Thank you for your interest in applying to UWC.


The UWC movement seeks outstanding students who want to become change-makers for a better world, regardless of their socio-economic, religious, national, ethnic or cultural background. If you are a passionate learner, excited about the prospect of studying and living with young people from around the world, if the UWC mission to make education a force for a more peaceful and sustainable future inspires you - then take the leap and apply! 

There are two main ways to  apply to study the IB Diploma Programme at a UWC boarding school:


Which Application Route is Best for You?

Whichever route a candidate chooses, the application will be assessed against UWC’s core selection criteria.

Please note that a candidate may only submit one application per academic year to study the IB Diploma Programme at UWC through only one of the following routes: one UWC national committee, the Global Selection Programme, or through direct applications to any of the schools that accept direct entry applicants.

Please visit the following page to read more about the main differences between the two UWC applications routes.


UWC Selection Criteria

Each of our schools and colleges has its own distinct character and identity, influenced by their host country, the specific setting, cultural context and their community. What makes each one of them a UWC is a deliberately diverse student body, with students coming from all over the world, bringing with them very different backgrounds to learn and live together - and their joined mission to make education a force for peace and sustainability. 

Each year, we look for applicants to join our schools, who bring the following:

  • Intellectual curiosity: You love learning about the world around you - both inside and outside the classroom. You have at least one academic area that you are passionate about, and would like to explore further. You are able to recognise global and local issues, and analyse them critically.
  • Active commitment to your own values and those of UWC: You share UWC’s values and show a commitment to follow UWC’s code of conduct. You have humility and the ability to listen to, and value, other people’s opinions. You appreciate that although others may have different points of view, they may also be right. You promote UWC’s values in your daily life, and act as a global citizen of the world.
  • Social competence: You interact respectfully with others, understanding and appreciating their viewpoints and perspectives, and you are able to work within a team to find solutions to problems. You know how to express yourself appropriately in different situations and to different people.
  • Resilience, self-awareness and independence: You can look after yourself physically and emotionally during challenging situations, for example in a boarding school environment. You have developed good coping strategies, and you are not easily overwhelmed. You also know when to ask for help for yourself, and for others.
  • Personal responsibility and integrity: You can express and examine your own values, and you are ready to contrast and reflect on them in comparison to the values of others. The way you behave within your family and community reflects your values and beliefs. You can communicate your own needs and are mindful of those of others, demonstrating a sense of communal responsibility.
  • Academic robustness: You have the potential to meet the rigorous demands of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.


The process is simple and to begin...


Step 1

Create a new account using the 'Register' button to the right.

Step 2

Confirm your account and begin your application.

You will receive an e-mail (please check spam/junk box) attached with a link. Please click on the link and you will be directed to the application page.

Step  3

In order to determine if you are eligible and what application routes are available for you, fill out the Eligibility Profile form.

Step 4

Choose between the application programs available and start your application.

It's that simple!

Please Note:

  • The 'Eligibility Profile' form will determine if you are eligible to make an application.

  • If you are eligible and you have chosen the National Committee route, only the application programs for the national committee/s for which you are eligible will appear. 

  • In the unlikely event that more than one National Committee appears as an option, we recommend that you reach out to each NC and find out more about their application process before making a choice.

  • If you are unable to locate any applications on your dashboard, please check your National Committee's website to see if applications are open. If they are and it is not displaying on your application dashboard, please check your eligibility profile to ensure you have entered the correct date of birth. You can do this by clicking your name in the top right-hand corner of the page, going to Account Settings, then clicking Eligibility.

  • If you are unsure how to submit your application, please get in touch with us:

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