Today, over 9,500 students from more than 155 countries are studying on one of the UWC campuses. Over 65% of UWC students selected for UWC through the UWC national committee system receive a full or partial scholarship, enabling admission to a UWC school to be independent of socio-economic means.

This means that anybody can apply to UWC. We are looking for students who want to become a change-maker for a better world - independent of whether they are able to contribute financially to their studies.  

All UWC schools and colleges teach the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for students in the final two years of high school education. As one of the most well-regarded and widely known secondary school qualifications in the world, the IBDP prepares the students to attend some of the world’s leading universities. In addition to the IBDP, four of our schools offer programmes tailored for younger students: find out more here. 

UWC also places a high value on experiential learning, community service and outdoor activities, which complement the high academic standards delivered through the IBDP.

Finally, we also offer short course programmes to provide students with a condensed UWC experience, and present our overall missions and values to a greater audience.

Learn more about the academic life, co-curricular activities and short courses at UWC.

UWC has a strong commitment to the welfare, development and support of our students. We understand the important role that pastoral care plays in aiding our student during at times challenging experience of living and learning in a residential school environment - often far away from home - with a challenging academic and co-curricular program. All of our locations have a team of on-site staff who support the student’s well-being in roles such as house-parents, student advisors, peer support networks, nurses and counselors, deans of students, health and wellness specialists, heads of residential life, psychologists and psychotherapists, as well as providing access to healthcare, on campus and locally.

If you apply to UWC through one of our national committees, you apply to the UWC movement as a whole, rather than an individual school or college. Applicants can usually name their first choices of preference, but national committees nominate students to various schools at their own discretion, depending on availability of places. National committees nominate successful candidates to the school or college admissions department, which makes the final decision on whether to accept a proposed candidate.

UWC’s national committee system is a unique network of more than 3,000 volunteers working in more than 155 countries to select students for UWC within their specific geographical areas. They promote the UWC movement, find, interview and select students for places at one of our schools and colleges worldwide. 

A wide variety of individuals make up UWC national committees, including UWC alumni, parents of alumni, education professionals and community leaders who have embraced UWC’s mission and values. They promote UWC to prospective students and parents, encourage and support applications, select prospective scholars and prepare successful applicants for their UWC experience.

Students are typically 16-17 when entering into the IB year, but this may vary by school/college and national committee.

At UWC, we believe that a top-class education should be made available to all students, independent of their financial needs. That is why, with the help of our generous donors and partners around the world, 65% of students in their IB Diploma Programme years receive either full or partial financial assistance, which is dependent on need and allocated based on a financial assessment.

School/college fees generally do not include travel to the respective location, pocket money, travel during holiday periods, etc. There may also be additional fees in the form of deposits, and also to cover visa/inoculation processes. However, if needed, UWC will cover also these additional costs.