UWC Atlantic provides two distinct two-year educational pathways for students aged 15-19: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the Systems Transformation Pathway, an innovative alternative to the traditional IB curriculum.

Average class size: 13 students

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Most students follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which is made up of three core components and six subject groups.

Core components

• Theory of Knowledge: Students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we claim what we know.

• The Extended Essay: An independent, self-directed piece of research finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students take part in a range of experiences and at least one project.

Subjects

• Estudos de língua e literatura: Língua e Literatura Inglesa, Literatura Espanhola, Línguas Autodidatas
• Aquisição da língua: Inglês B, Francês B, Espanhol B

• Indivíduos e sociedades: Economia, Geografia, História, Antropologia Social e Cultural, Política Global, Sistemas Ambientais e Sociedades

• Ciências: Biologia, Química, Física, Sistemas Ambientais e Sociedades

• Matemática: Matemática – Análise e Abordagens, Matemática – Aplicações e Interpretação

• As artes: Artes Visuais, Música
  

Systems Transformation Pathway

Since 2023, UWC Atlantic has offered an alternative piloted educational programme in partnership with the International Baccalaureate called The Systems Transformation Pathway.

This course equips students with the skills, attitude and abilities they need to tackle complex and interdependent systemic challenges. It is fundamentally action-oriented, and it replaces written exams and classroom-based learning with relevant, ambitious, necessary work in complex and authentic real-world contexts. The bespoke curriculum shines a spotlight on Transformative Change, Systems Leadership and Just Futures across the core IBDP curriculum. Students then apply the knowledge they’ve gained, immersing themselves in the impact areas that mean the most to them personally, whether that be biodiversity, energy, food or migration. This course equips students to go beyond treating symptoms to advance transformative change at a systems level.

More information on

https://www.uwcatlantic.org/learning/academic/systems-transformation-pathway

Co-curricular

All students at UWC complete a co-curricular programme called Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) – an integral part of the IB qualification. Students get the opportunity to choose a physical, a creative and a social service activity.

The campus hosts an arts centre, where student-led productions, community meetings and film screenings take place, and the historic castle includes a library and gothic styled dining hall. Surrounded by woodland and situated on the seafront, students are also eligible to volunteer at the National Coastwatch Institution Station, which assists in the protection and preservation of life at sea.

Residential accommodation:

There are eight student residences. Typically, boys and girls are separately accommodated on different floors/wings. Most students are in rooms of four with nationalities and cultures deliberately mixed. All houses have a common room, kitchen and a quiet/study room with computer and Wi-Fi access.

Medical provisions:

• Centro de saúde aberto sete dias por semana e composto por dois enfermeiros a tempo inteiro e um assistente de bem-estar

• Médicos de família no campus duas vezes por semana 

• Apoio 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, através da nossa equipa pastoral e equipa noturna 

• Hospitais locais localizados a 30 e 45 minutos

Academic and emotional wellbeing:

The school supports students’ academic and emotional wellbeing through:

• Psicóloga Clínica que gere a equipa de Saúde e Bem-Estar no campus
• Três conselheiros que oferecem apoio socioemocional através de consultas individuais ou sessões sem marcação
• Tutores de residência disponíveis para apoiar todos os aspetos da vida estudantil
• Reuniões semanais com tutores pessoais para supervisionar o bem-estar académico, social e emocional
• Alunos da mesma casa reúnem-se regularmente com os tutores de residência (adultos que prestam apoio residencial aos alunos)
• Os tutores que vivem no local verificam regularmente as atividades em cada casa

You can apply to UWC Atlantic through your UWC national committee (NC) or through the UWC Global Selection Programme.