UWC America

Application deadline: 12/12/2026

Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa was founded in 1963 as a response to the separate and unequal educational systems in South Africa. The property on which the School is situated was originally a farm called “Waterford Park Estate”. When His Majesty King Sobhuza II, the former Ngwenyama of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), visited the school in 1967, he gave it the name “Kamhlaba”, by which he meant both “of the world”, a world in miniature, and also that we are “of the earth” and therefore without distinctions such as race or religion. Differently to all the other UWC schools and colleges, the academic year at Waterford Kamhlaba runs from January to November.

Three Unique Features

  • Strong Relationships with Local Change-Makers – The School, through community service, has strong relations with local organizations such as the refugee camp and neighborhood care points (children welfare centres).
  • Waterford Kamhlaba is the only UWC school on the South hemisphere calendar – While other UWC schools’ academic years usually run between September and May, Waterford’s follows the South hemisphere norm starting in January.
  • First Multiracial school in SA – Waterford Kamhlaba was the first multiracial school in Southern Africa; founded as a direct response to South Africa’s system of apartheid, which had racial segregation as a policy did not allow multiracial school. Its history of embracing and celebrating diversity from across Africa and beyond is something deeply ingrained into Waterford Kamhlaba’s nature and continues to be at the core of its values today.

Admissions

Students apply through their UWC national committee or through the UWC Global Selection Programme. Direct applications are also possible. For more information about Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, visit the website.

A report on Education in the 21st century

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Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa was founded in 1963 as a response to the separate and unequal educational systems in South Africa. The property on which the School is situated was originally a farm called “Waterford Park Estate”. When His Majesty King Sobhuza II, the former Ngwenyama of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), visited the school in 1967, he gave it the name “Kamhlaba”, by which he meant both “of the world”, a world in miniature, and also that we are “of the earth” and therefore without distinctions such as race or religion. Differently to all the other UWC schools and colleges, the academic year at Waterford Kamhlaba runs from January to November.

Three Unique Features

  • Strong Relationships with Local Change-Makers – The School, through community service, has strong relations with local organizations such as the refugee camp and neighborhood care points (children welfare centres).
  • Waterford Kamhlaba is the only UWC school on the South hemisphere calendar – While other UWC schools’ academic years usually run between September and May, Waterford’s follows the South hemisphere norm starting in January.
  • First Multiracial school in SA – Waterford Kamhlaba was the first multiracial school in Southern Africa; founded as a direct response to South Africa’s system of apartheid, which had racial segregation as a policy did not allow multiracial school. Its history of embracing and celebrating diversity from across Africa and beyond is something deeply ingrained into Waterford Kamhlaba’s nature and continues to be at the core of its values today.

Admissions

Students apply through their UWC national committee or through the UWC Global Selection Programme. Direct applications are also possible. For more information about Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, visit the website.

A report on Education in the 21st century

The SCDI offers a myriad of educational materials, training programmes, opportunities

Download

Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa was founded in 1963 as a response to the separate and unequal educational systems in South Africa. The property on which the School is situated was originally a farm called “Waterford Park Estate”. When His Majesty King Sobhuza II, the former Ngwenyama of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), visited the school in 1967, he gave it the name “Kamhlaba”, by which he meant both “of the world”, a world in miniature, and also that we are “of the earth” and therefore without distinctions such as race or religion. Differently to all the other UWC schools and colleges, the academic year at Waterford Kamhlaba runs from January to November.

Three Unique Features

  • Strong Relationships with Local Change-Makers – The School, through community service, has strong relations with local organizations such as the refugee camp and neighborhood care points (children welfare centres).
  • Waterford Kamhlaba is the only UWC school on the South hemisphere calendar – While other UWC schools’ academic years usually run between September and May, Waterford’s follows the South hemisphere norm starting in January.
  • First Multiracial school in SA – Waterford Kamhlaba was the first multiracial school in Southern Africa; founded as a direct response to South Africa’s system of apartheid, which had racial segregation as a policy did not allow multiracial school. Its history of embracing and celebrating diversity from across Africa and beyond is something deeply ingrained into Waterford Kamhlaba’s nature and continues to be at the core of its values today.

Admissions

Students apply through their UWC national committee or through the UWC Global Selection Programme. Direct applications are also possible. For more information about Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, visit the website.

A report on Education in the 21st century

The SCDI offers a myriad of educational materials, training programmes, opportunities

Download