"There are over 150 UWC national committees worldwide. Each committee is independent"
The national committee route is how the majority of UWC students worldwide are selected. Each UWC national committee runs its own selection process in its own country or region, identifying students who meet the UWC criteria and nominating them to the wider UWC network. Students do not apply directly to a UWC school. They apply to their national committee, which selects them and forwards their nomination to UWC International.
How national committees work
There are over 150 UWC national committees worldwide. Each committee is independent: it sets its own application timeline, designs its own selection process, and may add specific criteria that reflect its own national context, alongside the six universal UWC selection standards. The selection process typically involves a written application, interviews, and in some cases group activities or residential selection events. The exact format varies by committee. Once selected by a national committee, students are nominated to the UWC network. UWC International then allocates them to a college based on availability, preferences, and the committee's recommendations. Students nominated through the national committee route do not choose which UWC school they attend. Placement decisions are made centrally. Most students nominated through the national committee route receive full or partial scholarship support. The level of support depends on the committee, the student's financial circumstances, and the availability of scholarship funds.
Applying through UWC India
UWC India is the national committee for Indian citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). It is one of the most active national committees in the UWC network and runs a full selection process each year. Applications to UWC India open annually, usually in the autumn of the preceding academic year. The selection process includes a written application, interviews, and a selection camp. Successful candidates are nominated to UWC International and may be placed at any of the 18 UWC colleges worldwide, including UWC Mahindra. More information and the application form are available at in.uwc.org.
Finding your national committee
If you are not from India, the full directory of national committees worldwide is available at uwc.org/find-your-national-committee/. Each committee listing includes contact details, application deadlines, and information on the local selection process. If your country does not have an active national committee, you may be eligible to apply through the International Application Pathway (IAP), which is managed centrally by UWC International for students in countries without committee representation.