The National Committee of UWC in Armenia summed up the selection of candidates for United World Colleges (UWC) international network.

In total, 160 applications were submitted to the National Committee for studies at UWC in 2015-2017. According to the rules of selection, each application was reviewed by at least three members of the National Committee. The applications are reviewed “blindly” – the representatives of the selection committee see only the substantial part of the answers and not the personal details of the candidate (name, gender, age, place of residence, etc.).

Out of 160 candidates, 126 young girls and boys passed the first phase and were invited for Skype interview after which 56 candidates were selected for the final stage. During the final stage, they worked in groups (took part in a discussion and prepared a creative task), were twice interviewed on various topics and also completed a written assignment.

19 members of the selection committee were involved in all selection stages, including UWC graduates and professors, members of UWC International Office, education specialists and psychologists. In the final stage, each candidate was reviewed by six members of the selection committee. It ensures all-round assessment in all stages of the selection process.

One of the primary peculiarities of the UWC selection process is the “need-blind admission” policy in which the admitting institution does not consider the financial situation of the applicant’s family when deciding admission. The future student’s ability to pay for their studies is considered once the candidate is recommended for a certain UWC college. Candidates confirming their intention to study and seeking a scholarship (grant) receive a financial review form. The grants are awarded based on demonstrated need, i.e. based on information and documents verifying the family income. Since the amount of the scholarship fund is limited, only those candidates are awarded grants (based on the demonstrated need policy) who really need them. The grants are given in the amount that is required.

21 teenagers from Yerevan, Dilijan, Sisian, Masis and Gyumri were selected in the final stage. Out of them, 11 will study at UWC Dilijan College, and the rest in UWC Colleges in Italy, Germany, U.S., Canada, India, Singapore and the Netherlands.

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Applications for 2016-2018 will open in September this year. The application form and rules on how to fill the form as well as detailed information regarding the selection criteria, deadlines and admission are available on www.am.uwc.org website.

And independent organ – the National Committee of UWC in Armenia – accepts the applications and selects the candidates. The selection committee is set up by the UWC and it also involves UWC graduates from various countries. As a rule, colleges admit candidates based on recommendations of national committees, but they reserve the right to make a final decision concerning each candidate.

Admission to UWC Colleges is carried out on solely a competitive basis. Preference is given to talented and socially active young people irrespective of their origins. Such a selection process ensures equal opportunities for the candidates regardless of their nationality, religion, language and their parents’ financial situation, and it also allows to bring together interesting young people with non-typical thinking and representing different cultures.

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The National Committee of UWC in Armenia selected 22 teenagers to study at UWC Colleges in 2014-2016. Most of them will be awarded grants allocated by the colleges and donors – founders of RVVZ and IDeA (Initiatives for Development of Armenia) Foundations and other philanthropists.

Citizens of Armenia not younger than 16 and not older than 18 before the start of the academic year, i.e. by late August 2015, were eligible to apply to study at one of UWC Colleges in 2015-2017.