FAQs

UWC (United World Colleges) is a global education movement. UWC’s mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

UWC comprises a network of 18 international schools and colleges on four continents and a system of volunteer-run national committees in more than 155 countries. Additionally, UWC offers short courses, which are a shorter UWC educational experience.

UWC offers a challenging educational experience to a deliberately diverse group of students: they come not only from over 150 different countries, but also from a wide range of cultural, socio-economic, religious and educational backgrounds. Through living and learning together, our students discover the value of celebrating diversity and their shared humanity.

UWC places high value on experiential learning, community service and outdoor activities, which complement high academic standards delivered through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and lower years programmes.

UWC education is experience based meaning that we want our students to learn through doing and do through learning. Our students come together to encounter and understand the principles of sustainable development such as generational and gender equality, social tolerance, poverty reduction, environmental protection, preservation of natural resources and the creation of open, free, just and peaceful societies.

Students experience these themes through active and social learning. In community services, students partake in meaningful and important activities within their immediate vicinity and deal with these relevant concepts. We help our students to discover the possibility of change through courageous action, personal example and selfless leadership.

At the heart of UWC’s distinctive model of education is a “deliberately diverse, engaged and motivated community in pursuit of the UWC Mission”. We believe that all students will benefit from learning in a diverse environment that helps to broaden their mind and sense of self

The approach within UWC emphasises student autonomy and personal sense-making. The International Baccalaureate Diploma offers a coherent and internationally recognised curriculum that is a deliberate compromise between different national emphasis on “breadth” and “depth”.

Learn more about UWC Educational Model and Principles.

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.

Our values, our admission process and the UWC mission make us different.

UWC aims at enabling youth to respond to the challenges of a globalized world. We want to educate individuals who, through their own action and personal example, can make a positive difference in the world.

We provide this education to our students independent of their socio-economic means enabled through our comprehensive scholarship system.

UWC’s mission is to make education a force for peace and sustainability. Studying at a UWC school or college is therefore just the beginning of a lifelong commitment to UWC’s values.

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

You can read more about each individual school and college on the UWC website

Students must attend the UWC to which they are accepted for the full 2 years. Transfers may be considered only in rare cases with extenuating circumstances.

The UWC selection process is competitive, and the UWC National Committee of India accepts about 40 Indian students to attend MUWCI from among 120 students who make it to the second round of selections (about 20 more are selected to attend other UWCs around the world). Selections rates for students from other countries vary every year due to a number of factors. Please contact your National Committee for further clarity.

You must be at least 16 years of age by September 1 of your first year at MUWCI. We may make exceptions in extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

MUWCI accepts students from all countries that have a National Committee presence. You can visit the UWC website to find out if your country has a National Committee. If your country doesn’t have a National Committee, you may still apply through our Global Selections Programme.

Classes at MUWCI are in English, so a good command of English is important. Many of our students do come from backgrounds where they speak English as a Second or Third Language even, and we welcome these students. You can visit our Teaching and Learning Support page to learn how we support language and learning for non-native English speakers at MUWCI.

No, we don’t accept students directly to the second year. To graduate from MUWCI with an IB Diploma, you must enrol and join us in the first year. Transfers from one UWC to another are accepted in rare cases.

The most common way to apply to a UWC school is through the National Committee System. For more information, please read our How to Apply page.

If you’re unable to apply through the National Committee or one doesn’t exist for your country, you can apply through the Global Selections Programme. Please note that scholarships are not available to students who apply through the GSP. You can know more about the GSP on our How to Apply page.

Global Selections Programme is a way to apply directly to the UWC of your choice rather than through the National Committee of your country. Students admitted through the GSP are ineligible for financial assistance or scholarships and must pay the school fee in full for

Yes, you can apply more than once as long as you are under 17 years of age the year you join a UWC.

No, students can apply either through the National Committee of their country or to the Global Selections Programme, but not to both. If you are a dual citizen, you should choose the National Committee of any one country to apply through.

MUWCI’s educational programme is intentionally designed to take place over two years, with key components taking place throughout the first year. We require you to repeat 11th grade if you wish to join MUWCI.

Please get in touch with your National Committee as this will vary by country.

We do our best, but we are not a physical disability friendly campus because of our location. We do provide additional support for students with learning challenges.

We suggest you request a teacher who knows you well and can speak to your abilities and qualities to write your recommendation letter. Please note that the letter should not be from a relative or a parent, even if they are your educator.

There is no ‘ideal’ candidate at MUWCI. Common traits in students who thrive at MUWCI is that they are passionate learners who want to build a fairer world through positive social action. You can visit our Admissions page to know more about what characteristics our successful candidates embody.

Be yourself and let us get to know you—not a version of you that you think we are looking for. You can read more about how to stand out in your application on the UWC website.

You can learn about our fees (and scholarships available) on our Fees and Financial Support page. MUWCI offers robust financial aid; do not let the figure discourage you.

Yes, we provide financial aid to every student who demonstrates financial need. Financial aid packages are based on factors such as your family’s income and resources, and not on your academic performance or merit. You can visit our Fees and Financial Support page to read more about financial aid and supportive payment options.

85% of our students are on some form of means-testing determined financial aid.

Scholarships are provided on the basis of financial means-testing and not based on academic achievement.

We use financial means-testing to decide what scholarship support our admitted students receive. This includes factors such as parental income and assets, resources, and family size. You can visit our Fees and Financial Support page to read more about financial aid and supportive payment options.

Scholarships are provided through sources such as the UWC National Committee of India, MUWCI, the Mahindra Group, our alumni, and donors.

In addition to fees, you can anticipate costs for flights, project and travel week expenses, pocket money, and caution money. We have some scholarships to help cover these costs for students in need as well.

On weekdays, classes are held between 8 a.m. and 2:20 p.m., while afternoons are free for students to work on projects and activities and spend time with one another. Saturdays are free to spend as you please. There are often activities planned for Sundays.

Our students live in wadas (residences built around a central courtyard) with about 48 students in each wada. Each wada has 6 student houses with 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, and a house courtyard (separate from the main wada courtyard). You can read more about student housing on our Residential Life page.

Wadas are co-ed, but rooms are gender separated.

We serve healthy food in our cafetaria with a variety of cuisines. Non-vegetarian food is available 6 days of the week.

There is a strict code of conduct within which our students have autonomy. Students are free to leave campus over the weekend with permission from their advisors, and they must sign in and out with security every time they step off campus.

There is a zero tolerance policy for alcohol and illegal substances on campus. We have a disciplinary matrix with an escalation process to address these issues should they occur.

We have a health centre and a doctor on campus for students to see when they fall sick. In case a student needs further attention, we have an ambulance service to take them to the nearest hospital.

Parents may not visit until the 30th of September and after April 1st. Parents who wish to visit should write to [email protected] to understand visit procedures.

Students can go off campus on weekends and once a week for off-campus service. There are also travel and project weeks as well as other college sponsored activities that take place off campus.

Yes, every wada has a laundry station. Students must do their own laundry.

Students are encouraged to continue practicing their religion. We have a designated prayer room that is available to students. Some faculty members also run study groups (Bible studies, Bhagavad Gita studies etc.). Our students also discuss issues of religion, along with caste and gender, as part of the curriculum with a view to understanding their identity.

Yes, we have an on-campus mindfulness & wellness counsellor as well as a Clinical Psychologist who visits every week. We also have a trained peer support group.

MUWCI has existed at its current location in the Sahyadris since its inception more than 20 years ago and has deep roots in the community. Our students regularly interact with residents of the neighbouring villages with mutual respect and willingness to learn. For official travel (eg travel weeks or project weeks), our students travel in groups and are always accompanied by a faculty member who is responsible for them.

There are many opportunities to travel. You can leave campus on weekends, while there are longer travel periods for travel & project weeks, exeats, and vacations.

Yes, you will to a certain extent. Our students interact daily with staff who live in the region and often with members of the neighbouring towns and villages, so you can pick up basics of the local language from your interactions with these members of the community.

There is no specific dress code, but students are expected to dress appropriately keeping cultural sensitivities in mind at all times as outlined in the Student Handbook.

There is an ATM on campus from which you can withdraw money when you need it.

There are three broad seasons—summer, monsoon, and winter. MUWCI is closed for the year for much of the summer but open during the monsoon and winter, when the weather is cool and pleasant. The few summer weeks before the close of campus can be hot.

You can refer to our suggested packing overview for a list of items you need on campus.