UNITED WORLD COLLEGES

UWC in numbers

Do you want to be 18 11,000+

students study at UWC

a changemaker? schools every year from

across 4 continents 150+

countries
Are you a student looking for an education that will
equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a

1
positive impact on the world?

mission
Or are you a parent wanting to empower your child
through education, giving them the tools to succeed?

Or maybe a teacher, who wants to help ambitious 60,000+

alumni
To make education a force
to unite people, nations and
and driven students make the most of their potential? cultures for peace and
a sustainable future
We are United World Colleges (UWC), a global

60+
education movement of 18 schools across four
continents. And we are passionate about creating and
educating changemakers.
years
of educational
For more than 60 years, our students have become
innovation
leaders and agents of positive change, creating a
more peaceful and sustainable world.
more than
UWC welcomes applications to study the world-
renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum
80%
for two years. Students aged 16-19 years coming from
different countries, cultures and socio-economic 5%
of our students are from
backgrounds learn and live together, understanding
the world from different perspectives and making a refugee or displaced
friends for life. of the students background, or have
selected by our suffered persecution.
Become part of the UWC community national committees
and make a difference. are awarded full or
partial scholarships
 Our UWC schools
M
UWC Mahindra College
India

D F
A G
HI N
L UWC Thailand
B R Thailand
Q
P
M
C N
O
A K O
Pearson College UWC UWC South East Asia
Canada Singapore

B P
UWC-USA Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong
USA Hong Kong

C E G I K Q
UWC Costa Rica UWC Red Cross Nordic UWC Robert Bosch College UWC Mostar UWC East Africa UWC Changshu China
Costa Rica Norway Germany Bosnia and Herzegovina Tanzania China

D F H J L R
UWC Atlantic UWC Maastricht UWC Adriatic Waterford Kamhlaba UWC UWC Dilijan UWC ISAK Japan
Wales, UK The Netherlands Italy of Southern Africa Armenia Japan
Eswatini
 Studying at a UWC
school is a unique
experience. The
demands of the IB
curriculum, living in
a new country and
Across UWC, students are deliberately selected from perhaps learning

A PARENT’S
What makes diverse backgrounds. This means that you will share
your UWC experience with young people from very
a new language is
hard work and needs
commitment.

studying at UWC
PERSPECTIVE different socio-economic, religious, geographical and
“It was life-changing cultural backgrounds. You will learn with each other With students
for my daughter - her and from each other creating lifelong friendships from so many
two years at UWC
helped her develop
such confidence,
different? around the globe. different cultures,
nationalities and
backgrounds, the
understanding, Through academic, outdoor and experiential learning, UWC experience
ambition and care for Our programme goes beyond traditional education. residential life and student-led projects, our rigorous will bring unique
others. UWC opened opportunities and
up a new world of All 18 UWC schools offer a two-year experience, where IB programme will inspire you to develop a sense of
challenges.
opportunities, and 16-19 year-olds study and live together on campus. agency and possibility.
encouraged her to It will also be the
see - as do I - that her We follow a rigorous academic curriculum, balanced A UWC education will empower you to become an most life-changing
potential is limitless.” and rewarding
with a rich and varied co-curricular programme in active global citizen, or a ‘changemaker’ - someone
experience - are you
which students engage in creative, physical and who has the skills, knowledge and understanding to ready?
service learning (e.g. volunteering). make a positive impact on the world.

Each UWC school has its own unique location and You will learn to connect learning and action, promoting
character, influenced by its host country, cultural peace and sustainability in everything you do.
context, local history and community. As a result,
experiential and co-curricular activities might differ A UWC education will transform your future and give you
from school to school, as they make the most of the foundation you need to make a difference, setting
their local environment. you up for success in whatever you decide to do.
 Co-curricular
activities

All students at
UWC complete
a co-curricular
programme called
Creativity, Activity

The curriculum
and Service (CAS) - an
The benefits of outdoor education integral part of the IB
qualification.
A TEACHER’S
UWC students play the sports they have grown up loving,
PERSPECTIVE Many of the CAS
“We ask students what Most 16–19-year-old students at UWC schools like football, basketball or tennis, for example. But they
initiatives are
the most important study the International Baccalaureate Diploma also get the chance to make full use of the environment proposed and run
issues are to them, Programme (IBDP), a globally recognised, around our schools, whether that means kayaking across by students, with a
and what they can do staff supervisor for
multi-disciplinary diploma. Made up of three core beautiful lakes or hiking on snowy mountains.
to address them. For support and guidance
me, that’s the biggest components and six subject groups, the curriculum
when needed.
element of UWC. It’s that aims to broaden students’ educational experience We believe that activity and exercise are a crucial part
sense of possibility.” and challenge them to apply their knowledge of a well rounded school experience. But they also By promoting
and skills. give students a chance to explore their surroundings, a collaborative
approach, our
and truly experience the world around them.
students are inspired
SUBJECT GROUPS CORE COMPONENTS through values-
based leadership,
· Studies in language · Theory of knowledge, in which students reflect on entrepreneurial
thinking and
and literature the nature of knowledge and on how we know what
community service.
· Language acquisition we claim to know.
· Individuals and · The extended essay, which is an independent, self-
societies directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-
· Sciences word paper.
· Mathematics · Creativity, activity, service, in which students
· The arts complete a project related to those three concepts.
 How do I apply
to study at UWC?
There are two main ways to apply to study at UWC.
Make sure you select the most appropriate route as
you can only make one application per academic year.

1. Through your UWC national committee (NC)

UWC national committees (NCs) are groups of people -

mostly volunteers - who represent UWC in more than 150
A STUDENT’S countries. They find and select local students, as they
PERSPECTIVE are best placed to understand individual applications
“What has surprised
me the most about
and the potential of each individual applying.
my experience is how
much there is that I If you need a scholarship, this is the right route for 2. Through the UWC Global Selection Programme (GSP)
don’t know about the you. Scholarships are usually available for more than
world. UWC teaches Which of these
me something new
80% of the students selected through our national Most UWC schools also offer admission through the
two application
every day; whether committee system. These scholarships are allocated UWC Global Selection Programme (GSP). routes is right
it’s physics or based on an individual student’s needs and their for you?
economics, or about family’s financial circumstances. Applications via the GSP are only available if students
cultural differences or For more information
languages.
do not require financial assistance.
on how to apply, visit
My experience has When you apply through your UWC national www.uwc.org/ibdp
made me focus on committee, you apply to the UWC movement as a Through the GSP, students can apply for entry to
my values in life, whole, rather than a specific school. This means you a single school or up to five schools. This might be
understanding other
people, and how
could study at any one of our 18 schools. the right route for you if you are looking to attend a
we can work better specific UWC school.
together.” Find your UWC national committee:
uwc.org/nationalcommittees Learn more about the GSP: www.uwc.org/gsp
 UWC fees and Selection criteria
scholarships Our selection process varies from country to country.
Each UWC national committee has its own application
deadlines and tailors the process to reflect its own
Fees and costs vary depending on each UWC school, culture and community. This means they may add their
however, we believe that money should not be a own criteria, such as minimum grade requirements.
barrier to education. However, whether you apply through your UWC
national committee or the GSP, your application will be
That’s why we do things differently at UWC. assessed based on the same six core criteria:

Those with the drive and compassion to change

the world should be given the chance to shine.
It doesn’t matter where you come from or what Intellectual curiosity Resilience, self-awareness
your economic background is: what is important You love learning about the world and independence
to us is your desire and potential to be around you - both inside and outside You can look after yourself physically
a changemaker. the classroom. You are able to and emotionally during challenging
recognise global and local issues, and situations, for example in a boarding
Thanks to our generous supporters, we are able to analyse them critically. school environment, in a foreign
offer full or partial scholarships to many of these 16-19 country, potentially speaking a
year-old changemakers who need financial support. different language.

To be considered for a scholarship, you need to Active commitment to your own

apply via your national committee of residency values and those of UWC
or citizenship. If you are selected to attend a UWC You share UWC’s values and show a Personal responsibility and integrity
school, the final costs of your attendance will be commitment to follow UWC’s code of You can express and examine your own
2019 Massimo Marigo/RTV
Maastricht based on your needs and funds availability. conduct, both at school and in your values, and you are ready to contrast
daily life. and reflect on them in comparison to
On average around 5% of our students in the IB the values of others.
Too young Diploma years come from a refugee, displaced
to apply?
or persecuted background, and benefit from full
A number of UWC scholarship provision. Social competence
schools and colleges You interact respectfully with others, Academic robustness
welcome students from If you don’t need a scholarship, you can apply via understanding and appreciating their You have the potential to meet
younger age groups,
ranging from 2 to 15
your national committee or through the UWC Global viewpoints and perspectives. You the rigorous demands of the
years old. Learn more at Selection Programme (GSP). should be able to work within a team International Baccalaureate Diploma
uwc.org/academiclife and collaborate to find solutions Programme or the International
#youngeryears Information about school fees for applications to problems. Career-related Programme.
through the GSP, as well as scholarships offered
to national committee applicants, can be found at Are you someone who would thrive at UWC?
www.uwc.org/ibdp/fees-and-scholarships. Then find out more at www.uwc.org/ibdp
 Be empowered to
make a difference
Other UWC
experiences
in the world
An education for
UWC also offers short
Life after UWC
courses, providing
an intensive

the challenges
and immersive Each student works with a guidance counsellor to
experience for explore their options and identify what they want to
students from 14 to
do next. That could involve going to university, setting

of our time
20 years old.
up a charity or volunteering in their local community,
Lasting up to five taking a gap year, or something completely different.
weeks, these
short courses offer
UWC was founded during the Cold War with the vision Attending one of our schools also gives you access
everything that makes
the UWC experience of bringing together young people from opposite to one of the largest undergraduate scholarship
unique, but without sides to study and live together, inspiring them to programmes in the world. The Davis-UWC Scholars
the academic become champions of peace. Program offers scholarships to a large number of
programme.
US colleges and universities, including all eight Ivy
UWC short courses Today, our mission is more important than ever. League institutions.
focus on a variety
of different themes, From climate and ecological breakdown to social UWC also partners with other leading higher
including leadership,
injustice and global conflict, our world is facing education institutions around the world,
sustainability,
migration, gender urgent challenges. including in the UK, Canada and Germany.
dialogue and conflict Learn more at uwc.org/university-scholarships
resolution. UWC education focuses on peace and sustainability so AN ALUM’S
PERSPECTIVE
that our students can explore these crucial concepts. The UWC lifelong journey
The range of short “Without a UWC
courses varies from scholarship I don’t
year to year, to Whether as part of our curriculum or through Your connection with UWC does not end after you think I would’ve
find out more visit participation on a school council or a student-led graduate. Critical to the UWC movement is our 60,000+ even applied. I just
www.uwc.org/ couldn’t dream that
community project, you will learn to understand network of strongly passionate alumni - all of them
shortcourses big. The fact that
these challenges and act to make a difference. wanting to drive change, peace and sustainability. people believed in
me and gave me this
UWC leads the way in global education innovation UWC alumni have the opportunity to tackle local and opportunity opened a
world of possibilities
and we were one of the pioneers behind the creation global challenges, influencing and driving change
and gave me the
of the International Baccalaureate (IB). Using our using the reach of our UWC worldwide network to confidence to consider
unique approach to education, we continue to make a difference. You’ll be part of this growing ‘what else can I do?”
work with the IB and others to evolve, ensuring our community, while celebrating and building on
educational model prepares students in the best friendships which will last a lifetime.
possible way for the future.
 www.uwc.org

Be a force for positive

change in the world.
Apply to UWC today

The United World Colleges (International)

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United Kingdom
+44 (0) 20 7269 7800

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