UWC Austria follows a thorough and well-rounded selection process to identify motivated and talented young individuals who align with UWC’s values and mission.
Before starting your application, we suggest you:
- Check our eligibility criteria to determine if this is the correct route for you to apply.
- Check the UWC selection criteria to determine if you are a good fit for a UWC experience.
You’ll then be ready to start your own UWC journey!
Selection procedure
In Austria, the selection process takes place in three stages:
- the written pre-selection
- the selection weekend
- the final selection
Anyone wishing to attend a UWC school must go through all three stages, i.e. be available in person on all relevant dates without exception.
1. Written Application Stage
The first step in the selection process is submitting a written application. Based on the written applications, a pre-selection will take place and you will be informed whether you will receive an invitation to the selection weekend. The application period begins each year on September 1 at 00:00 (CET) and ends on October 31 at 23:59 (CET).
The written application is submitted via a standardized online application form (called SMApply). This form contains the following points:
- personal information such as age, place of residence, school and language skills
- hobbies and interests or extracurricular activities
- 4 essays on UWC-related topics
- your last 2 school reports
- 2 letters of reference (1 teacher, 1 person from your community who is not part of your family)
- signed permission from your legal guardian(s)
- official documents (copy of passport/ID card) and photo
- statistical questions about your background
Tips: Save your application content before filling it out electronically. Give yourself enough time to complete this application form; it can take up to four hours.
We will inform you by mid-November whether you will be invited to the selection weekend.
2. Selection Weekend
At the selection weekend (end of November/beginning of December) we would like to get to know you better and give you the chance to experience the “UWC spirit” in person for the first time. During this weekend, we will try to find out whether UWC suits you through fun activities and discussion tasks in small groups. The activities at the selection weekend include:
- Group Activities: Candidates engage in collaborative problem-solving tasks and discussions to assess teamwork, leadership, adaptability and resilience.
- Individual Interviews: A panel interview where applicants discuss their motivations, aspirations, and alignment with UWC’s values.
- Project Presentations: Candidates may be asked to present a personal project or initiative they have worked on that reflects their commitment to making a positive impact.
Tip: Just be yourself and get involved in the UWC experience!
In the weeks following the selection weekend (but no later than mid-December) we will contact you regarding an invitation to the final selection.
3. Final Selection
At the final selection, which usually takes place in early to mid-January, we would like to challenge you again in group discussions, games and personal interviews.
After the final selection, the places for the UWC schools are allocated. We not only pay attention to the ranking in the final selection, but also to which UWC school suits you best. The selection committee will suggest a UWC place based on this.
The selection process only determines access to a UWC education and has no influence on the amount of financial support or school places available to UWC Austria scholarship holders.
Personal participation in the selection weekend as well as in the final selection is mandatory in order to be recommended for a UWC place.
4. Nomination stage
After selections, the Austrian National Committee nominates the most promising candidates for placement at UWC schools and colleges. Successful applicants will:
- Receive an offer for a UWC placement, which may be fully or partially funded depending on demonstrated need (all applicants will be requested to submit financial information to this effect).
- Have the opportunity to accept or decline the nomination.
- Complete necessary paperwork and preparations for enrollment.
- Take part in the scholarship award ceremony in June.
Important dates
- Application Open: September 1st
- Application Deadline: October 31st
- Selection Weekend: Last weekend of November/first weekend of December
- Final Selection: A Saturday in the beginning of January
- Final Decisions Announced: by April 1st
To start your application, please visit our Application Page or contact us at [email protected].
We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the UWC community!