UWC & THE IB
SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION AND APPLICATION
AFTER UWC
UWC & THE IB
The United World Colleges movement is a non-profit group of 12 international schools located all around the world. It is dedicated to promoting international understanding through education. The President of the UWC movement is Queen Noor of Jordan. Nelson Mandela heads the UWC International Council.
UWCs are intentionally located in small communities where students can interact with the locals; however, its typical size of 200 students means that it is usually a close-knit, intense environment. Students come from about 80-90 countries, so there is plenty of diversity. While UWC is not utopia, most students quickly find support groups and enjoy close ties with the faculty and staff.
Without making any generalizations, UWC is definitely one of the most diverse communities in the world. It is not just a boarding school – students are constantly challenged to juggle their time between studies, activities, special events, trips, daily life and most of all, to discover other cultures without forgetting their own. Students are very much seen as the representatives of their countries and cultures, and share these with others on a daily basis. They are constantly empowered to make a difference in their communities, and in the world.
The IB is a two year pre-university program, equivalent to A-Levels, STPM, CPU, SAM and so forth. In Malaysia, it is only offered in private schools and Kolej MARA Banting. Students take 6 subjects spanning languages, sciences, mathematics and the humanities. Community service, sports and creative activities are compulsory under the CAS requirement. IB candidates also submit a 4000-word Extended Essay. The IB is administered by the International Baccaluareate Organisation (IBO): for more information please see the IBO website at www.ibo.org.
Subjects offered, class sizes, facilities, activities and special trips differ from UWC to UWC. While selected scholars will be able to state a preference, the final decision rests with the Selection Committee.
The non-profit nature of the organization usually does not allow for much active promotion of the colleges. In Malaysia, students tend to gun for other lucrative scholarships like the Public Services Department (PSD). But just because you haven’t heard about UWC or the IB from the school counselor, friends or education fairs, it is unfair to assume that this qualification is not highly recognized.
SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION AND APPLICATION
A two-year scholarship offered by the UWC Movement for students to pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at United World Colleges overseas.
UWC is a non-profit organization that relies on donors and friends. The number of scholarships depends on the colleges and the funds available each year. Do not assume though, that this means only privileged students need apply. In fact, majority of the students in the colleges come from middle and lower class families.
There is no bond. UWC alumni are merely encouraged to have strong ties with the national committee.
It covers tuition, food and boarding fees. It does not cover:
a. air tickets from Malaysia to the country;
b. travel cost during long winter and summer breaks;
c. pocket money;
d. visa application;
e. medical insurance and medical examinations;
f. graduation fee (applicable only to certain countries); and
g. room deposit (refundable – only applicable for UWC-USA).
Entry into UWC is highly competitive, not just in Malaysia but all around the world. Good grades alone are insufficient to predict one’s chances of success. Having said that, prospective candidates who think that they have what it takes to survive in an academically and socially intense environment are encouraged to try.
Different UWCs have varying policies. Pearson College in Canada only admits students on full scholarships, whereas it is possible to pay for UWCSEA in Singapore, Atlantic College in Wales and some of the other colleges. However, in most cases, fee-paying students still have to be assessed before gaining acceptance.
Not at all! The IB Diploma program does not require students to major in any one subject. For more information, please refer to www.ibo.org.
Download and complete the UWC application form. Submit it together with supporting documents (see below) to the Malaysian UWC National Committee. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Together with the application form, kindly submit the following:
a. a non-returnable passport photograph;
b. school testimonials;
c. copy of certificates (activities, etc); and
d. copy of SPM (or equivalent) result slip.
Anyone from ages 16-19 are eligible. Usually, post-SPM students apply but international school students are welcomed as well. There is no hard and set formula, no rigid expectations when it comes to choosing scholars. Typically, the committee looks for someone who has the potential to benefit from the UWC experience. Academically strong students are highly regarded but straight A1’s are not at all a pre-requisite to be considered for the scholarships. Bear in mind, though, that many other pre-university programs are less demanding and rigorous than the IB.
Usually, the deadline for applications is sometime after the SPM results are released. Forms are already available though, so interested applicants can download them. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed and successful ones are notified a few weeks later, typically in April - May. However, do check this website and the newspapers for specific dates.
All UWCs with the exception of Simon Bolivar UWC (Venezuela) and Waterford Kamhlaba UWC (Swaziland) begin in late August / early September.
It is too risky to apply to UWC alone; candidates are always advised to have contingency plans. Many UWC scholars were previously enrolled in A-Levels, ADP or SAM programs before obtaining their scholarships. Some went for exchange programs and service trips. The choice is yours – too much education is never a bad thing!
AFTER UWC
The academic year is from August/September to the end of May. Therefore, graduation takes place at the end of May two years after commencement of the program.
There is no guarantee that a UWC scholar will get scholarships or financial aid for university. However, many students who perform well academically and in extra-curricular activities are often successful in obtaining both. UWC scholars who aim to study in the US are eligible for the Davis scholarship.
University applications are still very much the responsibility of the student. For applicants to the US, SATs are usually conducted at the college but there are no preparatory classes for this and other standardized/entrance exams. Unless one takes a gap year, students are still eligible for the fall intake in most Australian/US/UK universities. Be sure to check the intakes and requirements of the universities that you are interested in.
The IB is extremely recognized worldwide. Some universities in North America and Canada even offer advanced credit to students who have done exceptionally well in the IB. It is by no means in infancy; recently UCAS, the UK-based Universities and Colleges Admissions Service awarded the IB top points in its new tariff. However, it is always safe to check with the schools that one wants to apply to.