United World Colleges was founded in 1962. It is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of world peace through the education of young people.

Students in their last two years of secondary school are chosen from over eighty countries to travel and attend one of the twelve UWC colleges. The main objective is to select outstanding young people from the maximum variety of national and social backgrounds.

Students are assessed on their personal merit and potential, irrespective of race, creed, colour, gender, family background or ability to pay. The first Australian student attended a UWC in 1971 and since then 300 Australians have attended 8 of the colleges.

The United World Colleges movement has its headquarters in London. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan is President, and Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, is the President of the United World Colleges International Council.

The patron of UWC Australia is Emeritus Professor Dame Leonie Kramer, former Chancellor of the University of Sydney.

For more information on United World Colleges, please visit its home page, www.uwc.org

2008 Scholarships now announced - details