There are a whole host of considerations involved in choosing an advanced degree program: the facilities, the faculty, theย student support services, and more. Your list is even more involved since youโre considering international locations.
Youโve been looking into St. Georgeโs University (SGU) and have done some initial research on the program youโre interested in attending, but you want to know more about surrounding area. For starters, is Grenada safe?
Youโre certainly not alone in having questions about island life. We have compiled answers to some of the most common questions about Grenada and what itโs like to live there. Keep reading to learn more about everything from safety to technology while attendingย Caribbean med school.
10 Common questions about living in Grenada
1. Where is Grenada?
Though you probably have a good idea of where some Caribbean islands are located, you might not be as familiar with Grenada. As the southern-most island of the Windward Islands, Grenada consists of Grenada, and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. To the south is Trinidad and Tobago and to the north of the island is St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The island is roughly 100 miles north of Venezuela. Its population totals just over 126,000.
Grenada is located in the Atlantic Standard Time (AST) zone, which does not observe daylight savings time. This means time in Grenada and the East Coast align when daylight savings is in effect. During the winter, Grenada is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).
How to adjust to living in Grenada –ย View reel
2. Is Grenada safe?
Itโs normal to worry about safety when traveling to a different country, but Grenada is a safe place to live. To assure you further, theย US Department of Stateย is a great resource for everything you could possibly want to know about different locations. The organization assigns one of four ratings to each destination:
- Exercise normal precautions
- Exercise increased precautions
- Reconsider travel
- Do not travel
Grenada is assigned a level-one rating. The US Department of Stateย also notes crime is predominantly opportunistic. Avoiding isolated areas and being aware of your surroundingsโthe same precautions you should exercise everywhereโare the best strategies.
Importantly, SGU staffs and maintains a professional Department of Public Safety (DPS) to help provide a safe and secure environment for the campus community.
Security officers patrol University grounds 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. They are trained to handle various types of safety and security situations. Prior to employment, all officers are subjected to rigorous screening and background investigations.
DPS maintains a close working relationship with the Royal Grenadian Police Force (RGPF). RGPF officers routinely pass through campus on patrol and collaborate on joint drills and exercises.
In addition, SGU has implemented many protocols and systems on campus to increase the safety of students and faculty, including installing cameras, smoke detectors, and sprinklers to all buildings, according to Steve Babiak, the Universityโs executive director of global security.
But perhaps what Mr. Babiak is most proud of is the establishment of a campus command center in 2016.
โThe command center is the center of DPS,โ Babiak says. โIt’s basically a 911 center. So, if you dial โ777โ anywhere on the island, you get us. Students know there’s many ways to contact us in an emergency. There’s also the โSGU Safeโ app. What I like about the app is it tells us on a map where they are so dispatchers can dispatch fire or ambulance service if needed.โ
3. What is the weather like in Grenada?
With average temperatures ranging from 75ยบF to 85ยบF (24ยบC to 30ยบC) and tempered by steady, cooling trade winds, youโll find that Grenada is an excellent place to study, forge new friendships, and enjoy a variety of activities both on and off campus. May through November is considered the rainy season, with average precipitation ranging between seven and eight inches per month.
4. Should I be worried about hurricanes?
The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. To be sure hurricanes are not that common in Grenada. In fact, while Florida is impacted by at least one hurricane-level weather event per year, Grenada has only been directly hit by three hurricanes since 1955.
The island is technically below whatโs called the Hurricane Belt, making it safer than other Caribbean countries when it comes to hurricanes. However, โthat doesn’t mean a hurricane can’t hit us,โ Babiak says.
The island was hit by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and again in 2005 by Hurricane Emily. Most recently, in July 2024, Hurricane Beryl hit the northern end of Grenada and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinque.
SGU and its campus are well-equipped to handle hurricane weather forces. Newer buildings on campus are all built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. In addition, Babiak shares that the campus has a strong emergency preparation plan that is implemented before a hurricane is expected to hit the island.
โPrior to the hurricane season, we do a lot of work to prepare. We are monitoring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationโs National Hurricane Center from June 1,โ Babiak says. โAnd when we see something coming, we have a plan in place that takes effect.โ
That includes activating the Universityโs Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and staffing that with the EOC team, who is monitoring the weather while also communicating any necessary instructions prior to the storm to students, staff, and faculty.
Preparation also includes but is not limited toโfilling all vehicles with gas and moving them to higher ground; making sure all drainage ditches on campus are cleared of debris; and filling chainsaws with gas in order to cut down any broken tree limbs, he says.
There is also a logistics team putting in place housing and transportation plans if students are asked to come to campus if the storm is expected to be more intense. Campus has 24,000 freeze-dried meals readily available in case of emergency, adds Babiak.
โWe want students who live off campus to know they can always come to campus if they are not comfortable riding out the storm on their own,โ Babiak says.
5. Does Grenada have modern technology?
Students have access to internet andย cell serviceย just like at home. Youโll need to purchase a transformer to use electronics if youโre away from campus since Grenada has 220-volt electricity, but on-campus facilities can accommodate 110- or 220-volt usage.
Classes themselves are also fully equipped with modern technology. Students are given response clickers, which allows instructors to get real-time answers when asking the entire class a question. Veterinary and medical students are also able to experience early hands-on training thanks to lifelike patient manikins.
6. What are accommodations like in Grenada?
Entering medical and veterinary students are required to live on campus for their first term. Whether you choose to live inย campus housingย or elsewhere is up to you after that. There are certainly advantages to both options.
All True Blue residence halls have central air conditioning, internet access, and laundry facilities. Each bedroom is furnished with twin sized beds, desk and chair, closet space, and bookshelves. The kitchen facilities include a refrigerator, cook top stove, and microwave. Regular cleaning services are included at no additional charge.
Some students prefer to find accommodations off campus. Off campus housing typically includes air conditioning, and you may even be lucky enough to find a rental equipped with a pool. Many of the off-campus housing options are within a five-mile radius of the schoolโand on the bus route.
7. What should I know about shopping in Grenada?
Stocking up on groceries in Grenada is easy. There are several supermarkets that are accessible by bus or your personal vehicle. Many students also take advantage of local markets for produce.ย St. Georgeโs Market Squareย is a popular choice on Saturday mornings. There are alsoย plenty of optionsย for gifts and specialty goods.
Many students have a tendency to overpack because they worry they wonโt have access to essentials. You can buy many of these items, including kitchen equipment and furniture, when you arrive. Itโs also possible to find inexpensive goods for sale from students preparing to leave Grenada.
Packing must-haves when traveling to Grenada – View reel
8. Do I need a car to get around the island?
The simple answer is no. SGU has a fleet of 40 buses that run from 6:30 am to 2:30 am every day during the semester.
Coming to SGU for the first time? Learn all about our bus system! – View reel
That said, some students prefer to purchase vehicles. You can typically find good deals on cars quite easily since outgoing students are looking to sell when itโs time for them to leave.
Youโll need to acquire a Grenadian driverโs license before you hit the road on your own. The process is fairly simple. You need to present your US license at the local police station and pay a fee, then youโll receive your temporary license. Be sure to renew it every three months.
9. What are some of the most popular holidays in Grenada?
Some of the most widely celebrated US holidays are equally popular in Grenada like Christmas, Easter, and New Yearโs Day. There are also some notable celebrations unique to the island. Perhaps the most famous is Spicemas, which is Grenadaโs Carnival.ย The annual festivities occur the second Monday and Tuesday of August and include music, dancing, and costumes.
In 2024, Grenada celebrated 50 years of Indepence.To mark the occasion, it celebrates Independence Day is February 7 and Thanksgiving is October 25. You can see a full list of public holidays on theย Government of Grenadaโs website.
10. What are some fun things to do in Grenada?
The list of things to do in Grenada is nearly endless. There are distillery and chocolate tours, hiking trails through the rainforests, and a slew of water activities. Some students get their dive certificates while theyโre down in Grenada. In addition to exploring the sea life, divers can also check out the fantasticย underwater sculpture park.
Start your island adventure
While moving to a different country can be intimidating, Grenada is a safe place to live with modern technology available and plenty of fun things to do if youโre looking for a study break.
If you can picture yourself at theย a medical school in the Caribbean, then take the next step. Visit ourย request information pageย to learn more about how to begin working toward your future career.
*This article has been updated from January 2021 to include current facts and figures.
