Aged 16-19 years
Established in 1982, UWC Adriatic is the first UWC to be set up in a non-English speaking country. The College is located on an open campus in the picturesque coastal village of Duino, just a few kilometres from the border with Slovenia in a region that is a meeting place of Germanic, Latin and Slav cultures. The College operates a policy of deliberate diversity that is key to its mission and as a result, students come from over 80 countries and a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. In fact, currently 92% of the student body benefit from a full or partial scholarship in order to pursue their education at the College.
Three Unique Features
- Immersive Italian Experience - Students experience a UWC education while being continuously exposed to the richness and diversity of Italy’s cultural heritage. The college capitalises on its setting at a political, cultural a geographical crossroads in the heart of Europe.
- Music - Music plays a major role at UWC Adriatic thanks to the presence of an in-house music academy (ICMA) that aims to explore the full range of musical genres and styles from around the world, whilst also bringing professional musicians to the college for masterclasses and performances.
- A Village, not a Campus - UWC Adriatic is not enclosed in its own campus, rather its residences, academic building, laboratories, etc. are scattered throughout the village. Students are integrated into the lives of the local and surrounding communities through their daily life and weekly social services.
In the Classroom
UWC Adriatic offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) curriculum. Alongside standard courses, the College offers Arabic, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, World Arts and Cultures, Environmental Systems, Psychology, Visual Arts and Music. Additionally, all students are expected to take Italian as a subject, although this does not have to be an IBDP exam subject but can complete a separate Certificate.
Outside the Classroom
UWC Adriatic places a special emphasis on the "service" component of its Creativity, Activity, Services (CAS) program. Being physically integrated into the life of the local community the College has long-standing collaborative relations with many associations that lead volunteering activities in a wide range of areas.
Social services activities include: work with Italian and Slovenian-speaking children through art, music, teaching English and other activities in local primary schools and youth centres; providing assistance to persons with mental or physical disabilities; offering companionship to the elderly in the village or other persons who are confined to their homes; visiting the elderly in local institutions; refugee work; a First Aid Course - Ambulance Service (with local Red Cross operators); performing musical concerts in hospitals and institutions for aged and sick people; visiting people with multiple sclerosis; engaging in sports and theatre activities with people with disabilities; science dissemination for children and adults; offering English conversation classes to the local community; visiting the residents of a local hospice.
Creative activities include: Ceramics / Pottery, Chess, Creative writing & Literature Appreciation, Poetry, Drawing & Graphic Design, Crochet and Knitting, Model United Nations (MUN), TEDx UWC Adriatic, Gardening, Adriatic Times (blog), Musical activities (choir, piano lessons, solo singing, music composition, instrumental lessons, ensembles, musical show), Photography, Video-making, Theatre Tech Club and Yearbook.
UWC Adriatic capitalises on its seaside village setting on Trieste’s karst highlands and in the vicinity of the Alps to offer its students a range of related outdoor activities. These include the following: Aerobics, Badminton, Climbing, Cross-country running, Down-hill Skiing and Cross-country Skiing, Hiking, Hip Hop, Kayaking, Long-distance Running, Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Sailing, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Yoga.
Campus and Facilities
UWC Adriatic’s residences and facilities are scattered around the village of Duino. Seven residence buildings host the students. Other facilities include the Mensa (the canteen), the Academic Building, the Science Labs, the Art Centre, the Library, the Medical Centre, the Auditorium and ICMA – the International Community Music Academy.
Duino, a charming seaside village half an hour from Trieste, is a tranquil location that provides a protected environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Venice is nearby and the border with Slovenia is just a few kilometres away.