Pre-college & qualification upgrade

Build the qualifications your next step needs.

Wherever you are starting, ECC helps you shape a practical route forward—repeat a subject, improve a grade, begin CAPE, or combine both levels around the future you want.

Your starting point is welcome here

Four ways to move toward your academic destination.

Entry is supportive and diagnostic. ECC Admissions will help you choose subjects that match your current qualifications, preferred programme and long-term goals.

01CSEC / Foundation

Strengthen the subjects that open doors.

For students who want to sit or repeat CSEC subjects, improve earlier grades, or build stronger literacy and numeracy.

Starting requirementCompletion of Grade 9 or 10, or an equivalent secondary-school level. No formal prior passes are required.
02CAPE / Advanced Level

Take your preparation to the next level.

For students ready to deepen their knowledge for university entry, professional study and ambitious career goals.

Starting requirementAt least four CSEC passes at Grades I–III, or equivalent, including English A. Some subjects have additional prerequisites.
03Hybrid

Move forward while filling the gaps.

Begin one or two CAPE subjects while upgrading one or two CSEC subjects that your preferred degree or career still requires.

Starting requirementPlacement is considered individually through an academic counselling review.
04Mature & Alternative

Turn experience into a fresh academic start.

A supportive route for adult learners, career switchers and applicants whose potential is not fully represented by traditional qualifications.

Starting requirementAdmission may consider work experience, prior learning and an intake interview with an academic counsellor.
Planning CAPE Science or Mathematics?

CSEC Grade I or II in the relevant subject is required, and CSEC Mathematics is strongly recommended. Humanities and Business subjects generally require CSEC Grades I–III in English A or a related business or social-science subject.

Designed around your pace

Build a combination that works for you.

Your pathway can focus on one level or bridge both. The right combination depends on what you have already achieved and where you want to go next.

Foundation

Fast-Track Foundation

3–5 CSEC subjects

Strengthen core qualifications or upgrade grades within a focused one-year plan.

Bridge

Hybrid Bridge

1–2 CSEC + 1–2 CAPE

Address important subject gaps while beginning advanced coursework.

Advanced

Advanced Mastery

3–4+ CAPE subjects

Deepen your preparation for competitive degrees, specialist careers and leadership.

Available subject options

Choose the subjects that move your plan forward.

Explore subjects by level and area. Your final selection should be confirmed with ECC Admissions, since availability may vary by intake.

CAPE

Advanced & tertiary preparation

Compulsory General Education
  • Caribbean StudiesSingle-unit syllabus
  • Communication StudiesSingle-unit syllabus
  • Integrated MathematicsSingle-unit syllabus
Humanities and Fine Arts
  • HistoryUnits 1 & 2
  • LawUnits 1 & 2
  • Literatures in EnglishUnits 1 & 2
  • SpanishUnits 1 & 2
Social and Behavioural Sciences
  • AccountingUnits 1 & 2
  • EconomicsUnits 1 & 2
  • EntrepreneurshipUnits 1 & 2
  • GeographyUnits 1 & 2
  • Management of BusinessUnits 1 & 2
  • SociologyUnits 1 & 2
  • TourismUnits 1 & 2
Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology
  • BiologyUnits 1 & 2
  • ChemistryUnits 1 & 2
  • Environmental ScienceUnits 1 & 2
  • Information TechnologyUnits 1 & 2
  • PhysicsUnits 1 & 2
  • Pure MathematicsUnits 1 & 2
CSEC

Foundation & core qualifications

STEM & Technical
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Human & Social Biology
  • Physics
  • Information Technology
  • Technical Drawing
  • EDPM
Business, Languages & Society
  • Principles of Accounts
  • Principles of Business
  • Office Administration
  • Economics
  • English A
  • English Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Geography
  • Caribbean History I
  • Social Studies
  • Spanish

Understanding the unit labels: Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics are single-unit CAPE syllabuses. The other CAPE subjects listed are available as Units 1 and 2. CSEC subjects are not divided into CAPE units.

CXC Associate Degrees through CAPE

Turn the right CAPE subject cluster into a recognised degree.

Every CXC Associate Degree requires 10 CAPE units. The compulsory general-education units are Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics. Pure Mathematics may be used as an approved equivalent for Integrated Mathematics.

CXC award

Associate of Arts

  • Accounts
    Required specialisation units
    Management of Business Units 1 and 2Accounting Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Economics
    Required specialisation units
    Management of Business Units 1 and 2Economics Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Entrepreneurship
    Required specialisation units
    Management of Business Units 1 and 2Entrepreneurship Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • History
    Required specialisation units

    Choose Option 1 or Option 2 to complete the four specialisation units.

    History Units 1 and 2Option 1: Law Units 1 and 2Option 2: Literatures in English Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Law
    Required specialisation units
    Law Units 1 and 2Literatures in English Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Sociology
    Required specialisation units
    Sociology Units 1 and 2History Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Tourism
    Required specialisation units
    Tourism Units 1 and 2Management of Business Unit 1 or 2Entrepreneurship Unit 1 or 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

CXC award

Associate of Science

  • Environmental Studies
    Required specialisation units
    Environmental Science Units 1 and 2Geography Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

  • Natural Sciences
    Required specialisation units

    Choose one four-unit option.

    Option 1: Physics Units 1 and 2, and Chemistry Units 1 and 2Option 2: Biology Units 1 and 2, and Physics Units 1 and 2Option 3: Chemistry Units 1 and 2, and Biology Units 1 and 2

    Important: Also choose two supporting units—one from Humanities and Fine Arts, and one from Social and Behavioural Sciences or Natural, Physical Sciences and Technology—plus one elective unit from another CAPE syllabus.

* Example: To achieve the 10 units, a student pursuing the CXC Associate of Arts – Accounts could select Literatures in English Unit 1 for the Humanities and Fine Arts supporting unit, Sociology Unit 1 for the Social and Behavioural Sciences supporting unit, and Information Technology Unit 1 as the elective from another CAPE syllabus. These three units complement the compulsory general-education and specialisation units, bringing the award to the required 10 CAPE units.

Start with your ambition

Connect today’s subjects to tomorrow’s possibilities.

You do not need to have every step figured out. Begin with the field that excites you, then let ECC help you map the qualifications that can take you there.

Young technology learners working together on networking equipment and a laptop01

Innovation, Technology & Engineering

Software development, engineering, robotics, data science and technical entrepreneurship.

Helpful focusPhysics, Pure Mathematics and Information Technology, supported by CSEC Technical Drawing or Physics where needed.
Health sciences learners developing clinical skills in a simulation setting02

Health, Wellness & Life Sciences

Medicine, biotechnology, public health, nursing and environmental stewardship.

Helpful focusBiology, Chemistry and Environmental Science, supported by CSEC Human & Social Biology where needed.
A business professional presenting ideas to a collaborative team03

Leadership, Business & Entrepreneurship

Management, financial analysis, law, marketing and enterprise development.

Helpful focusEntrepreneurship, Management of Business, Law and Accounting, supported by CSEC Principles of Business where needed.
A community leader guiding a thoughtful group discussion04

Humanities, Law & Social Impact

Law, communications, international relations, journalism and public policy.

Helpful focusCaribbean Studies, Sociology, Communication Studies and Law.
Support where it counts

Your schedule should fit your goal—not someone else’s template.

Take the number of subjects that suits your capacity and timeline. Academic guidance helps you choose the right level, sequence and subject mix.

01
Flexible subject load

Choose a focused set or a broader schedule based on your priorities and available time.

02
Guided practical learning

Subjects with laboratory, technical or project components include support for the work those courses require.

03
SBA options explained

Some subjects may be available without SBA requirements. Admissions can confirm the current arrangement for each subject.

Begin with a conversation

Tell us where you want to go. We’ll help you build the route.

Bring your results or transcript, share your goal, and work with ECC Admissions to select the CSEC, CAPE or blended pathway that fits.