Learning & Living in UWC Costa Rica

Academics

UWC Costa Rica offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), renowned worldwide for its challenging and comprehensive curriculum. This two-year program provides students with a broad and balanced educational experience, preparing them for future university studies. The IB Diploma is highly recognized by universities globally.

Note: The National Baccalaureate for students from Costa Rica is not offered.

  • Grades are available three to four times yearly, with complete reports provided twice annually through ManageBac.
  • The IB grading scale ranges from one (1) to seven (7), with four (4) as a satisfactory pass mark.
  • For the IB, a minimum overall score of 24 points is required (students also need a minimum of nine (9) points at SL and 12 at HL). Lower grades in one or two subjects may be compensated by higher grades in others at the same level and by a maximum of three (3) points from the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay.
Additional Resources:
  • Students study six (6) academic subjects, three (3) at Higher Level (HL) and three (3) at Standard Level (SL).
  • The curriculum core includes Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS).
  • At UWC Costa Rica, we have placement tests in English, Spanish, and Math to ensure that students are placed in the right course and level for their abilities.

Note: Students with no experience in Spanish will not take the placement test in the language. They will be placed in Spanish ab initio if they choose to include Spanish in their Diploma.

If a subject does not have at least seven students selecting it, we cannot offer the course. There is also a subject change period; however, students cannot switch into courses that have already reached their maximum capacity (18 students for non-laboratory subjects and 16 for laboratory subjects).

  • Students with prior IBDP enrollment must inform the Academic Office and upload their current-year transcripts to their Open Apply account.
  • Pre-studied subjects cannot be repeated, but equivalent subjects may be chosen. For example, if the student has already completed one year of English Language and Literature, they should switch to English Literature.
  • The IB is strict about requiring that the Diploma Programme be completed over two years, not three, so that some students do not have an unfair advantage over others.

The college assumes that students and faculty accept and respect the principles of intellectual honesty. Any cheating, including an unsuccessful attempt, is considered very serious and subject to disciplinary procedures.

The IB regulations regarding academic honesty are specific, and any deviation from them may result in a student being disqualified and ineligible for the IB Diploma.

  • Support is available for time management, study techniques, and academic challenges.
  • Coordination with English Language Support (ELS) is provided for students with language barriers.
  • Students with specific learning needs should provide documentation in English or Spanish (no older than two (2) years) for accommodations.

For learning support inquiries, contact:
learning.uwccr@uwccostarica.org

  • Classes run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., with protected afternoons for CAS activities, tutorials, university visits, and meetings.
  • Once a month, classes run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. because of Community Meetings. 
  • Evening activities include residence meetings, cleaning duties, and check-ins.

Co-Curricular

The Co-Curricular Program at UWC Costa Rica enriches students’ holistic education by promoting a balanced lifestyle through interests and service initiatives.

Through carefully designed initiatives, it enables personal growth, intercultural understanding, and leadership, while complementing academics, residential life, and wellness. Experiential learning allows students to develop responsibility, respect, and a deeper connection to Costa Rican culture while embracing the values of compassion, service, and environmental stewardship.

The Co-Curricular initiatives are a core and mandatory component of the UWC Costa Rica educational model.

Co-Curricular experiences at UWC Costa Rica enhance students’ learning by supporting their physical and emotional well-being. These initiatives offer meaningful opportunities for engagement with various communities in Costa Rica.

Through these activities, students embody UWC values and grow into responsible individuals ready to make a positive impact on the world. Individual interviews and the UWC Portfolio allow students to reflect on their educational experiences and outcomes.

Some of these initiatives include:

  • Conociendo Costa Rica (CCR): Exploring the rich cultural and natural heritage of Costa Rica.
  • Community Action Week (CAW): Participating in an intensive week of community service and cultural immersion.
  • Community Action Days (CAD): Engaging in local community service projects and sustaining the work of CAW initiatives.
  • Model United Nations (MUN): Developing diplomatic and debate skills through simulations.
  • Agents of Change (AoC): Empowering students to initiate and lead social impact projects.
  • Thematic Weeks (TW): Immersing in focused thematic explorations addressing local and global issues.
  • IB CAS Experiences: Defined by the International Baccalaureate and a core component of the UWC student journey.

While CAS is one of the co-curricular initiatives, it holds a unique place within the broader spectrum of activities. CAS is primarily student-led and aims to leverage the diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and skills of UWC students through peer learning.

It encourages creativity, physical activity, and community service, allowing students to take initiative and demonstrate personal commitment to their chosen activities.

Activities
  • Football
  • Running
  • Basketball
  • Self Defense
  • Yoga
  • Volleyball
  • Swimming
  • Better Football
  • Tennis
Creativity
  • Baking
  • Rhymers’ Poetry
  • Origami
  • Urban & Contemporary Dance
  • Film Production
  • Card Games
  • Crochet for Cancer
  • Music
  • Development
  • Afro Dance
  • Chess
  • Asian Dance
  • Creative Writing
Service
  • Greenhouse
  • Write for Rights
  • Waste Management
  • ARDEI
  • CAS Helpers
  • UWC Endowment Investment Club
  • Global Issues
  • MUN Club
  • Duka
  • Eco Bricks
  • Campus Naturalists
  • Library
  • Lifting Hands
Mixed
  • Mandarin
  • Aerial Silks
  • Student Ambassador (by recommendation)

Residential Life & Wellness

Residential Life and Wellness is a cornerstone experience at UWC Costa Rica. It fosters lifelong friendships, cultural exchange, healthy lifestyles, and an appreciation for diversity. Our comprehensive program ensures a safe and respectful environment, maximizing both enjoyment and educational opportunities.

Students at UWC Costa Rica are expected to:

  • Share their own culture in the residence
  • Learn and apply intercultural communication, conflict transformation, and negotiation skills as tools to live together in diversity
  • Participate in all residence meetings, including room meetings and individual meetings
  • Participate in all sessions of the Residential Life and Wellness educational program
  • Put into practice the college’s values within the residence and in community living, in preparation for making meaningful societal contributions beyond the college experience
  • Be willing to share different beliefs and perspectives with others
  • Adhere to waste management and sustainability policies and required actions, such as recycling and composting

Eight residences accommodate up to 28 students each, and every student is entitled to shared spaces, respect, and a commitment to learning how to live together in a clean environment.

Each room accommodates two to four students. Rooms are organized according to the diversity principles of our community, including cultural diversity, a balance between first- and second-year students, and nationality.

This intentional approach creates opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of what it means to live in a diverse world while embracing our values.

Students have assigned rooms and do not choose them. They are expected to learn how to live together and embrace diversity.

All students are entitled to:
  • Access their room at any time. No student should feel excluded from their room due to another student’s behavior
  • Be treated with respect
  • Sleep without disturbance
  • Have their personal belongings respected
  • Live in a clean environment
  • Feel safe and free from fear or ridicule

Participation in educational sessions is mandatory because they help students develop skills such as asking for help, managing conflict, setting boundaries, and communicating effectively.

UWC Costa Rica is committed to creating a sustainable future through its Sustainability Framework. This framework includes a whole-college approach that fosters sustainability across academics, residential life, co-curricular activities, and campus operations.

Students are expected to contribute and demonstrate commitment to the following:

  • Recycling: Reducing environmental impact and promoting responsible consumption
  • Composting: Supporting waste reduction and soil health
  • Electricity Conservation: Turning off lights, fans, AC, and chargers when not in use
  • Water Conservation: Being mindful of water usage (e.g., limiting showers, using full laundry loads)
  • Respecting Wildlife: Not touching or feeding animals, and maintaining a safe and respectful distance

By adhering to these principles, all community members contribute to a more sustainable and responsible campus.

At UWC Costa Rica, we are deeply committed to the holistic wellbeing of our students. Through intentional initiatives that nurture mental, physical, and emotional health, we strive to ensure that every member of our community feels supported, valued, and empowered.

We develop an educational program that helps students build social-emotional skills that support them both during their time on campus and in the long term as future changemakers.

Our Wellness Support Team provides a coordinated framework to promote resilience, balance, and healthy lifestyles within daily campus life, fostering a culture of empathy, inclusion, and shared responsibility.

A central component of this framework is individualized guidance through meetings with trained wellness counselors and psychologists.

These confidential, respectful, and student-centered conversations provide space to reflect on everyday experiences that naturally arise in a rigorous academic and residential environment. Students are supported in areas such as:

  • Adjusting to new routines
  • Managing time
  • Navigating friendships
  • Setting boundaries
  • Clarifying personal goals

This support is developmental and proactive. The focus is not on clinical treatment, but on strengthening coping strategies, encouraging self-awareness, and equipping students with practical tools to respond constructively to challenges.

At UWC Costa Rica, medical coverage is available 24 hours a day during the academic year. The college’s medical team consists of licensed health professionals, including part-time doctors who conduct in-person evaluations on campus two to four days a week. Nurses oversee the daily operations of the medical team, maintain students’ medical records, and promote health and wellness practices. Paramedics monitor students’ health and respond to emergencies when nurses are off duty, typically on weekends or during overnight shifts. An ambulance service is available around the clock, providing transport to local medical facilities and bringing doctors to campus for urgent situations.

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is included in the attendance fees. The insurance covers a percentage of the expenses, and families are responsible for the remaining balance. Pre-existing conditions, dentistry, ophthalmology, pregnancy, use of drugs, alcohol, chemical substances, self-harm, and international travel are not covered by the student’s health insurance. These treatments must be paid for by the student, family, or legal guardians.

Families should be aware of the College’s insurance coverage details. If additional coverage is needed, families must purchase international insurance before entering Costa Rica.

In cases where the school insurance does not cover the condition and the student has international insurance, parents are responsible for completing the corresponding process. They must ensure that payment is arranged on a reimbursement basis or, if the hospital offers direct coverage, that a pre-authorization letter is available when the UWC Costa Rica nurse coordinates the medical appointment or recommended study.

Costa Rican citizens and residents should refer to the Insurance section in the Guide for Costa Rican Families.

For questions about medical services at UWC Costa Rica or the General Health form to be submitted during your enrollment process, please contact: medical.admissions@uwccostarica.org

To find more information about college insurance, please click here.

Living in Costa Rica

Life is pretty casual at the UWC Costa Rica Santa Ana campus, but occasionally you will need to dress formally (think: Graduation, Model United Nations, Prom, among others). For most days, however, modest summer clothing is appropriate. Evenings can be cool, so sweaters or jackets are recommended, but the usual dress code is comfortable, clean, and modest attire.

It is also a good idea to bring sturdy shoes for walking, hiking, or climbing, a sleeping bag, and old clothes for service projects, orientation, and muddy days. Umbrellas and hats or baseball caps are also recommended. Shoes must always be worn outside the residence and around campus.

Costa Rica has two seasons: rainy and dry. Be prepared for hot, humid, and dry weather, as well as windy and rainy conditions. Many days are sunny, but when it rains, it pours. Keep sunscreen and mosquito repellent with you.

What to Bring

These recommendations were developed in collaboration with students to ensure you receive realistic and practical advice. We encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or would like to connect with a current student.

  • Summer clothes (t-shirts, shorts, dresses, etc.)
  • Warmer clothes (sweaters, long pants, sweatpants)
     It gets hot during the day but cooler at night—avoid overpacking heavy items.
  • Rain jacket and umbrella
     You will arrive during the rainy season.
  • Enough socks and underwear
     Consider a mesh laundry bag.
  • Swimwear 
  • National outfit or a garment that represents your identity
  • Flags (countries, regions, identities)
  • At least one formal outfit and accessories  (Prom, Graduation, MUN)
  • Sneakers, sports shoes, and flip flops
  • Shower shoes (flip flops recommended)
  • Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
  • At least one white shirt (for events like Holi)
  • Sportswear
  • Laptop (mandatory — minimum 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
  • Phone and chargers
  • Plug adapters (Costa Rica uses US plug types A & B)
  • USB / flash drive
  • Scientific calculator (TI-84 recommended)
  • Notebooks or folders*
  • Debit or credit card (must work internationally)
  • Overnight bag (for trips and camps)
  • Headphones

*If packing is tight, know that Santa Ana has various convenience stores and clothing stores where academic and personal hygiene products can be purchased.

  • Reusable water bottle
  • Toiletries* (bring enough for the first few days)
  • Bug spray* and after-bite
  • Sunscreen* (expensive locally)
  • Personal medications (bring enough supply)
  • Basic first aid kit*
  • Towels* (not provided — bring at least two)
  • Sleeping bag* (recommended for trips)

*If packing is tight, know that Santa Ana has various convenience stores and clothing stores where academic and personal hygiene products can be purchased.

  • Hair care and special toiletries: If you are used to a particular product, we recommend you research if it can be purchased in Costa Rica; if not, we recommend you bring it with you
  • Label your belongings
  • Bring items that make your room feel comfortable
  • You will share a small space with 2–3 students from different cultural backgrounds

Food & Money

The cafeteria offers meal options to accommodate diverse dietary preferences and needs. There are vegetarian options for every meal service. The cafeteria staff strives to provide balanced, healthy, and tasty choices to energize and satisfy students. If food remains after each meal service, students may return to the line for an additional portion.

Food from our cafeteria is locally sourced, and we try to mitigate our foodprint through traceability initiatives, seasonal food rotation, and partnerships with local suppliers who follow responsible practices. All food waste from the cafeteria is taken to a pig farm as a circular economy strategy that transforms organic waste into valuable livestock feed.

Allergies, dietary needs, and food restrictions are taken very seriously. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, students and families are expected to follow these guidelines:

  • During the initial health assessment, allergies must be reported to the college Nurses/Health Team and Residential Coordinators (RCs). This information is crucial for cafeteria staff to prepare safe and suitable meals.
  • Medical information from the health assessment form is shared with relevant teams, including the cafeteria, to ensure proper food management for students with intolerances or allergies.
  • While the cafeteria team does its best to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions, students must ask about ingredients when in doubt. The cafeteria staff will be happy to assist.

Currently, extra meal service for a fee is not offered. However, students may cook in residences, go off campus during approved leave times, or order food delivery if they wish to eat additional options.

A limited number of cooking utensils and equipment are provided in each residence. Students typically purchase or bring any additional items needed to prepare their own meals.

Please be aware that UWC Costa Rica is unable to accommodate certain dietary requirements on campus, including Halal and Kosher diets.

We recommend that students bring approximately $1,000 per year (or more, depending on personal spending habits) for personal expenses. We do not advise obtaining Costa Rican colones in advance, as the exchange rate fluctuates frequently.

Many places accept US dollars, and there are numerous banks and ATMs available (ensure your card is international and will work in Costa Rica), as well as cash withdrawal points.

Life on Campus

You are the pioneers experiencing both campuses!

The current campus, located in the heart of Santa Ana, allows students to engage directly with the Costa Rican community while still being surrounded by nature. Unlike most UWC schools and colleges, our campus is situated within an urban setting, offering students the opportunity to connect with local communities and enjoy nearby cultural experiences, cuisine, and activities beyond campus.

During your second year, we will transition to a new campus in San Isidro de Heredia. This new location will offer expanded learning opportunities in nature for future generations. Surrounded by 40 hectares of a nature reserve, the campus is designed to provide an immersive and transformative experience in close connection with the natural environment.

Learn more about the New Campus

Costa Rica is a tropical country that hosts almost 6% of the world’s biodiversity. Campus life also reflects this biodiversity, and maintaining a clean and comfortable environment in residences, classrooms, and shared spaces is essential.

Living on campus offers opportunities to appreciate wildlife, including birds, iguanas, raccoons, armadillos, squirrels, and insects. It is important to respect their habitat while keeping a safe distance from human spaces.

Students must do their part to maintain a safe environment and avoid attracting wildlife and pests into residential areas, including raccoons, snakes, ants, termites, flies, and cockroaches.

Some expectations and practices for all community members include:

  • Storing food in sealed containers in the designated kitchen or common areas
  • Not feeding wildlife on campus
  • Practicing proper waste management
  • Closing doors when leaving any building or room
  • Not leaving plates and utensils laying around

Maintaining these practices helps ensure a safe, respectful, and balanced coexistence with the natural environment on campus.

We strongly discourage sending or receiving packages due to complex customs procedures in Costa Rica, which often cause significant delays.

UWC Costa Rica staff cannot retrieve packages held by customs or assist with the related procedures. Packages containing food, candies, used clothing, medicines, cosmetics, or electronics are likely to be held. These items may incur taxes and require permits, which can add up to more than the item’s value and involve lengthy processes.

Additionally, most items typically sent to students can be easily purchased in Costa Rica.

Check the policy.

Student & Family Handbook

Our mission to cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and our planet—learning from nature and from each other for a lifetime—is at the core of our educational model.

Approximately 300 people—students and staff—from over 70 countries live and learn together on campus. Please refer to the UWC Costa Rica Student & Family Handbook to familiarize yourself with college procedures, regulations, the Code of Conduct, and the consequences of noncompliance.

Note: The college reserves the right to update rules and regulations when necessary.

Click here to read the Student & Family Handbook

Students are expected to be on campus, attend all classes, and participate in all scheduled residential life, wellness, and co-curricular activities. Attendance across all three areas of the educational model is essential for both academic success and community integration.

Students may request permission to leave campus under the following conditions:

  • Weekdays (if no classes): 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Sunday to Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disciplinary processes, including loss of privileges, probation, campus restrictions, or removal from the college.

The Code of Conduct is designed to promote honesty, integrity, and mutual care. Respect for oneself and others is essential for peaceful coexistence, and every member of UWC Costa Rica is responsible for upholding the values of empathy, reciprocity, and accountability.

Each student is responsible for reviewing the Code of Conduct at the beginning of the academic year. Additional expectations regarding campus living and residential life will be explained during Orientation.

UWC Costa Rica is a completely alcohol- and smoke-free campus. The use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited on and off campus.

Students who currently depend on tobacco products should carefully consider their decision to attend, as smoking is not permitted on campus. Additionally, smoking in workplaces and public spaces is illegal in Costa Rica.

The college reserves the right to administer breathalyzer or urine tests, as well as other inspection procedures, when necessary. Failure to comply with these policies may result in expulsion.

Beyond your time at UWC

UWC is possible thanks to its community

UWC is sustained by a global community that extends far beyond the two-year experience. Alumni, volunteers, and supporters continue to play an active role in strengthening the movement and expanding access to a UWC education.

There are different ways to stay connected and contribute over time—from supporting scholarship opportunities, to engaging as a volunteer, to becoming part of a lifelong global network committed to positive impact.