Brussels: The European Commission announced on Monday that the application period for scholarships to study at United World Colleges (UWC) for the academic years 2027-2029 will open on 18 November 2025 and close on 11 January 2026, with the aim to ‘bring young Cypriots together’.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a new EU-funded agreement of £1.5 million with UWC will allow 18 deserving students to participate in the International Baccalaureate diploma programme at UWC schools in Europe. These schools include UWC Adriatic in Italy, UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway, UWC Maastricht in the Netherlands, UWC Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany. The selection of scholars will adhere to UWC’s established criteria, which focus on applicants’ motivation, commitment, social competence, resilience, personal responsibility, integrity, and intellectual curiosity.
Since the EU Scholarship Programme at UWC’s inception in 2019, 82 scholarships have been awarded to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot students. The programme aims to foster intercommunity dialogue and reconciliation, having a profound and lasting impact on the students selected.
In addition to the scholarships, the programme also supports bicommunal youth engagement activities, short courses, and mentorship programmes in Cyprus. These initiatives promote intercommunal dialogue and empower youth by equipping them with leadership and change-making skills. The UWC’s transformative educational model, which emphasizes peace and intercultural understanding, aligns with the European Union’s founding values of human rights, equality, freedom, and the advancement of peace, security, and justice.
The EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC is funded through the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. This initiative serves as a reconciliation and confidence-building measure aimed at facilitating the reunification of Cyprus. Since 2006, the EU has allocated EUR 760 million to support projects primarily benefiting the Turkish Cypriot community.
For more information about the scholarship application process and UWC, interested individuals may visit the UWC Cyprus – EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth at UWC website.