International travel has become very difficult because of Covid-19. Will I be able to go to UWC? 

• Like many international organisations, UWC had to devise new and hybrid education models in 2020. The schools have made decisions about their teaching methods according to their campus resources, the regulations of their host country, and the needs of their student. We cannot guarantee that your UWC experience will be identical to that of non-pandemic UWC generations, but we can assure you that UWCs are creative and flexible communities, with students and staff who are rising to the challenge of education and community-building with innovation and warmth. 

 

My school was closed for most of the pandemic. Can I still apply to UWC?

• We recognise that the pandemic has been challenging for most students and schools. We will be taking this into account when we select the students for the 2022 intake. We are interested to know how you challenged yourself academically and intellectually during this time, not necessarily how many hours your school was able to teach. 

 

UWC sounds amazing, but I am worried that my parents could never afford it. Should I apply? 

• The price of a UWC education is well out of the reach of most Zimbabwean families, so the vast majority of students attend UWC on some form of scholarship. Once a student has been accepted, the Zimbabwe National Committee will have a conversation with the student's parents about how much they can afford to contribute towards the fees. Most students' families pay what they would have paid for the student's Sixth Form education in Zimbabwe. Students offered partial scholarships pay whatever the school is unable to cover in their scholarship offer. Students offered full scholarships may be asked to pay their airfares and pocket money, however this will be determined in conversation with the family.  

 

Do I have to be in Lower Sixth to apply for UWC? 

• UWC schools offer a two-year Sixth Form programme. All candidates re-start Lower Sixth in August or January (for Swaziland). Upper Sixth or post-Sixth Form candidates will find themselves repeating their qualifications.

I am looking for a university scholarship? 

• All the UWC schools are high schools. The IB diploma is the equivalent of an A-level diploma. If you already have A-levels, you should apply to a university programme, not to UWC. 

I missed the deadline. Can you look at my application?

• Unfortunately the Zimbabwean National Committee is offered a very limited number of places each year, so we do not consider any applications that are received after the February deadline. 

 

 I didn't get 7 As for O'level. Can I apply? 

• The IB is a rigorous academic programme. While the focus of UWC is on service and social change, students are expected to maintain a very high academic standard. The UWC Zimbabwe National Committee uses O-level grades to determine whether students will cope with both the social and academic rigour. However, students with strong academic backgrounds who were unable to write 7 O-levels because of school limitations should not be discouraged from appying. 

 

My parents are concerned that I won't be able to get into university if I don't do A-Levels. Should I apply? 

• UWC students complete the International Baccalaureate, a rigorous international diploma that is highly respected by the majority of rigorous tertiary institutions. UWC Zimbabwe candidates have gone on to study at Ivy League universities and highly selective Liberal Arts programmes in the USA, respected British and European institutions, top-ranked Canadian schools, South African universities, and the most selective Zimbabwean university programmes. 

 

I grew up in Malawi, but my parents are Zimbabwean, can I apply?

My dad is Peruvian and my mum is Kenyan, but I have lived in Zimbabwe all my life, can I apply?

I am Zimbabwean but I spent last year on foreign exchange in Germany, can I apply?

• The UWC Zimbabwe National Committee is expected to send students who will represent Zimbabwe on their UWC campuses. We recognise that there is a rich diversity of ways that students engage with and represent Zimbabwe, so we consider all students on a case by case basis, rather than having strict rules about citizenship or residency.  That being said, if you are resident in another country at the time of applications, you should approach the National Committee of your current country, as they will be more likely to consider you for UWC. You might also consider the UWC Global Selection Programme, which does not have residency/nationality requirements.  

 

I applied last year but I did not get in. Can I apply again? 

• Usually not. UWC is a sixth form programme so students who are already well into their A levels will be repeating school years. 

I applied to the Global Selection Programme. Can I apply to the National Committee as well? 

• NO. The GSP and NC  processes are mutually exclusive. Once you have started one process, you cannot be considered for the other process. 

 

For more general questions about UWC, check the UWC website. Or contact us on uwczimbabwe@gmail.com.