Redefining success: How UWCSEA is reshaping the IB narrative

For globally mobile families, choosing a school in a new country is one of the most critical decisions they will make. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma results stand out as a dependable benchmark for selecting a school, given the focus on perfect scores and high averages.

United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA)

7 August 2025

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While these achievements are undoubtedly commendable, they can sometimes overshadow a more profound and arguably more important measure of educational success: the individual journey of each student.

Celebrating the Class of 2025

At the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), a school with one of the largest and most diverse IB cohorts in the world, the narrative surrounding results is refreshingly different. The College’s focus extends beyond the numbers, championing a philosophy where every student pathway is valued, and a student’s success is defined not by a single score alone, but rather by their personal growth, resilience, and development into a well-rounded, compassionate global citizen.

The class of 2025 saw 605 students across UWCSEA’s East and Dover campuses complete the IB programme with a 98.7% pass rate.
One quarter of those students, or 152 were awarded a bilingual diploma in some 25 different languages.

Academics really matter at UWCSEA. The average IB score is consistently well above the global mean. However, at the heart of the College’s ethos is the equal importance it places on the success achieved by students who worked tirelessly to earn 27 points as those who achieved the maximum of 45.“Whilst we recognise that [the] numbers are important, our goal is not academic success alone, but rather to nurture thoughtful and compassionate individuals with a strong sense of their own identity who are ready to engage critically and creatively with the world.” - Nick Alchin, Head of College, UWCSEA.

Navigating a complex world

What matters at UWCSEA is a student’s commitment to understanding themselves, caring for others and the planet, and to becoming resilient, critical thinkers equipped with the skills and values needed to navigate a complex world. In addition to Academics, the College places equal weight on Activities, Outdoor Education (OEd), Personal and Social Education (PSE) and Service, making up the five elements of its learning programme.The learning experience is holistic, and driven by the UWC mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. The curriculum is designed to encourage students to thrive in their own unique ways. In practice, the Class of 2025 achieved this in the following ways:

Through the Activities programme, students explored their passions, developed new skills and contributed to the community by participating in an average of five of the 613 Activities available to them in their final year.
The PSE curriculum gave students opportunities to gain greater self-awareness, explore their identities and learn about relationships through 41 Mentor classes, Extended Essay support, academic advising, and well-being support systems.
With more than 1500 College, Singapore and Global Concerns (overseas) Service groups at UWCSEA, students participated in an average of three programmes each in their final year, learning leadership, empathy and caring for others and the planet.
All students took part in Project Week during which they completed a student-led mission-aligned activity overseas or in Singapore.
More than 400 students took trips within Singapore and abroad for OEd, sports, service and learning.

Hear from the Class of 2025

"Sport was a huge part of my high school experience. I was part of the Varsity Touch Girl’s team for the past four years. I was able to captain them for the past two years. That whole experience, including the trips, the training really made my high school experience. " - Maya, Class of 2025, UWCSEA Dover "I was the vice chair of the Global Concerns (GC) Executive Committee, which I really loved. That was my favourite activity. I was also the chair of Cahaya Surya Bakti (CSB), the GC which works with Rohingya refugees, educating them in Johor Bahru. For me, the GC programme was the best activity I did outside of Academics that you don't see. And I'm really glad I had the opportunity. " - Niamh, Class of 2025, UWCSEA Dover

Preparing for a globalised world

The sheer diversity of the UWCSEA student body is another element that sets the graduating class apart from many other IB cohorts. With students from all over the world, including many who attend on scholarships, the learning environment is a vibrant tapestry of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. This diversity enriches classroom discussions, cultivates intercultural understanding, and prepares students for life and work in a globalised world. The lessons learned from peers in such a multicultural setting are just as valuable as those learned from textbooks, contributing to the development of empathy, open-mindedness, and a deep appreciation for different ways of thinking and being."Being at UWCSEA has made me think of people who are back home in South Sudan… I sat down to think about: What could I really do? And came up with this ‘Initiative for Peace’ where we sponsor kids from different communities in South Sudan, take them to school… We need to use education as a bridge to bring different communities together." - Deng, Class of 2025, UWCSEA East

Different post-graduation pathways

Ultimately, the success of the UWCSEA approach is reflected in the wide array of futures its graduates pursue. While many go on to attend highly selective universities around the world, the College celebrates the full spectrum of post-graduation pathways. Whether a student chooses to pursue higher education, enter the workforce, engage in a service year, or start their own enterprise, they do so with the skills, values, and sense of purpose instilled during their time at UWCSEA.Learn more from the students about their IB experience here. See UWCSEA’s IB results here.

Visit United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA)'s Featured School page

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