UWC Selection Criteria

Selection process

A UWC education is open to anyone. However, it is not always suited to everyone. The UWC curriculum is rigorous and requires a lot of dedication. UWC educators will encourage you to take on challenges that may seem beyond you - and then help you overcome them.

UWC places are also limited. This is to ensure students get the individual attention they need and to maintain a community that encourages students to connect and learn from one another. We want to ensure that those who receive a UWC education have the passion and commitment to complete it, and the motivation to use it to make a positive difference in the world.

UWC RCN students, both contestants and volunteers, jumping in the air at Ridderrennet
Students hiking in the Norwegian mountains in late autumn with large backpacks
International students in national costumes cheerfully posing outdoors on a sunny first day of the academic year

Selection criteria

UWC selection process varies from country to country. National Committees and the Global Selection Programme have different deadlines and tailor the selection process to reflect local contexts and communities.

This means they may add their own criteria, such as minimum-grade requirements. At UWC Red Cross Nordic, every student needs to be at least 16 years old at the start of the school year in August.

All UWC schools use six key standards for selecting students:

  • Intellectual curiosity: You love learning about the world around you - both inside and outside the classroom. You have at least one academic area that you are passionate about, and would like to explore further. You are able to recognize global and local issues, and analyse them critically. 

  • Active commitment to your own values and those of UWC: You share UWC’s values and show a commitment to follow UWC’s code of conduct. You have humility and the ability to listen to, and value, other people’s opinions. You appreciate that although others may have different points of view, they may also be right. You promote UWC’s values in your daily life, and act as a global citizen.

  • Social competence: You interact respectfully with others, understanding and appreciating their viewpoints and perspectives, and you are able to work within a team to find solutions to problems. You know how to express yourself appropriately in different situations and to different people.

  • Resilience, self-awareness and independence: You can look after yourself physically and emotionally during challenging situations, for example in a boarding school environment. You have developed good coping strategies, and you are not easily overwhelmed. You also know when to ask for help for yourself and others.

  • Personal responsibility and integrity: You can express and examine your own values, and you are ready to contrast and reflect on them in comparison to the values of others. The way you behave within your family and community reflects your values and beliefs. You can communicate your own needs and are mindful of those of others, demonstrating a sense of communal responsibility.

  • Academic robustness: You have the potential to meet the rigorous demands of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

We’re looking for students who want to contribute to a better world, whatever their background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • UWC Red Cross Nordic does not select its own students. We have a number of places that we distribute to UWC National Commitees, The Global Selection Program and the Vestland county according to our admission strategy. The only students who apply directly to us comes via Vestland county. Students aged 16–18 at the start of the academic year may apply. UWC schools seek students who are curious, motivated, open-minded, and committed to contributing positively to their communities. The age requirement may differ across UWC National Committees.

  • Strong academic ability is important, but grades alone are not decisive. We look for students who show motivation, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow.

  • UWC values students who demonstrate:

    • Commitment to service and community engagement

    • Openness to different cultures and perspectives

    • Leadership potential and responsibility

    • Empathy, integrity, and initiative

  • As the IB Diploma Programme is taught in English, students must have a sufficient level of English to participate fully in classes and community life. UWC Red Cross Nordic offers a summer program to enhance English prior to the start of the academic year.

  • Application timelines and procedures vary by country. We recommend contacting your national UWC selection committee or Global Selection Programme for detailed and up-to-date information.

  • Yes. UWC Red Cross Nordic is committed to making education accessible. Need-based financial assistance is available, and many students attend UWC with partial or full support.

  • Yes. UWC Red Cross Nordic is committed to making education accessible. Need-based financial assistance is available, and many students attend UWC with partial or full support.