Pestalozzi-UWC

Scholarship Programme

In 2019, the long-standing Pestalozzi International Foundation (PIF) scholarship programme evolved into a new partnership with United World Colleges (UWC). The Pestalozzi-UWC Scholarship Programme funds students from disadvantaged backgrounds who would not be able to complete their education without support. As a funding partner, Pestalozzi provides scholarships for the selected students to study the 2-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The first five Pestalozzi-UWC Scholars entered UWC Atlantic in August 2019 and the first students at UWC Mostar in 2022. The majority of our funding supports our scholarship programme.

Unsolicited applications for the scholarship programme are not accepted. Our current partner organisation, United World Colleges, identify individuals for support.

Meet the class of

2020 – 2022

How the students are selected

United World Colleges has a network of National Committees based in almost every country in the world. At present, Pestalozzi offers scholarships to students from Belize, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tibetan communities in exile in Nepal and India.

Former partner organisations in those countries are encouraged to nominate candidates meeting all our selection criteria to the National Committees. As a result, the process will also allow us to consider candidates from a wider range of schools. Pestalozzi staff have the opportunity to join the National Committee members and observe some of the selection process in each country.

Selection Criteria

National Committees (NC) will identify suitable candidates during the UWC annual selection process. The successful Pestalozzi-UWC scholars will:

normally be aged 16-18 years old;
show high potential (academic and social) and will otherwise not have the opportunity to complete their secondary education;
come from a conflict/refugee/underprivileged/in exile background as recognised by the NC, depending on the appropriate country context, and not have the financial means or privileged connections to be able to complete their secondary education. Reference to refugee includes a young person who is an IDP (internally displaced person) within a region of conflict;

have an awareness of issues in their community and have demonstrated a commitment to their community in line with Pestalozzi’s ethos of education for the head, heart and hands;
be aware of and committed to PIF’s values;
be able and eager to play an ambassadorial role for their communities when abroad; and
able to think of clear examples of how to give back to UWC/PIF/their home communities in the future.

All scholarship candidates will be assessed based on the UWC core criteria and relevant NC eligibility criteria. UWC’s core selection criteria are:

Intellectual Curiosity and Motivation
Active Commitment
Social Competence
Resilience, Personal Responsibility and Integrity
Motivation for UWC

The final decision regarding suitable students will remain with the members of the respective NC selection panel. NCs allocate candidates to the places they have available at UWC Atlantic or UWC Mostar based on several complex factors such as visa/immigration restrictions, best fit, available funding, and student preference.

Application Process

The application and selection timeline varies from country to country. Students interested in applying for a scholarship should check the webpage of the respective UWC National Committee website for details.

www.uwc.org/nationalcommittees

T: 01424 870444 office@pestalozzi.org.uk

Pestalozzi International Foundation, PO Box 335, St. Leonards on Sea, TN38 1NJ
Registered Charity 1‌098422. A company limited by Guarantee 0‌4797376. Incorporated in England and Wales.

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