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 (2025 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.
UWC University Scholarship Partners
UWC is delighted to partner with universities and higher education institutions around the world to offer our graduates opportunities to further their education beyond UWC. These partnerships offer a unique access for UWC graduates to some of the world’s leading universities and are testimony to the high calibre of UWC graduates.
Below is a list of partners who offer exclusive scholarship programs to UWC graduates.
UWC is looking to broaden its university opportunities worldwide for our graduates, if you would like to speak to us about a scholarship partner program please contact Peter Verhille at philanthropy@uwcio.uwc.org.
UWC students wishing to find out more about university opportunities can contact their college University Guidance Service. Prospective students and parents can seek information from their national committee.
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.