Preparing to Move to St. Kitts
We’re excited to welcome you to Ross Vet, and we can’t wait for you to enjoy all the island has to offer! As you prepare to join the Ross Vet community, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help your transition to St. Kitts.
Once You Arrive
If you arrive during the suggested orientation window, our orientation leaders will be waiting for you outside the customs area at the airport wearing a Ross Vet shirt and holding a Ross Vet sign. It might be crowded, but take a few minutes to find them—don’t leave the airport on your own.
Our representatives will help transport you to your new accommodations. We have prearranged, limited seating for students and any immediate family (a spouse, partner, or children) who will be living with you.
Accompanying friends and family who are staying in hotels or other lodging should arrange their own transportation, like a taxi or rental vehicles. Transportation options can be found on our Life in St. Kitts page.
Be sure to inform us of your travel plans and the names of any family members who will be living with you so we can properly arrange transportation.
After you’ve settled in, you’ll start Orientation Week. You’ll attend sessions where you’ll get to know your fellow students, with orientation programs that will continue throughout Vet Prep and your first semester. You’ll also get to know the campus and take tours of the island that cover everything you’ll need, from cafes and shops to recreational areas where you can unwind.
Cell Phone During Orientation Week (ONLY)
During Orientation Week only, you can obtain a complimentary SIM card or eSIM on campus. We’ll start you off with a complimentary SIM package with the following:
An $50 XCD line of credit. Remember to always top up (add funds to) your line of credit before it runs out.
Seven (7) days of data, local calls, and international calls. International calls are expensive, so be mindful when making them.
You will have a one-week window (7 days) within which to use this package/service. Depending on usage, the package may run out before the allotted time. You can top up the line of credit by visiting the Student Services Desk on campus, the FLOW online store, or any location where the top-up service is offered.
After ninety (90) days of no chargeable activity (i.e., no regular phone calls made, text messages sent, or top-up activity), the SIM card goes into a recycle process that eventually deactivates your number. Keep your card active—you never know when you will need to make a local call.
After Orientation Week, a SIM card can be purchased at the Student Services Desk on campus. The eSIM and a data plan can be obtained by visiting the FLOW or Digicel store in Basseterre.
Setting Up Your Cell Phone
Local service providers Digicel and FLOW offer SIM cards, eSIM, data plans, and cellular phones for purchase on the island—all of which can be used for local and international services. FLOW will be on campus during Orientation Week.
Stay connected locally and internationally
- Traveling to the island with your new or current phone or purchasing a new phone on-island. (This could be pricey.)
- Signing up for an affordable international phone plan in your home country prior to arriving on island.
- Purchasing a local data plan, SIM card, or eSIM that can be used for local and international calls.
- Using Wi-Fi or a data plan to access WhatsApp, Facebook, FaceTime, iMessage, Instagram, etc.
If you bring your phone, it must:
- Be unlocked—not tied to a specific carrier/service provider.
- Have a slot for a SIM card or be eSIM compatible.
- Be a tri-band or a quad-band phone.
- Be able to operate on the following frequencies:
- 900 MHz - GSM
- 1900 MHz - WCDMA
Please consult your service provider in your home country to confirm that your phone meets all the above requirements.
Local Data Plan, SIM Card, or eSIM?
With one of these you’ll be able to make local calls anywhere on the island even when you’re out of Wi-Fi range. This could be vital in an emergency.
During Orientation Week only, you can obtain a complimentary SIM card or eSIM on campus.
Health Insurance Requirements
Ross Vet requires that you have personal medical insurance coverage. The option to purchase a Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package is included in the admissions welcome packet.
Ross Vet requires that you have personal If you don’t provide proof of coverage from another insurance carrier by the deadline you will be automatically enrolled. Spouses and children who will accompany students to St. Kitts must also have health insurance or provide proof of alternative medical coverage.
Ross Vet requires that you have personal If you choose an outside provider, ensure the insurance can be used outside the United States, and specifically in St. Kitts.
Insurance Questions
Ross Vet requires that you have personal medical insurance coverage. Ross Vet offers a health insurance plan, but if you choose an outside provider, you must make sure the insurance can be used outside the United States, and specifically in St. Kitts.
The option to purchase a Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package is included in the admissions welcome packet. If you don’t provide proof of coverage from another insurance carrier by the deadline you will be automatically enrolled.
Spouses and children who will accompany students to St. Kitts must also have health insurance. If you don’t include them in the Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package, they must show proof of their alternative medical coverage.
In-depth information on your student health insurance can be found here. since it has more in-depth information on billing, coverage and waiving insurance.
For specifics about health insurance policy and coverage, students review the Aetna page and reach out directly to them.
You may also want to insure yourself against theft or damages in your housing in St. Kitts. Personal home or renter’s insurance in the United States may cover possessions outside the country, but you should check to make sure. You may obtain coverage locally through Oasis Prime Insurance during Orientation Week.
