
The United World College of Costa Rica (Colegio del Mundo Unido Costa Rica) located in Santa Ana, San Jose is the 11th United World College and the first to offer instruction in both English and Spanish. The College, formerly the "Colegio Internacional SOS Hermann Gmeiner" opened in August 2006, and will graduate its first UWC-admitted applicants in 2008. At present it has a total of 118 international students from 66 different countries. Students are selected based on an extensive scholarship programme, selected on the basis of merit and regardless of their social or economic status. Given its historic connection with SOS Children's Villages, UWCCR aims to ensure that students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds are admitted to the school each year. Depending on their academic needs, students may apply for a three-year programme with a preparatory pre-IB year before enrolling in the regular IB programme. The college is primarily committed to three areas: Peace, the environment and multiculturalism.