman-islands-chantal-whittaker-memorial-scholarship.aspx
MUFG
MUFG Investor Services in Cayman offers a scholarship for eligible Caymanian candidates interested in accounting, finance or business management. The scholarship is for a maximum of two years, with the successful applicants completing their studies at a local institution. Applicants are eligible if they have at least 4 IGCSE/CXC passes with a grade B or higher, or hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher, possess a proven and consistent superior scholastic record, have a strong desire and commitment to learn and develop their higher education, and look forward to a career in the hedge fund industry. All applications must include a cover letter, résumé, and two character references (at least one from a teacher or advisor). Additionally, college/university choices should also be identified, as well as a tuition fees; and where possible, an acceptance letter. Deadline for applications is
31 March, 2024.
OGIER
Ogier offers scholarships to Caymanian students interested in pursuing a career in law. An Ogier scholarship is for the duration of an individual’s degree and, depending on performance, may also cover LPC/BPTC/PPC/SQE studies.
Students are usually considered for the scholarship after successful completion of a four-week internship in the Ogier Cayman office. The scholarship is conditional upon achieving admission into the Cayman Islands Law School (or UK equivalent).
w: careers.ogier.com/student-opportunities-cayman-islands
PETER N. THOMSON FAMILY FOUNDATION – UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS (UCCI) SCHOLARSHIP
The Peter N. Thomson Family Foundation – UCCI Scholarship offers various scholarships designed to recruit and support students who are driven to improve the Cayman Islands in a variety of areas including liberal arts, social sciences and/or the sciences. Each scholar will receive up to CI$2,500 in financial aid renewable each year to cover tuition, fees,
books and supplies to pursue an associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree.
w: ucci.edu.ky/the-peter-n-thomson-family-foundation-scholarships
PWC
PwC’s Career Development Programme offers scholarships for Caymanians currently pursuing or graduating with a degree in accounting (or similar major) interested in earning a professional designation and a career in audit, tax or advisory. PwC’s CDP scholarship includes funding, coaching, networking and paid work experience. On-island studies are supported with awards up to US$8,500 per annum and overseas studies up to US$30,000 per annum.
w: pwc.com/ky/en/careers/students-scholarships/explore-opportunities/scholarship.html
RAWLINSON & HUNTER
The Rawlinson & Hunter scholarship programme offers funding of up to US$30,000 per annum, locally or overseas, to Caymanians ages 17 to 25 seeking to pursue a career in finance. Acceptance from an accredited university is required. Application deadline is 31 March, 2024.
w: cayman.rawlinson-hunter.com/students-graduates
STEPPINGSTONES
SteppingStones’s $5,000 education grant can be used towards a bachelor’s degree within HR, finance, IT or business and is awarded to a Caymanian student aged 18 to 25, who has shown academic achievement, community leadership and is aligned with the company’s core values. Applicants must have a letter of acceptance from an accredited university and/or college, locally or overseas.
w: steppingstonesrecruitment.com/about-us/education-grant
THE INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN (IMAC)
IMAC’s scholarship fund provides financial assistance to cover tuition and living expenses for a first degree for a maximum of four years to Caymanian students. Applicants are free to study any discipline at an accredited university, although applicants for insurance, risk management and other business-related courses will be given preference. Applications open 13 March and close 12 May, 2024.
w: caymanintinsurance.ky/imac-scholarship-fund
WALKERS
Walkers legal scholarships are awarded to Caymanian students who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and are interested in pursuing a career in law. Successful applicants are granted scholarships for law degrees, post-graduate conversion courses and post-graduate qualifying examinations, including the Professional Practice Course, the Legal Practice Course and the Bar Practice (Training) Course.
w: walkersglobal.com/index.php/cayman-students-graduates
WATER AUTHORITY
The Water Authority offers an annual scholarship of up to CI$40,000 for students wishing to pursue higher education or a vocational degree in a field of study relevant to the organisation’s work. The Water Authority offers a wide range of career opportunities in such areas as operations, engineering, management, customer service and human resources.
w: waterauthority.ky/scholarships-how-to-apply
This article appears in the 2024 Compass Media Careers Guide.
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