Many schools worldwide now study the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a curriculum that promotes creativity, activity and service as part of its core requirements.
However, we take its principles further.
Our diverse school communities encourage students to explore different perspectives with their fellow classmates, rather than just learning them from books and online media.
We explore the art and culture of our surroundings and each other’s backgrounds first-hand and consider how creativity and imagination can help us understand and change the world.
Our focus on community service goes far beyond fulfilling the IBDP requirements or boosting students’ university applications. We help young changemakers discover causes that matter to them. Students learn how to turn ideas into initiatives, projects and activities that can help those around them for many years after they have graduated, and that can help transform their own communities back home.
This means that, as a UWC student, you will build habits and skills that aren’t just for school, but for life.
Our specific activities vary by school, because it will be the specific surroundings of your campus that will determine the activities that are possible and the service initiatives that are needed. At the same time, the UWC mission and values lie at the heart of everything we do across our movement.
Creativity
“Even if you’re not going to pursue art, you learn to think like an artist here"
Art and creativity aren’t just about being able to paint or play an instrument. They are about discipline, collaboration, imagination, and being able to express the things you experience and feel.
Art and creativity aren’t just about being able to paint or play an instrument. They are about discipline, collaboration, imagination, and being able to express the things you experience and feel.
At UWC, we’ll encourage you to explore your creativity and channel what matters into art, dance, photography, music and other media through co-curricular activities, workshops and school events. Whether you want to engage in creative activities to get loud and make your voice heard or develop a creative practice for quiet mindfulness, you will have plenty of choices at your fingertips.
We explore the culture and craft of our local areas and give you the confidence to perform and play with others. This might involve taking to the stage for theatre or dance, learning about art history, writing for the student paper, visiting cultural sites, or performing for your school community and beyond. Creativity also plays an important role in design thinking for social impact, something UWC seeks to develop in all of its students and that deeply connects with the Service component of CAS.
Activity
“It’s not just about competition. If you want to play basketball at another school, you might have to be really good. But at UWC, if you’re really good, you teach other people so they can play too. It’s an environment in which you learn, and learn that it’s okay to fail, and that gives you the opportunity to try.”
Every UWC school draws from the community around it and that applies to sport and physical activity as well.
You have the opportunity to play many of the sports you grew up loving, from football to basketball and tennis. Many of our students also make regular use of gym facilities for cardio and strength training, while all UWCs have regular access to on- or off-campus swimming facilities.
Outdoor education plays a key role in a UWC education, so we make full use of the environments around our schools. Depending on the school or college you attend, this could mean kayaking and sailing in the ocean or local lakes, hiking amidst mountains and tropical forests, exploring winter sports in locations that experience snowfall, or simply finding time for quiet contemplation on nature walks.
Activity and exercise are not only crucial in bringing UWC values such as personal challenge and mutual responsibility to life, they are also key in maintaining balance and wellbeing in a busy and stimulating environment. Beyond the four walls of an indoor gym, they also give us a chance to explore our surroundings, connect with nature and truly experience the world around us.
Service
“I suppose that’s something I’ve been carrying around with me since UWC: This energy to push for things, even when they’re tough or go against the status quo.”
We aim to make sure that every student realises that they can use their education to make a difference, and take local action towards global issues. That goes beyond the taught curriculum and is part of everyday life.
At UWC, our classes encourage students to identify changes they can make in the world. It allows them to consider how they can act to improve lives, both as individuals, and together.
Every year, we see students set up projects and initiatives that tackle issues head-on, from waste recycling and renewable energy to community dialogue and education. We see people leave with the confidence to stand up for what they believe in and the skills to turn ideas into tangible actions and initiatives.
Our schools and colleges have long-standing service partnerships with local organisations, enabling students to learn key skills for community impact by doing. The nature of service opportunities will naturally vary based on the location of a particular UWC, as the needs of surrounding communities can be vastly different. Many new service projects emerge every year as a result of student initiatives. They may serve either the host community of the school, or students’ own communities back home.
At UWC, students take periodic breaks from regular classes to dive into “Project week” or a “focus day” – a dedicated time for hands-on learning in a project they care about. Whether working individually or in teams, students design and carry out projects that reflect their interests and values, often exploring themes like sustainability, community service, creativity, or intercultural understanding. These are a key part of UWC’s experiential learning approach, giving students the space to take initiative, collaborate, and put their ideas into action in real-world settings
Find out which co-curricular activities each school can offer