Free UG driving demand, forces expansion of medicine and engineering programmes

President Dr. Irfaan Ali says the government’s move to make university education free has already doubled applications at the University of Guyana (UG), with an immediate focus on expanding high-demand programmes in medicine and engineering across the regions.

“By removing barriers and making education more affordable, we’ve seen applications at UG more than double,” the President said at his first press conference of his second term on Tuesday.

“The demand is highest in areas such as medicine and engineering, and we are responding to meet that need.”

To ease pressure on the crowded Turkeyen campus, the government will begin rolling out regional programmes in the coming weeks.

Medicine is at the centre of this expansion, with a major new initiative at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital in Region Six.

“In just the last few days, we finalised arrangements to roll out a medical programme at New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, creating 30 seats for the study of medicine. This will increase further in the future,” President Ali announced.

The facility will be supported by UG’s Berbice Campus, with qualified academic staff already identified. Similar expansions are also being planned for Regions Two and Nine, targeting increased opportunities for medical studies closer to students’ homes.

This year, medicine attracted 418 applications, with more than 130 qualifying. Previously, the intake was limited to 60 seats, but government invested to expand by another 50, taking the intake to 110. With Region Six now ready to accommodate an additional 30, the number of available seats has increased to 140.

“We now have 130 qualified applicants and 140 seats ready—so no qualified student will be left behind in medicine this year,” President Ali affirmed.

Similar expansion is underway in engineering, where demand has also spiked. In the mechanical engineering programme, all applicants will be accommodated this year.

For civil engineering, 241 students applied, with 50 qualifying but not admitted due to limited space. To close this gap, the government is creating 30 additional seats across Regions Three, Six, and Two, enabling students to study disciplines of engineering closer to home.

“This expansion will reduce transportation costs for students, make more productive use of their time, and allow them to contribute to development in their home regions,” President Ali explained.

Beyond medicine and engineering, a full assessment is being conducted of all UG programmes to identify areas for expansion in line with the government’s broader vision for education.

President Ali said the initiative reflects his government’s commitment to equitable access to higher education, while ensuring that Guyana develops the skilled workforce it needs in critical sectors.

“Free university is not just about affordability—it is about building capacity in the right areas so Guyana can achieve sustainable growth and development,” he added.