Colleges are situated on campus: there are ‘Student Houses' where students live, sleep, and study. There is a dining hall, classes, a library, but also other places such as a laundry, a medical centre, a recreation area, meeting rooms and sports facilities.

Most colleges are situated in natural areas and are relatively isolated. However, thanks to the services and activities students interact closely with the surrounding community.

Student Houses are made up of separate girls and boys dormitories. Each house is under the responsibility of ‘House Parents'. These are often teachers at the college or other staff. Students generally share their bedroom with 3 other students, all coming from different countries. Each house also has a little kitchen for extra meals.

The 2 years are divided into 4 terms - and 3 long holiday periods (Christmas holiday x 2 + summer holiday). Students often use the holiday to travel around if they live far from home, or to go home with friends who live too far from the college to go back to their home country. This is a very interesting experience both for the student and his/her family.

A typical day in a UWC could be described as follows:

07:00: Wake up / possibly earlier sports training

07:30: Breakfast

08:15: Classes

13:20: Lunch

Afternoon: Services and Activities / Study time

17:30: Dinner

18:30: Study time / Services and Activities

Evening: Discussion, "socialising", personal interests