Students are selected on the basis of their merit and potential, not their family's financial ability or social standing. UWC encourages applications from students from less advantaged backgrounds (including disabled students who are able to live independently).

Because UWC schools and colleges are not-for-profit institutions that raise funds from public or private sources, fees at UWCs are lower than those at comparable schools. The cost of attending a UWC ranges from 80,000 to 250,000 RMB yuan per year (including room and board).

A significant proportion (around 60%) of the students selected by UWC national committees receive scholarships to attend UWCs. UWC is working tirelessly towards its goal of providing full scholarships to as many successful applicants as possible.