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. In addition, if learning or EAL support may be needed, assessments may 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 in different timeslots to support applicants who are not in Singapore.

During the immersion programme, applicants will have assessments in English (if English is not the applicant’s first language) and, if applicable, alternative Language A (first language or mother tongue) and/or Language B (second language). 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