The UWC community was profoundly impacted by the events that occurred in Afghanistan in August 2021. The ensuing humanitarian crisis prompted UWC to take action and launch the UWC for Afghan Youth Appeal to increase its support to Afghan students. Since the inception of this initiative, 47 young Afghans — 37 of them girls — have been given the opportunity to access a life-changing UWC education at 14 different UWC schools, all with financial support.

Fifteen of these scholars have now graduated with an International Baccalaureate Diploma, and the majority will be starting their tertiary studies in September 2024 on scholarships to some of the world's most prestigious universities, including Yale, Brown and Utrecht universities.

Current events in Afghanistan now urge us to do more, and we will do that the best way we know how: through our education system.

The opportunity to study is a crucial stepping stone for young people to build a better future for themselves and their communities. As an education movement with a mission to make education a force for peace, we have been working for years to support youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, including refugees and internally displaced people, giving them access to a quality education and a personal and academic sanctuary.

You can support this vital work by donating to the UWC Afghanistan National Committee by clicking the button below and selecting Afghanistan from the dropdown list.

If you would like to hear more about the UWC for Afghan Youth appeal and the opportunities that it provides for young people from Afghanistan, please contact Lachlan Keen. 

Applications to the UWC Afghanistan National Committee

If you are interested in applying to UWC, or know someone who is, please note that eligible applicants must:

• Be 15-17 years old at the time of application  
• Live in Afghanistan, or have an Afghan citizenship while living elsewhere in the world.* 

To prove your citizenship, you will be asked to provide:

• A copy of your Tazkira national identity card and/or a valid Afghan passport; 
• Or a refugee document issued by your host country that confirms your Afghan nationality.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, but don’t have the necessary documentation to prove your nationality or to travel at the moment, we still encourage you to apply. UWC receives technical advice and support from refugee-focused organisations, and may be able to support you in obtaining documentation and visas. However, we can make no guarantee that you will receive a visa.

Applications for Afghan students to apply to study at UWC in August/September 2025, open on 20 September 2024. The application and selection process is conducted entirely online. This means that you don’t have to worry about logistics: you can apply and, if invited, you can attend interviews from wherever you are in the world.

Keep a close eye on the UWC Afghanistan National Committee website for further details.

*Please note, if you are a permanent resident or a citizen of another country other than Afghanistan, you are not qualified to apply through the UWC National Committee of Afghanistan. Please apply through the national committee of the country where you are a citizen or have permanent residency.