The Caribbean Studies Centre aims to build on the University's strength as a dynamic inner city institution where Caribbean Studies, since its inception in 1988, has been the only undergraduate and postgraduate degree programme of its kind in the UK and Europe.

The courses are Pan-Caribbean in scope, multidisciplinary, with strengths in history and cultural studies, and offered in combination with other subjects. Students and staff are in their majority of Caribbean origin or descent, and/or have strong links with the Caribbean; and are from non-traditional backgrounds. They benefit from our exchange and co-operation with the University of the West Indies and other regional institutions (see links for details) and are engaged in Caribbean-related work.

In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) of 2001 we achieved UK recognition for national and international research excellence, when American Studies gained a 4 rating.

The Centre has become established nationally, working in coordination with the Centre for Caribbean Studies (Warwick) and London's Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Institute for the Study of the Americas. We also have close relations with other HEIs with research and teaching programmes on the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Society for Latin American Studies and Society for Caribbean Studies. The Centre has forged a strong international presence, within the Caribbean Studies Association and developing collaborative research and postgraduate links with HEIs across the Americas, especially the Greater Caribbean region (Cuba, Colombia, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Venezuela). The Centre also has close links with other European HEIs, especially in France, Germany, Netherlands and Spain; and attracts scholars of international repute as speakers, Associate Fellows, and onto staff.