UWC Senegal 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 UWC journey!
1. Application stage
The first step in the selection process is submitting an application. This includes:
- The UWC Senegal National Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, launches the selection process once the first semester report cards for students in 10th grade (Seconde) are available.
- The Ministry of Education invites all schools within the Senegalese education system to nominate their two (2) best students in Natural Sciences. The Ministry shares this information with the Regional Academic Inspections (local education authorities), who then forward it to all schools.
- Schools are then required to submit report cards for each candidate, covering the period from 6th grade (6ème) to the first semester of 10th grade (Seconde). These grades are then averaged and ranked.
- The Ministry receives a large number of applications each year. The selection committee has agreed on a benchmark in order to ensure that candidates are not overwhelmed by the rigorous academic environment at UWC. Students with an average grade of at least 16/20 over the five-year evaluation period will be invited for an interview. However, this threshold may be adjusted (usually raised) to ensure that the number of interviewees remains manageable. The final ranking determines which candidates will be invited for interviews.
2. Interview stage
Once the pre-selection process is complete, the Ministry of Education is responsible for informing all shortlisted candidates (usually between 20 and 30) that they have been invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process — the interview — which takes place in April each year.
Interviews are at the heart of the selection process. They are a great opportunity for us to get to know the candidates and assess their potential to thrive in a UWC environment. The interview panel typically consists of around fifteen members, some from the Ministry of Education and others from the National Committee. During the interviews, we do our best to create a welcoming environment so that candidates can present themselves authentically. The interviews help us understand who they are, what drives and motivates them, what challenges them, and more. The goal is to determine whether the candidate will be a good fit for the UWC environment.
- Introduction: On the day of the interviews, the Chair of the National Committee gives a brief introduction to the candidates and their guardians. This introduction includes:
- A short explanation of what UWC is (mission statement, key features of the model, approximate number of colleges, and the global network of national committees) and the importance of the interview process.
- A brief overview of the ideal candidate profile.
- Ice-breakers and a short Q&A session.
- Individual Interviews: Candidates are then invited one by one to meet with the selection committee for their individual interview. These interviews usually last between 15 and 30 minutes and are tailored to each candidate based on their interests and background. Here are some of the qualities we look for in candidates:
- Open-mindedness
- Participation in extracurricular activities
- Intellectual curiosity
- Resilience, personal responsibility, and integrity
- Motivation for UWC
- Individual Interviews: A panel interview where applicants discuss their motivations, aspirations, and alignment with UWC’s values.
- Selection: At the end of the interview process, we select the students who will be offered admission to a United World College. This decision is based on their interview performance as well as the types of offers we receive from the various colleges.
- Decisions Sent out: Once we have received final approval from the colleges regarding our selections, the National Committee entrusts the Ministry of Education with the responsibility of notifying the selected candidates in May.
3. Nomination stage
After selections, the 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.
Important dates
- Application Open: November 1st
- Application Deadline: February 28
- Final Decisions Announced: By May 31
If you are interested in UWC but are not sure that your school will submit applications, we encourage you to reach out to the head of your school and express your interest.
We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the UWC community!