Academics & Co-Curricular Experiences
Distinctive Educational Model Based on Experiential Learning
UWC Costa Rica is a space where learning happens everywhere, including in nature, the most important teacher. The rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme curriculum emphasizes sustainability and community immersion, enabling students to thrive academically, develop skills for personal and professional growth, and generate positive social impact throughout the process.
Classes and Bilingual IB Diplomas
In the mornings, students attend their selected classes in accordance with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme curriculum. The international and diverse faculty at UWC Costa Rica contextualizes all courses through regular outings, field trips, and projects outside the classroom.
Courses are offered in both English and Spanish, allowing students to pursue a bilingual IB Diploma. Global topics are shared across the courses and the daily life at UWC Costa Rica, like sustainable practices and local community immersion, allowing students to develop their IB projects, like the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge Exhibitions, and specialized presentations like the Collaborative IB Theater Play, or the Collaborative IB Arts Exhibition, with topics nurtured throughout the two years at UWC Costa Rica.
Co-Curricular CAS Experiences
During the afternoons, as part of the IB Diploma, students complete 240 hours of Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS). These experiences take place both on and off campus, allowing students to engage directly with communities, create meaningful change, practice sports & creativity, and develop leadership and independence.
The list of CAS experiences varies from year to year, as students propose and lead their own CAS, with guidance from faculty and UWC Costa Rica staff to ensure that all learning outcomes are met.
Discovery, Impact & Leadership
Regular outings, community-wide activities, and camps are held throughout the two years at UWC Costa Rica, promoting student leadership and putting classroom learning into practice.
Exploring & Impacting Costa Rica
Multiple initiatives allow all students to visit different regions of the country, learn from local leaders and organizations, discover waterfalls, beaches, and volcanoes, and learn through experience. Through volunteering opportunities, students also leave a positive mark, gaining skills they can apply in their own communities.
Debating and Proposing Creative Solutions
Activities like Model United Nations (MUN) or the Agents of Change Camp provide spaces for students to propose new ideas, debate different political perspectives, and develop solutions to support local communities. A grant is awarded every year for student-proposed projects within the community!
A campus designed to learn within nature
UWC Costa Rica is ready to launch its new campus in August 2027, offering students a space to be fully immersed in nature and unlocking new opportunities for learning and inquiry.
Begin your journey now!
Start your application to join the community in Costa Rica for the next academic year!