Our country strategy

The countries we choose and the students we choose

Choosing prospective students for the Pestalozzi-UWC scholarship is an enjoyable but important part of the work we do. Before the students touch down in the UK, and reach UWC Atlantic, a lot of work is done behind the scenes.

The rigorous recruitment process involves in-depth research into specific countries, the formation of robust partnerships with organisations in each country, and the assessment of the students themselves.

How do we choose our students?

Every year, members of our Student Programme team travel to our student countries to find prospective Pestalozzi students aged between 16-19 years-old. Whilst in the partner countries, they conduct one-to-one interviews, which are a big part of the selection process. On top of the interviews students also have to sit exams in English, maths and science before they are considered for a coveted Pestalozzi scholarship.

The selection process also takes into consideration a number of factors including the student’s age, academic ability and potential, financial situation, social circumstances and the most important consideration is their commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of people in their home communities.

Below are the five considerations when looking at perspective Pestalozzi students:

Students from the country must be capable of scoring 5.5 (with 5.5 in Writing) on the IELTS Academic Paper.
We look specifically at students who lack the opportunity to complete the final two years of secondary school (A Level or equivalent) and we also focus on countries with low rates of student progression into tertiary education.
Students from the country must have a level of education sufficient to cope with the demands of an A-Level course or an Enhanced A-Level course.
Students from the country will ideally add to the ethnic and cultural diversity of the community in the UK
The country must be able to provide partners who meet the Pestalozzi partnership criteria.

Which are our student countries?

We currently select students from Belize, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Tibetan communities in exile, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Below is a brief outline of each:

Belize

Area: 22.966 sq.km
Population: 367,000
Education—Primary: 109/114 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 82/78 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 30/18 Female/Male

Bhutan

Area: 38,394 sq.km
Population: 784,000
Education—Primary: 103/101 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 87/81 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 9/13 Female/Male

India

Area: 3,287,263 sq.km
Population: 1326,802,000
Education—Primary: 117/105 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 69/67 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 23/25 Female/Male

Indonesia

Area: 1,910,931 sq.km
Population: 260,581,000
Education—Primary: 105/107 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 82/83 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 33/29 Female/Male

Nepal

Area: 147,181 sq.km
Population: 28,851,000
Education—Primary: 140/130 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 69/65 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 15/18 Female/Male

Tibet

Area: 1,200,000 sq.km
Population: 3,200,000
Education: N/A

Pestalozzi has welcomed Tibetan refugees to the village since 1963, working with our main long established partner, the Department of Education at the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala.

Uganda

Area: 241,550 sq.km
Population: 40,323,000
Education—Primary: 104/103 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: N/A

Pestalozzi welcomed our first Uganda student in 2011.

Zambia

Area: 752,612 sq.km
Population: 16,717,000
Education—Primary: 109/65 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 109/65 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 109/65 Female/Male

Pestalozzi welcomed our first Zambian students to the village in 1988.

Zimbabwe

Area: 390,757 sq.km
Population: 15,967,000
Education—Primary: 99/100 Female/Male
Education—Secondary: 45/48 Female/Male
Education—Tertiary: 5/6 Female/Male