“Studying at UWCSEA is a horizon-widening experience which I would never have been able to experience in other schools. It has developed me into an all-rounded person by encouraging me to take up responsibilities and undertake new challenges. Here, you can initiate activities, take part in music concerts and sports tournaments, and go overseas on field trips. On top of that, this school celebrates and treasures cultural diversity. I have the privilege to meet people coming from all around the globe and learn about their cultures. Studying at UWCSEA was a rewarding and fulfilling experience for me, one that I will never forget.”
Prudence, Hong Kong
Welcome to UWCSEA Boarding
Kurt Hahn, the founder of the UWC Movement, believed the experience of boarding with other young people from around the world was at the heart of UWC’s philosophy. He thought that such an experience, engineered to develop personal connection and understanding, could be transformational. Our boarding community proves that he was right, every day.
For more than 50 years, UWCSEA has hosted residential students from a wide variety of socio-economic, geographic and cultural backgrounds. What we have seen is that at the core of a successful boarding experience is the quality of relationships between individuals in the community. When you bring together students from around the globe, with a diversity of outlooks and narratives, you can build unique relationships that will continue into adulthood. Our boarding staff come to know students as individuals who have the potential and capacity to develop into mature and responsible adults, those who will go on to shape the world. Students come to know one another as friends, confidantes, and inspirations.
UWCSEA’s location in the vibrant global hub of Singapore means our boarders are immersed in a culturally diverse international environment, this is vastly different from the homogeneity found in more traditional boarding school settings.
Of course, our boarding experience also offers an intense level of support for all student learning which extends beyond academic achievement. Important qualities and skills that we have identified as necessary to help young people engage as active participants at university and beyond are nurtured through interaction with others.
Most of all, our boarding experience is defined by the moments that cannot be expressed in a brochure: the special conversations that shape thinking; the examples from others that inspire; the moments of connection with others whose life experience is very different from yours; and the development of an appreciation for the differences that demonstrate how beautiful, diverse and in need of understanding our fellow human beings are.
“The beautiful paradox of UWC is that celebrating diversity is what unifies us.” Karma, Myanmar
“Boarding has taught me to become mature and independent, how to be comfortable with my peers, how to forge new friendships and build unbreakable ones. It taught me that no matter what, someone is always willing to lend a hand.”
Nabila, Malaysia
Part of an international movement
The UWCSEA boarding experience is a culturally rich one, providing a supportive international family for our students. The caring environment nurtures self-discipline, self-management and leadership skills, and is true to the mission of the UWC Movement, to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Developing international-mindedness and understanding
The shared UWC ethos promotes intercultural and interpersonal understanding as an outcome of our values-based education. The College community is truly global, representing a diversity of experience, cultures and passions. As a result, our students not only gain insights into many different cultures within the College community, but are also encouraged to develop a deeper appreciation of what is special about their own.
Scholarship students
Life in boarding is enriched by scholarship students, who bring unique perspectives to our boarding community. Our scholars are students from all over the world who are nominated for their scholarships by UWC volunteers in their home country, on the basis of their academic ability and their commitment to the UWC Mission and Values. As a result of their passionate commitment to embrace the opportunity their scholarship provides, our scholars contribute much to the rich and diverse life in our international boarding family.
Such is the richness of their experience, and the strength of the friendships formed, many boarders find it difficult to leave our community at the end of their schooling. The lasting connections across the world are a demonstration of both the life-defining experience at UWCSEA and their identity as global citizens.
“Living in the international and multicultural context at UWCSEA changed my perspective. I’m more open minded and socially aware of the political and cultural context of the world. News and events happening in countries that previously seemed so distant are now extremely close. I can now say that I am a genuine global citizen.”
Matheus, Brazil
“The most impactful part of my UWC education was making friendships, collaborating with others to create things in line with the UWC Mission and Values and learning to respect all people, nationalities and schools of thought and belief.”
Nethmi, Sri Lanka
Preparing for university and beyond
Boarding at UWCSEA prepares our young people for university life and beyond, equipping them with the confidence, independence and social skills they need to be successful. We foster the qualities our students will need to become principled, proactive contributors to the world—resilience, adaptability and self-management.
Our staff encourage the boarders in their care to make the most of the opportunities on offer and to engage fully in both the educational programme and life in the boarding house. Boarders are embedded in the fabric of the campus and are deeply involved in the rich and varied life at UWCSEA.
Developing independence and resilience
Participation is central to boarding life. Boarders are expected to contribute to the boarding community by showing individual initiative, and are encouraged to get involved in a range of diverse activities.
The boarding programme is deliberately structured to gradually allow boarders to develop self-management skills and independence. This is done under the care of our houseparents, who provide advice and guidance where necessary, with the ultimate goal of equipping our students to make a smooth transition into the next stage of their life.
Singapore is our campus
While our programme takes advantage of being located in a global hub, our ethos expects students to explore the cultural diversity of both the College and our host country Singapore.
The self-contained nature of Singapore, with its urbanised development, extensive transport systems and secure environment makes it easy and safe for our boarders to explore the island city-state. Our boarders are given meaningful independence through a programme that supports them to develop this important skill and to test themselves in the outside world. UWCSEA boarding combines all of these factors to provide a genuine pre-university residential experience.
“I am a Ghanaian—a wonderful place to grow up, peaceful, resourceful and diverse. Growing up, I yearned to do something different. When I arrived in the UWCSEA boarding house, everyone seemed excited about meeting new people and interacting with them. It is such a great honour to be part of this wonderful community.”
Daniel, Ghana
Dover Campus: Kurt Hahn, Maya Angelou and Nelson Mandela Houses
1 Director of Residential Life (joint across Dover and East Campuses)
1 Director of Residential Life (joint across Dover and East Campuses)
Residential life
UWCSEA offers a residential boarding experience unmatched by traditional boarding school programmes. While we are a large and busy international school, our relatively small community of boarding students who live on each campus are a vital part of each community.
Each of our boarding houses provide a supportive community for the young people who live there.
Boarding orientation
On arrival, all students are allocated living and study spaces that they can personalise as part of a boarding orientation programme to welcome new boarders before ‘day school’ orientation starts. Experienced staff and an enthusiastic orientation team of returning boarders ensure our new boarders are immersed in a schedule of planned activities that include Singapore and campus exploration days, as well as time to get to know each other and the daily routines of the boarding house.
This is the first stage of the transition programme that supports new boarders in their move to boarding life in Singapore. Over the first six to eight weeks, there are a series of activities that foster friendships and community spirit helping students adjust to the boarding environment.
Singapore’s diverse expatriate community is reflected in the over 100 nationalities at UWCSEA . Most of our students, day or boarding, understand the challenges and opportunities of living in a new country, and this understanding and support is available to our boarders as they adjust to living away from home.
Many students adapt to boarding right from the start, but we recognise that for some it can take a little longer. The boarding team, including the boarding counsellor, proactively support our students in establishing themselves as part of our friendly and caring boarding community through workshops and check-ins. Our weekly routines help our boarders strike a balance between academic and leisure pursuits, and enable them to engage fully in the learning programme offered at the College, as well as in the benefits of residential life.
The whole boarding house participates in a weekend programme in the second month of the school year to further develop their connections and a sense of belonging in a relaxed environment after the initial busy weeks settling into school routines. This trip to a neighbouring country, such as Malaysia or Indonesia, is often cited as one of the most memorable boarding experiences by our boarders.
Daily life
All boarders have a daily schedule, with a gradual increase of self-management expected of students as they reach the final years of High School. Our younger boarders have a more structured routine, to help them maintain a healthy balance by ensuring they get enough sleep, with scheduled study times, and greater structure in their routines. We also play a greater role in helping them manage their use of technology. Our ultimate goal is for boarders to learn to manage their time and grow in personal responsibility, preparing them for life after school.
In any one week, boarders might participate in a house meeting, attend a music lesson or recital, perform on stage, debate a current affairs topic with their peers and play in a sports match—all in addition to their studies! There are also a host of recreational options in Singapore which boarders are encouraged to explore on the weekends, including bicycle and exercise trails, libraries, parks and performances. Those who wish to do so are able to connect with, and participate in, activities and worship in their religious community in Singapore.
A wide array of events and activities on campus and outings around Singapore includes cultural talks (in which boarders introduce the rest of the community to their country and culture), themed evenings, movie nights, thought-provoking discussions and presentations, sports such as dragon boating and trips to The Esplanade for concerts and other festivals. These activities provide boarders with the chance to hear different perspectives and share ideas, and to develop an appreciation for others and their different viewpoints.
“So, how is boarding life? …
… I might be totally different from my peers, but we share a common dream to make the world a better place and a curiosity for other people. I am so honoured and grateful to call these people not only my friends, but rather my sisters and brothers through the amazing and absolutely incredible UWC moments, that I will think of 50 years from now.
Each of us will watch the news as grown ups, not putting a location to a country, but a face, a memory, a feeling. And that is not only going to change us, it’s going to change the way we act and how we influence other people. Changing the world just a little bit. Today by helping one of the Chinese Grade 10s with her homework, listening to the girl from Bhutan talking about Buddhism, with her face glowing like the sun itself, giving me a feeling for the religion that no book has ever done before, and then laughing and crying arm in arm with my Kasach roommate. How would I ever—and I mean ever—support a war that would put any of my friends’ homes in danger?
Not all of us will go into politics, but there will come a time when we’ll have to make a decision on where we will stand in this world, and not only crossing the right box while electing a party, but calling our friend to say ‘what on earth can we do about that earthquake in the hometown of our friend’ and ‘which other former roommates can help us with that.’”
Julia, Germany
Wake up 7am
This probably seems like a sleep-in to our day community ... living on campus makes getting to morning sports training much easier.
If we’re not feeling well we can go to the clinic to see the Doctor.
Breakfast 7.15-7.45am
Breakfast check-in at Santai is compulsory for everyone. We go directly to lessons from there.
Lights out!
11pm
Younger students go to bed earlier, however in Grade 11 our main lights go off at 10.30pm, and reading lights at 11pm. WiFi curfew starts at midnight and runs until 5.30am.
CommuniTea, relaxation and organisation 9-11pm
At 9pm, we have a bed time snack, and time for a chat and a catch up with friends and Houseparents. Hang out with friends, get ready for the next day, extra study, make a snack, read … also, if you’re in Grades 8–10, hand in your device at ‘technology curfew’.
A SCHOOL IN THE LIFE BOARDER
A Grade 11 boarder at Tampines what a school
Study time 7-9pm
Homework, prep, call it what you will, every weekday except Tuesday, Grades 8 and 9 are in the 6th floor Common Room; Grades 10 and 11 are in the Kishore Mahbubani Library; and Grade 12 in their own rooms. On Tuesdays, if you’re up to date with your school work, you can join a community activity with your ‘boarding family’. This can be anything from sharing ‘My Story’, to sports or art activities, baking or a film night.
School day
8am-3pm
Tampines House is ‘out-of-bounds’ during the school day, unless you’re in Grade 11 and 12 and have a ‘free’ in the last timetable block (1.45–3pm). If you’re ill, you stay in the clinic under supervision from the nursing staff.
Lunch is in the canteen with the day students—our preloaded ewallet on our student pass covers it.
SCHOOL DAY LIFE OF A BOARDER
Tampines House shares day looks like.
Afternoon tea or after school activities
3-4.15pm
If you don’t have an Activity after school, it’s a dash back to Tampines House for afternoon tea before it disappears!
Some sports run up to 6.30pm, in which case we go straight to dinner.
Free time 4.15-6pm
AKA, touch base with our Houseparent, hang out with friends, study, make a snack in the kitchen, collect our laundry, or even message our parents.
We can go off-campus if it’s pre-approved—Grades 8 and 9 can go up the road to the Hawker Centre or Fairprice, while the rest of us can venture farther afield to the Mall.
Dinner
6-6.45pm
Our themed dinners are another way for us to share our culture—through that most important of mediums, food. (Food is a major preoccupation for boarders!)
On Monday nights we have a ‘House Assembly’ to run through operations for the week and share and celebrate the achievements of our community.
Saturday
WEEKENDS in the house
This guide outlines Dover Campus routines. Tampines House weekends look remarkably similar.
Friday
3pm
The weekend starts now!
3-5.30pm
Sign out of the house
You only get to go off campus with pre-approval from Houseparents. Sign out using the electronic security system and go to a movie, explore the nearby mall, bike the local park connector ... but first, afternoon tea!
6.30-7.30pm
Dinner
Meals are served in the Pavilion canteen for those on campus.
7.30-9pm
Relax in the house
Pre-planned activities led by boarding staff, based on who is in the house—think pizza making night or other cooking, movie screening, mah jong, board or computer games.
9-10.30pm
Check in to the house
Sign back in by saying hello to your Houseparent by curfew—this time depends on your grade—and completing the online check in so your parents know you’re home too.
10pm onwards
Bedtime and lights out
Flexible routines
Weekends in the boarding houses run from Friday after school to Sunday night, when the ‘school night’ routine kicks back in. There are many activities on offer, and access is available to campus facilities including the swimming pool, gym, sports fields and music practice rooms. Students are also encouraged to explore Singapore.
Supervision
A duty team of Houseparents is rostered 24/7 to supervise and support boarders. The medical clinic is staffed by a registered nurse.
Overnight leave
If you’ve organised it in advance (and parents have approved it), boarders can overnight at a friend’s house in Singapore. Boarders can sometimes invite a day student to stay in the house, or swap beds between campuses for the weekend.
12.30-1.30pm
Lunch
9pm onwards
Check in
10pm onwards
Bedtime and lights out
Sunday
From 7am
Breakfast
We make our own breakfast when we wake up. Eggs, cereal, milk, bread and spreads, juice and more are delivered to the house kitchens the night before.
8–10.30am
Check in
We can sleep in late, within reason. Check in with the Houseparent on duty is by 10.30am.
10.30am-12.30pm
Brunch and relaxation
Brunch is available whenever we feel like it. Sunday sleep-ins are often followed by hanging out while waiting for a load of laundry or as we tidy up our rooms. We may also have made plans off campus.
12.30-4.30pm
Free-choice afternoon
Pool is open with a lifeguard on duty; we’ve also got access to sports such as tennis, badminton, football, volleyball, hockey pitch and a gym. Each house has a games room and lounge—and even a kitchen to experiment in.
1.30-6.30pm
Outdoor pursuits, relaxation or study
A weekend activity is a good idea—sports on the weekends include tennis, cricket, rugby, swimming, badminton, football, basketball, hockey—or you can learn an instrument, explore Singapore, try cooking in the house kitchens, workout in the gym, and much more.
Afternoon tea is at 3pm for those on campus
6.30-7.30pm Dinner
8–10.30am
Check in
Houseparents check everyone is up and about by 10.30am on Sunday morning.
4.30pm
Check in
On Sundays, we need to be back on campus and checked in so we can start preparing for school.
3pm
Afternoon tea
7-8.30pm
Community meeting
We have a regular boarding assembly or participate in residential life programme meetings and discussions. If you are not involved this week you have free time to touch base with your Houseparent, hang out with friends, study, make a snack, or even message your parents.
5-6pm Study time Yes, on Sunday!
6-6.45pm
Community dinner
Time for everyone to get together.
9pm onwards
Bedtime and lights out
Back to ‘school night’ routines. Houseparents make sure lights go out on time by calling in to each room.
Wellbeing and safety
While our philosophy is to provide students with opportunities to develop self management and independence, each boarder has a scaffolded network of care and personal supervision around them to ensure their wellbeing.
Our carefully selected staff in each boarding house creates a team of caring adults who are assigned to a specific group of boarders so that they can form personal relationships and provide support. This includes:
• Resident houseparents: staff, generally teachers, who live with their families within the boarding houses. One houseparent is rostered on duty at all times and holds the 24 hour emergency contact number.
• Assistant houseparents: teachers and other UWCSEA staff who are rostered on duty to support students after school (for example during homework, dinner and bedtime routines) and on weekends.
• Day staff: during the school week, our boarding services staff help boarders with personal organisation i.e. finances, air tickets, school trips and visas.
• House families: new boarders are assigned to a group of fellow boarders across age-ranges, who together with a houseparent, form a ‘house family’. Houseparents meet with their family on a regular basis, and are responsible for the wellbeing of their ‘family’.
• Boarding counsellor: each campus has a qualified counsellor who is available to support the wellbeing of our boarding students and families.
Personal safety and security
Each campus has 24 hour security with a dedicated boarding reception and monitored access. Coded security that uses a touchpad sign-out/sign-in system in each boarding house restricts access to the boarding houses, and to specific areas of each boarding house for boarders.
House rules mean that students are given ageappropriate levels of independence and, in younger grades particularly, we have strict guidelines in place for off-campus leave passes. All students must have a valid Singapore handphone number and be contactable via this number whenever they are off campus.
24 hour duty roster and contact: a 24 hour emergency number is held by the houseparent on duty and we contact parents directly if we have any concerns.
Guardianship: it is possible to register a close friend or family member in Singapore as a guardian or emergency contact. In case of an emergency they will be contacted along with the parents; if this person is also registered as a host, your child will be able to request overnight leave to stay with the guardian.
Insurance: our group policy covers hospitalisation and personal accident insurance for all boarders. Please ask Admissions for details of the levels of cover; some families elect to purchase additional insurance.
Off-campus leave passes: each grade has allocated times when boarders can request permission to leave campus to meet friends, shop, undertake activities and external lessons, or for other appropriate reasons. Boarders complete an online request form, providing information on purpose, destination, mode of travel, and check in and out times. These leave requests are pre-approved by houseparents.
Overnight leave: all proposed hosts must pre-register for screening and approval by both boarding house staff and parents in advance of an overnight leave request; all overnight leave requests also require parent pre-approval; this is managed through our leave management portal and app.
Safe deposit box: passports and other valuables are kept in a central safe deposit box in the boarding office.
On-campus medical provision
There is a medical clinic in the boarding house on each campus with the following services:
• registered nurse to dispense and manage medications
• weekday clinic to consult a GP and obtain specialist referrals if needed
• doctor prescribed medications delivered to campus
• Sick bay staffed by registered nurses
• day staff assist students with follow up medical appointments and accompany them when necessary
Major hospitals are nearby (Dover: National University Hospital and East: Changi General Hospital).
Boarding facilities
While the experience and outcomes of being in our residential community are the same, there are some small differences in logistics and facilities on our two campuses. It’s really only here that you will see any difference in the boarding programme, as highlighted below.
Accommodation is protected
by hotel-style
security access to living and accommodation spaces
Students are housed by gender and grade, with each student having their own bed, desk and study space, wardrobe and storage. Rooms are cleaned (not tidied!) daily, and a regular laundry service is provided. Houseparents live with their families in apartments located in the boarding houses, as part of the residential community on both campuses.
Dover Campus East Campus
• Grades 8–12: four-bedded rooms
• each room has an ensuite bathroom which is shared by the four boarders
• two low-rise buildings form three houses, each with smart-card security access
• medical clinic and sick bay located on ground floor of Kurt Hahn House
• Grades 8 and 9: four-bedded rooms
Grades 10 and 11: two-bedded rooms
Grade 12: single rooms with sink
• bathrooms are shared, single gender facilities, located at opposite ends of the building on each level
• single 14-storey building with smart-card security access
• medical clinic and sick bay on the ground floor
Meals Asian, Indian and Western options, including vegan and vegetarian selections, are offered at every meal
Each school day, boarders have a buffet-style breakfast and dinner, and use their College ID card with a stored cash balance to purchase lunch in the school canteen. Afternoon tea is served in the house each day, and kitchen facilities are available to prepare snacks and other meals. Each house also has a BBQ which students can use.
Dover
Campus East Campus
• breakfast and dinner served in the undercover Pavilion Canteen
• not Halal certified but there are Halal options
Boarding house facilities
• breakfast and dinner served in Santai Cafe
• East Campus kitchen is Halal certified
• multiple indoor and outdoor common areas with recreation facilities including TV, pool tables, computer and board games and quiet areas
• regular laundry service provided, dryers, iron and ironing boards available for off-schedule laundry
• allocated study desks, common study areas and music practice rooms
• fitness facilities includes access to the campus conditioning gym, swimming pool and sports field, as well as bicycles for students to borrow
Dover Campus East Campus
• in-house conditioning gym and dance studio
• outdoor relaxation areas and BBQ are located in the gardens between the two houses
• tennis and beach volleyball courts
• access provided to the campus conditioning gym and dance studio
• outdoor relaxation area is available on each floor
• rooftop space with private outdoor garden and BBQ
Come and join us
UWCSEA offers full-time boarding for students aged 13 to 18 years. Families can apply for their child to join our boarding community in Grade 8, 9, 10 or 11. Occasionally, space permitting, a family relocation means that a currently enrolled day student transfers into the boarding house to complete their studies at UWCSEA.
We seek to enrol students who are committed to our Mission and Values. Applicants are asked to demonstrate that they possess the skills to enable them to thrive in our Learning Programme and to integrate into our boarding community by embracing the opportunities on offer at UWCSEA.
Some of the areas that we take into consideration when assessing a boarding application include the applicant’s approach to learning, their academic profile, their English language proficiency and any individual learning needs as well as their readiness to join the boarding community.
Approach to learning
A positive approach to learning, including effort and behaviour, is crucial. We also look for active engagement, and where possible, involvement in a range of activities including the Arts, service, sports, outdoor pursuits and student leadership.
Academic profile
Applicants must have school reports that indicate they can progress well and with confidence in our curriculum, but we do not rank applications according to academic results.
Grade 8: applicants are interviewed by the Director of Residential Life. If learning or EAL support may be needed for the student, then assessments may also be required.
Grade 9–11: all eligible High School applicants are required to participate in an immersion programme, which includes interactive activities, assessments and an interview. These are held online and are scheduled to support applicants who are not in Singapore.
During the immersion programme, applicants will have assessments in English. If the student is an English Language Learner (ELL), they may also have assessments in their first language or mother tongue (Language A), and/or their second language (Language B). The test results are used as a guide for subject selection; they typically do not play a role in the process of allocating places to eligible candidates.
English language proficiency
Applicants in Grades 8 and 9 may be admitted to our English as an Additional Language programme if they demonstrate the required level of English and proficiency in their first language (mother tongue).
Grade 10 and Grade 11 applicants are tested in English and any other language(s) suitable for their Language A subject option in the High School programme.
Individual learning needs
Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis; please contact Admissions before applying.
Boarding interviews
All eligible boarding applicants are interviewed, providing us with an opportunity to get to know the applicant and to understand their readiness to join boarding. We look for demonstrated evidence that the applicant is likely to become an enthusiastic, involved and positive participant in our boarding community.
Making an application
Applications open in September ahead of each new school year. We encourage families to visit Singapore and our campuses before submitting an application. All applications need to be submitted via the UWCSEA application system linked from our website.
Families apply for a place in UWCSEA boarding, rather than to a specific campus, although we take preferences into account if there is a compelling case for preferring one campus over another, i.e., subject availability, siblings. Students are allocated to a campus based on their stated campus preference, if any, as well as diversity considerations in relation to the current cohort within the boarding communities on each campus.
Once a place is accepted, the student is committed to remain a boarder:
• for one full school year, in the case of Grade 8–10 students
• until the completion of Grade 12, in the case of Grade 11 students
When to apply
Boarding applications should be submitted as soon as possible after the opening of our application cycle so that eligible applicants have the opportunity to be allocated to an immersion programme date, including a boarding interview, that will enable them to be considered in an upcoming offer round. We have two offer rounds; the application deadlines for these are advertised on our website.
Applications after March are accepted only if there are places available—please contact Admissions for advice.
For more information
Please contact our Admissions team who will be happy to answer questions, arrange a visit to our campuses or to help with your application.
Dover Campus 1207 Dover Road, Singapore 139654 | T +65 6774 2653 East Campus 1 Tampines Street 73, Singapore 528704 | T +65 6305 5353 admissions@uwcsea.edu.sg | www.uwcsea.edu.sg
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