Teach Abroad in Costa Rica

United World College Costa Rica (UWC Costa Rica) is an international residential school situated in the town of Santa Ana, less than a half hour from the capital, San Jose. The campus is surrounded by scenic mountains and a plethora of flora and fauna that constitute the perfect setting for a life on campus that is both safe and exciting. The 17 United World Colleges share a common mission of educating students to work towards peace and sustainability, but each has a unique identity, partly influenced by its local environment. UWC Costa Rica has defined six competencies it wishes to develop in all members of its community through its academic, extra-academic, and residential life programs: social responsibility, leadership, conflict transformation, diversity, sustainability, and a healthy lifestyle.

Fully accredited by the Council of International Schools as well as the Ministry of Education of Costa Rica, UWC Costa Rica prepares students in Grades 11 and 12 for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in English and/or Spanish. The student body is intentionally very diverse; currently enrolled are 205 students of 70 nationalities, with 9% from Costa Rica and 14% from North America and the U.K. The teaching staff of 26 includes eight Costa Ricans and eight from North America and the U.K.

Students live in one of eight residences on the campus. Residential coordinators ensure a warm family atmosphere, where students feel respected and a sense of belonging. Students have a high degree of autonomy and practice building and maintaining constructive relationships with adults and their peers—fundamental in an environment where students are surrounded by individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives from around the world. The school says,

“Students learn and live together, creating a community based on diversity. . . The UWCCR Residential Life program uses an experiential learning approach to seek to empower students as agents of change.”

UWC Costa Rica’s extra-academic programs allow students to explore creativity and personal expression, while putting into practice healthy habits such as physical exercise and good nutrition. Like all UWCs, the school also has a strong emphasis on service learning; working in the local community as well as other countries in Central America, students practice converting their intentions into actions, using knowledge acquired in the classroom to improve the lives of others as they gain practical experience. Their learning process includes training, planning, implementation, and reflection. Students face challenges and obstacles that help them strengthen their leadership and community building capacities.

UWC Costa Rica is interested in hiring singles, couples, and interns. They will also consider exceptional newly-certified teachers, experienced teachers lacking certification, and those certified in non-English speaking schools. Candidates need not hold academic degrees in the subject they will be teaching. There is no age limit to obtain a work visa in Costa Rica.

The benefits package includes allowances for furniture, moving, and airfare every two years. The school contributes to a Social Security pension as well as 3% for the Labor Capitalization Fund. UWC Costa Rica also provides professional development and subsidized lunch. Fully covered worldwide health insurance includes life insurance. The low cost of living in Costa Rica allows for some savings on this package.

To gain access to United World School Costa Rica’s full profile on the Search Associates database, including a list of all open positions, candidates can apply for membership by clicking here. Candidates already registered can easily access the school profile directly through their dashboards. 

Please note: The information presented about this school was valid on the date published. This information may change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the school profile.