Everyone has the right to a quality education, whether they can pay for it or not. That’s why we offer one of the most comprehensive scholarship programmes in the world.
If you are interested in attending a UWC school, you should apply regardless of your financial circumstances: more than 80% of the students selected by our national committees are awarded full or partial scholarships. You could be next!
Scholarships to attend a UWC school
Our fees and costs vary by school, but we believe that money shouldn’t be a barrier for someone with potential. This is why UWC International, each UWC school, and more and more national committees dedicate much of their efforts to raise funds that allow us to provide scholarships. That means that promising young people benefit from an exceptional education and our schools benefit from fresh perspectives, diverse cultures and backgrounds – and powerful voices.
In order to be considered for a scholarship, you need to apply via your national committee of residency or citizenship. If you do not need a scholarship to attend a UWC, you can consider applying through the Global Selection Programme (GSP). More information on the application routes is available here.
What do scholarships cover?
This depends on what places each school provides to the national committees every year. In general, scholarships can be all-inclusive, full, up to fully funded or partial.
- All-inclusive scholarships
They cover everything: tuition, room and board, books, IB exam registration fees, curricular field trips, project weeks, visa and travel expenses (flights to/from the school and one return flight for the holiday between year 1 and 2), pocket money, and any other reasonable extra expenses to be incurred by the student.
- Full scholarships
They usually cover tuition, room and board, books, IB exam registration fees, curricular field trips, project weeks.
- Up to fully funded
They usually cover tuition, room and board, books, IB exam registration fees, curricular field trips.
- Partial scholarships
They usually cover parts of the tuition, room and board, books, IB exam registration fees, curricular field trips.
For detailed and updated information on scholarships available through a specific national committee, please contact them directly.
How are scholarships awarded?
Students at UWC are selected on promise and potential – not on their capacity to pay. As part of the selection process, national committees carry out a financial means assessment. If your application is successful, the exact scholarship amount will be determined based on your needs to ensure you’re able to benefit from a UWC education.
In other words: Concerns around money should never hold you back from applying for UWC. If you are successful in the selections, we will do our very best to make sure you receive the financial support you need.
Costs for the two IBDP Years
Below we’ve listed the fee range for each of the 16 out of 18 schools that offer the opportunity to apply for admission through the UWC Global Selection Programme for entry in 2025/2026 (2025/2026 in the case of Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa).*
UWC School or College | Fee bands in USD |
---|---|
UWC Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa (Eswatini) | $30,000 to $50,000 |
UWC Adriatic (Italy) UWC East Africa (Tanzania) UWC Red Cross Nordic (Norway) | $50,000 to $65,000 |
UWC Costa Rica UWC Dilijan (Armenia) UWC Mahindra College (India) | $65,000 to $80,000 |
UWC Maastricht (Netherlands) UWC-USA (New Mexico, USA) UWC Thailand | $80,000 to $95,000 |
Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong Pearson College UWC (British Columbia, Canada) UWC Atlantic (Wales, UK) | $95,000 to $110,000 |
UWC Changshu China UWC ISAK Japan | $110,000 to $120,000 |
UWC schools usually collect fees in local currencies. For ease, the two-year fees are displayed in USD above. The fee level is for two years and includes tuition, room and board, books, IB exam registration fees and school field trips. Air travel to and from school, pocket money, trips during term, in some cases medical insurance and other personal expenses are usually not included.
*UWC South East Asia and UWC Robert Bosch College are not participating in the GSP.
Costs and scholarships for short courses
Costs for short courses vary and scholarships are often available. Both are advertised on each individual course page. Upcoming short courses can be found here.
Costs and scholarships for pre-IB and Younger Years
Costs for pre-IB and younger years education also vary for each school and can be found on the respective school websites.
The following schools offer pre-IB programmes:
UWC Changshu China, UWC South East Asia, Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, UWC Thailand and UWC ISAK Japan.
Younger years education is offered at:
UWC Maastricht, UWC Thailand, Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, UWC South East Asia, UWC East Africa.
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Did you know : International Scholarships 2024
There are several international scholarships available for South Africans to study abroad. Here are a few examples:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program: This program provides fully funded scholarships to study at selected universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. It is open to African students, including South Africans, who are committed to giving back to their communities.
- Commonwealth Scholarships: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers scholarships for postgraduate study in the UK for citizens of Commonwealth countries, including South Africa. The scholarships cover tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright program offers scholarships for South Africans to study at U.S. universities for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses, and health insurance.
- Erasmus+ Programme: The Erasmus+ programme offers scholarships for South Africans to study in Europe for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, and living expenses.
- Australia Awards Scholarships: The Australian government offers scholarships for South Africans to study at Australian universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
These are just a few examples of the many international scholarships available to South Africans. It is important to research the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for each scholarship program.