United World College in Mostar (UWCiM)

"United World College in Mostar (UWC Mostar) is a remarkable and purpose-driven institution that stands apart from virtually every other international school in the world."

Situated in Mostar, a city in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this school was founded with an explicit and deeply meaningful mission: to contribute to the reconstruction and healing of a post-conflict society through education, dialogue, and international understanding. For families considering relocation to the region, or for those seeking a school with genuine values at its core, UWC Mostar offers an educational experience that is as transformative as it is academically rigorous. The school was established in September 2006, co-founded by Elisabeth Rehn, who served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Secretary General for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1995 to 1999, and Lamija Tanović, Chair of Humanity in Action Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its official opening was marked by the presence of Queen Noor of Jordan, a fitting symbol of the global significance attached to this institution from its very beginnings. UWC Mostar was conceived as a joint initiative between the United World Colleges movement and the International Baccalaureate Organization, with a shared commitment to supporting the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader region. As the twelfth college in the global United World Colleges family and the fourth in Europe, UWC Mostar holds a distinctive place within this prestigious network of schools. What makes it especially unique, however, is that it holds two historic distinctions: it is the first UWC established with the explicit aim of contributing to post-conflict reconstruction, and the first to be housed within an existing public school. This integration into the local educational fabric is not incidental — it reflects the school's foundational belief that meaningful change happens not in isolation, but through genuine engagement with the community it serves. Academically, UWC Mostar delivers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the gold standard of internationally recognized pre-university education. The IB Diploma Programme challenges students with a broad, rigorous curriculum that develops critical thinking, intercultural awareness, and a genuine love of learning. Instruction is delivered in English, making the school accessible to international families and expatriate professionals relocating to the region. The student community at UWC Mostar reflects the school's international character and its deeply local roots. Students from across Bosnia and Herzegovina study alongside peers from around the world, creating a richly diverse environment in which young people learn as much from one another as they do from their teachers. The campus setting in Mostar — a city renowned for its iconic Old Bridge and its complex, layered history — provides a living classroom unlike any other, where the lessons of reconciliation, resilience, and coexistence are not abstract concepts but everyday realities. For families seeking a school that combines academic excellence with a profound sense of purpose, UWC Mostar is a genuinely extraordinary choice.