UWC Mostar

Following the BiH War (1992–1995), Mostar emerged as a city where communities often live parallel lives, divided along ethnic lines. Education in particular became a symbol of separation, with many schools implementing the so-called “two schools under one roof” systems where students of different backgrounds share a building but are taught separately. This fragmentation reflects the challenges of reconciliation and the ongoing work needed to bridge divides in everyday life. This reality proves the relevance of the UWC International mission, where we consider “education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future”.

A College Built on Connection

UWC Mostar was founded in 2006 with the belief that education can be a transformative force for peace and understanding. It is the only UWC located in a post-conflict society, and the only one integrated into a national public school system. This unique positioning allows the College to be more than just an academic institution—it is an active participant in the city’s journey toward reconciliation.

Students from over 70 countries study alongside peers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing all its ethnic and religious groups. By living, learning, and leading together, they show that diversity in education is not only possible, but powerful. The campus itself is a microcosm of what Mostar could be: a place where difference is a source of strength, not division.

Academics and Local Partnerships

Academically, UWC Mostar offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), renowned for its rigor and emphasis on critical thinking, global awareness, and service. What makes the College distinctive is how the curriculum is enriched by its setting. Students engage with local history, post-war reconstruction, and ongoing social challenges—not as distant case studies, but as lived realities.

Through partnerships with local NGOs, schools, cultural institutions, and community initiatives, students participate in projects ranging from youth engagement and environmental sustainability to interfaith dialogue and heritage preservation. These connections bring mutual benefit: the city gains from the creativity and energy of an international student body, and students gain real-world experience in building bridges across divides.

A Living Example

UWC Mostar is not simply about teaching diversity—it is about proving that it works. In a city still healing from conflict, the College is a daily demonstration that young people of different nationalities, languages, and beliefs can live and learn together successfully. The friendships formed here cross borders both physical and psychological, and graduates carry this example into their future studies, careers, and communities worldwide.

Mostar is a place where the past is present—but also where the future is being written. At UWC Mostar, that future is one of connection, curiosity, and the conviction that education can unite even in the most divided of places.