UWC Adriatic brings together 180 students from around the world for the final two years of their high school education. Inspired by the ideas of the German educationalist Kurt Hahn, the UWC movement aspires to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

Established in 1982, UWC Adriatic is located in the Italian/Slovene village of Duino/Devin, in north-eastern Italy, 16 km from the city of Trieste. Long a crossroad, the choice of location was deliberate as a meeting point of the Latin, Slavic and Germanic cultures. What better place to locate the first United World College outside the English-speaking world and to work towards intercultural understanding.

Life at our 100% residential school can be demanding and we are convinced, transformational. Living in rooms of 2, 3 or 4 students in one of our 6 residences scattered throughout the village, co-curricular life is at the heart of the UWC Adriatic experience, with a particular emphasis on service to others. Eighty percent of our students are non-native English speakers yet all study towards the full International Baccalaureate diploma in English. All students also study Italian. With all our teachers living in the village as well and acting as personal and residence tutors, we are a very tight knit community.UWC Adriatic offer students from all around the world the opportunity to develop international understanding through a programme which combines high quality academic study and activities that encourage personal initiative and social responsibility.

Thanks to the ongoing generous support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, National Committees and other public and private sponsors, all the students who attend the UWC Adriatic do so on full scholarship. Selections are carried out by national committees and selection partners throughout the world who look for applicants of promise and potential – those who are committed to making a difference in their communities and the world. The result is a truly diverse school population both culturally and socio-economically. We are committed to making every opportunity accessible to all our students.