How many different countries do the students at LPCUWC come from?
At present, we have students from 83 different countries. 42% of our students come from Hong Kong, and the remaining 58% come from 82 other countries.
Why do you have such a large proportion of students from Hong Kong in an international school?
LPCUWC aims to be a bridge of understanding between the cultures of China and the rest of the world. This is a two-way process. We want young people from Hong Kong to understand the global environment of the world they will enter, and we want students from elsewhere to learn about Chinese culture from those who know it best – young men and women of their own age who have been raised within that culture.
Are the international/overseas students mainly the children of expatriates working in Hong Kong?
No, LPCUWC is unique among schools in Hong Kong in this respect. Our students are invited to come to Hong Kong specifically to study at LPCUWC. In almost all cases, their families are still living in their home countries. The international/overseas students mainly come on scholarships, and are selected by the UWC National Committee in their home country.
I have heard that it is very difficult for Hong Kong students to get into LPCUWC because so many apply. How many students apply to come to LPCUWC each year, and how many do you accept?
The number of applications varies each year, but we usually receive about 500 applications from Hong Kong students annually. Each year, we accept 50 new students from Hong Kong into the College, and about 75 from other countries.
Given that so many students apply to come to LPCUWC, how do you select the successful students?
The first stage is that the applications and their supporting documents are read by the Principal and a panel of senior staff at the College. The panel pays special attention to academic grades and reports, the recommendation of the student’s present Principal, the reasons why a student wishes to come to LPCUWC, and other factors that are individual to each applicant.
As a result of this process, a short-list of students is selected to attend Challenge Day, which is held each year in February at the College. At Challenge Day, students are divided into groups and given various fun tasks that are designed to measure how well the applicant can co-operate with others, and other factors such as a student’s creativity, articulation, initiative, thoughtfulness and reflection.
As a result of this process, a short-list of students is selected to attend Challenge Day, which is held each year in February at the College. At Challenge Day, students are divided into groups and given various fun tasks that are designed to measure how well the applicant can co-operate with others, and other factors such as a student’s creativity, articulation, initiative, thoughtfulness and reflection.
The final stage in the process is a short getting-to-know-you interview with the Hong Kong UWC National Committee, during which the student’s understanding of current events, attitudes towards serving others and philosophy of life are explored.
Are applicants from overseas expected to attend Challenge Day?
No, overseas applicants are assessed on the basis of written applications and supporting documentation.
You have said that an important factor in selecting students is the recommendation from the student’s current Principal. My Principal refuses to write a reference in support of any application from my school.
We are aware of a very small number of Principals who refuse to write references to support students wishing to apply to change schools. We understand the reason is that these Principals do not want to lose their best students to a UWC. Although it is sad that these Principals seem more concerned about their enrolment numbers than providing the best opportunities for their students, it does NOT affect the chances of a student being accepted into a UWC. Where a Principal refuses to provide a reference, a student is encouraged to obtain a reference from a teacher who knows them well, such as their tutor or form teacher. Where all teachers in a school have been instructed not to provide a reference, the student should explain this in their application, and provide a character reference instead from a respected person such as a doctor, minister of religion, teacher in another school, etc.
You have said that an important factor in selecting students is the recommendation from the student’s current Principal. My Principal refuses to write a reference in support of any application from my school.
We are aware of a very small number of Principals who refuse to write references to support students wishing to apply to change schools. We understand the reason is that these Principals do not want to lose their best students to a UWC. Although it is sad that these Principals seem more concerned about their enrolment numbers than providing the best opportunities for their students, it does NOT affect the chances of a student being accepted into a UWC. Where a Principal refuses to provide a reference, a student is encouraged to obtain a reference from a teacher who knows them well, such as their tutor or form teacher. Where all teachers in a school have been instructed not to provide a reference, the student should explain this in their application, and provide a character reference instead from a respected person such as a doctor, minister of religion, teacher in another school, etc.
I have heard that LPCUWC places great emphasis on both academic performance and community service. Which is more important when LPCUWC selects students – previous academic record or past community service?
When LPCUWC selects students, many factors are taken into account, including the two mentioned (academics and service), but also creativity, enthusiasm, innovation, compassion, resilience, attitude towards life, understanding of contemporary issues, ability to live in a residential community, and so on.
The importance of these factors varies from student to student, because we seek to evaluate each student as an individual according to his or her own strengths.
We are not seeking clones – we are seeking unique individuals.
We know that some students have had more opportunities than others to engage in community service, because some schools support this more than others. We are not seeking to reward past performance – we are looking out for the potential to gain from the UWC experience in the future.
The importance of these factors varies from student to student, because we seek to evaluate each student as an individual according to his or her own strengths.
We are not seeking clones – we are seeking unique individuals.
We know that some students have had more opportunities than others to engage in community service, because some schools support this more than others. We are not seeking to reward past performance – we are looking out for the potential to gain from the UWC experience in the future.
I really want to attend LPCUWC, but the cost is more than my family can afford. Are scholarships difficult to obtain?
Almost every student who comes to LPCUWC does so with scholarship/financial assistance. Most overseas students are supported by the National Committees. Most Hong Kong students receive scholarship/financial assistance according to their family’s financial situation. As far as possible, we try to ensure that no student is prevented from attending LPCUWC for financial reasons.
I do not live in Hong Kong, but I really want to attend LPCUWC. How can I apply?
There are three methods of entry to this College, depending on your individual situation:
- Scholarship entry through the National Committee: If you are a citizen of the country in which you are residing, and if there is UWC National Committee in your country, you should send an application to that Committee. To obtain the contact details of your National Committee, visit the relevant section of the UWC website at <http://www.uwc.org/contact_NC>
- International Quota Scheme: If you are not a citizen of the country in which you are presently residing, or if there is no UWC National Committee in your country, you can apply under the International Quota (IQ) Scheme. IQ students normally pay full fees, but they may receive support under special circumstances upon written application. To apply under the IQ Scheme, you should download an application from this website and submit it directly to this College.
- Fee-paying entry directly to the College: Only a small number of fee-paying places are available annually, and normal selection criteria apply. Entry by this route is subject to the approval of the relevant National Committee, although application is made directly to Li Po Chun UWC.
I live in Mainland China and I really want to attend LPCUWC. How can I apply?
Students in Mainland China may apply for a full scholarship to attend LPCUWC if they have completed Gaozhong 3. Students who have only completed Gaozhong 2 may apply for a full-fee place. Further details are provided here.
Applicants from Mainland China should download an application form from this website and submit it directly to the College.
What are the staff like?
The staff at LPCUWC are a highly professional team of committed educators, all with university education and teaching qualifications, many with postgraduate degrees. Staff are very generous with their time, and seek to help students maximise their potential in every area of their endeavours. Staff come from many countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
What is the food like?
LPCUWC has the reputation of having some of the best food in any school in Hong Kong, or indeed in any UWC according to many reports.
Breakfast starts at 7:00am and finishes at 9:30am. Before 8:00am, cereals, yogurt, fruit, bread, cheese, tea and coffee are available, and grillers, toasters and microwaves are available. From 8:00am, cooked breakfasts are available. The routine is different on Sundays, when breakfast is replaced by brunch, which extends from 10:30am to 1:00pm, during which a wide range of breakfast and lunch dishes are available as a buffet.
Lunch starts at 12:00noon and finishes at 2:30pm. Each day, a choice of Western and Chinese meals is available, with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option within each. In addition, there is a sandwich bar and a salad bar, in addition to bread, fruit, tea and coffee being available.
Dinner starts at 6:00pm and finishes at 7:30pm. Like lunch, a choice of Western and Chinese meals is always available, with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option within each, plus the salad bar, in addition to bread, fruit, tea and coffee being available.
Meals are served in the Canteen, which is a contemporary circular air conditioned facility, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a tree-filtered panoramic view across the beach and waters of Starfish Bay, and a large skylight filling the room with natural illumination.
Breakfast starts at 7:00am and finishes at 9:30am. Before 8:00am, cereals, yogurt, fruit, bread, cheese, tea and coffee are available, and grillers, toasters and microwaves are available. From 8:00am, cooked breakfasts are available. The routine is different on Sundays, when breakfast is replaced by brunch, which extends from 10:30am to 1:00pm, during which a wide range of breakfast and lunch dishes are available as a buffet.
Lunch starts at 12:00noon and finishes at 2:30pm. Each day, a choice of Western and Chinese meals is available, with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option within each. In addition, there is a sandwich bar and a salad bar, in addition to bread, fruit, tea and coffee being available.
Dinner starts at 6:00pm and finishes at 7:30pm. Like lunch, a choice of Western and Chinese meals is always available, with a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option within each, plus the salad bar, in addition to bread, fruit, tea and coffee being available.
Meals are served in the Canteen, which is a contemporary circular air conditioned facility, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing a tree-filtered panoramic view across the beach and waters of Starfish Bay, and a large skylight filling the room with natural illumination.
I know that LPCUWC is fully residential. What are the living areas like?
Staff and students live in four residential blocks that curve along the ridge overlooking the waters of Starfish Bay and Tolo Harbour. Most rooms have views looking over the water. Each floor of a residential block is allocated to either males or females, and each room accommodates four students with a fairly generous amount of space. Curtains divide each room to provide privacy at night. All rooms are air-conditioned. Each floor has a shared bathroom with toilets and showers, and each residential block has a laundry, computer laboratory with broadband internet access, and a “day room” which is used as a social gathering space. All residential blocks have covered access to the canteen and academic blocks.
Do I need to bring my own laptop computer?
There are computer laboratories in each residential block with broadband internet access, so you do not need to bring a laptop. However, a majority of students do bring their own laptop, which gives the advantage of computer access at any time. Every room has broadband internet access, making e-mail and chat access to home very easy with a laptop. Some students also use laptops to listen to music or watch VCDs or DVDs (using headphones so as not to disturb others in the room). Both Windows and Macintosh computers can be accommodated, and we have students using either or both.
Is LPCUWC a profit-making school?
Definitely not! LPCUWC is a registered charity in Hong Kong, and a not-for-profit organisation. The College was established through a generous grant from the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund and support from the Hong Kong Government. Generous donations from the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund and the Hong Kong Jockey Club continue to enable the College to provide substantial financial assistance to students who are selected to attend the College.