UWC Atlantic
SET on the dramatic south Wales coast in and around 12th-Century St Donat’s Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, UWC Atlantic is one of the world’s most distinctive sixth-form colleges.
Part of the global United World Colleges (UWC) movement, the college brings together students from across the world to “make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures.”
Its clifftop campus overlooks the Bristol Channel near Llantwit Major, around 45 minutes from the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
Academically, UWC Atlantic delivers the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for students aged 16–19, encouraging breadth, depth and service alongside rigorous study.
In 2023 the college and the International Baccalaureate launched a pioneering Systems Transformation Pathway – “Leadership for Just Futures” – which re-imagines parts of the IB experience around ecological and social challenges while still culminating in the IB Diploma.
What sets Atlantic College apart is its outward-looking ethos and hands-on learning. Students typically represent 90-plus nationalities at any one time, living and learning together in residential houses on campus.
Co-curricular life ranges from outdoor education on the college’s coastline to sustainability projects and community service placements across the Vale of Glamorgan.
The college’s ‘learning by doing’ tradition is long-standing: in the 1960s staff and students here helped develop the rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB), a design that went on to transform inshore rescue.
Admissions to UWC Atlantic are competitive and values-driven. Many students are selected by UWC National Committees in over 150 countries, which look for promise, motivation and alignment with UWC ideals as much as academic achievement. Others apply via a global selection route. The UWC model aims to be socio-economically diverse; Atlantic College continues to expand its scholarship provision to widen access.
Choosing to study at UWC Atlantic means joining a mission-focused community in a uniquely Welsh setting – medieval walls, woodland and seafront all within a short distance of the heritage town of Llantwit Major.
For students drawn to an international education with strong academics, real-world responsibility and a campus that doubles as an outdoor classroom, Atlantic College offers an unforgettable Welsh study experience with global horizons.
Useful links for prospective students: explore the International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic; learn about selection via your country’s UWC National Committee; and read about the new IB-UWC Systems Transformation Pathway.