Admissions
Information for International Applicants
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill encourages a diverse student body and welcomes applicants from all over the world. Please be aware that in some departments or programs there may be limited financial resources available to support students, and an on-site admissions interview may be required. Early contact with your intended program is essential before submitting an application.
Admission to the Graduate School at the UNC-Chapel Hill is competitive and students are selected on the basis of their preparation and ability.
Required Application Materials
The Graduate School relies solely on email to communicate with applicants. Consequently, a current email address is a required field on the application.
Your paid completed application for admission may arrive first with the following items arriving shortly after; however an evaluation does not begin until all the materials have been received.
- Graduate School application
- a non-refundable $73 application fee
- three current letters of recommendation sent directly to the program per their delivery requirements*
- transcripts (complete, not selected courses) — two official copies — one to the Graduate School and one to the program plus certified English translation if not issued in English
- foreign degrees (International Applicants must possess at minimum the equivalent of a 4 year US degree prior to entering UNC-CH graduate programs. Check program websites for additional educational requirements)
- standardized test (GRE, GMAT, etc.) scores that are current and no more than 5 years old (some departments also require a GRE subject test)
- TOEFL score that is current and no more than 2 years old — international applicants only
- statement of purpose
- Financial Certificate (U.S. Immigration requirement for entry into the United States)
- department's supplemental application/information, if required (contact your intended program for this information)
Please check with the program(s) to which you are applying for additional requirements.
Campus Safety Information
Applicants for admission will be asked several questions regarding criminal pleas, charges and convictions, academic suspensions, and military discharges. Transcripts from every college or university attended must be provided. If additional information is needed, you may be asked to submit information for a criminal background check, including a nominal fee. You must describe violations of law in your home country and in any other country in which you have resided. The term “law” include codes, legal rules and regulations, and other criminal-type statutes or violations of municipal, local, provincial, state, federal, national, commonwealth, and other governmental jurisdiction. Failure to provide complete, accurate and truthful information will be grounds to deny or withdraw your admission, or to dismiss you after enrollment. The same actions will occur if you fail to promptly notify the Admissions Office in writing of such charges that occur at any time after you submit the application.
Minimum Graduate Admission Requirements
- a bachelor's degree (based on a four-year curriculum) completed before graduate study begins or its international equivalent with an accredited institution (3 year degrees do not meet the bachelor's degree requirement)
- an average grade of B (cumulative GPA 3.0) or better
Along with these minimal requirements, admission decisions are based on a number of factors, including academic degrees and record, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work experience. There are currently no residency quotas for graduate admission.
Application
Application for admission to the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School is provided via an electronic admission application. Required materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) should be submitted per the instructions provided below and within the application. How some items arrive varies by program, some are uploaded electronically within the application and some are mailed directly to the program to which you are applying. By submitting an application to UNC-Chapel Hill, consent is granted to university staff to obtain any additional or missing information as needed, including Campus Safety Information mentioned above.
ELECTRONIC GRADUATE ADMISSION APPLICATION
Due to the volume of materials received, and the resulting time required for manual processing, the fastest most secure method of application is the electronic application. Paper applications are available for individuals who are unable to utilize the online application. Requests for paper applications should be made to gradinfo@unc.edu. Once you initiate an electronic application you must finish and submit; we are unable to process paper or payment if an electronic application has not been completed.
A separate application and fee must be submitted for each program to which you apply (maximum of 3 per year).
Most programs admit students for the fall semester only, while very few programs allow spring admission and a few begin in one of the summer sessions. Contact your intended program for the appropriate term of entry for your application.
If offered admission, that offer is specific to the term stated in the admission letter. If you do not register for classes or complete your first semester, you must apply again in a subsequent semester.
Application Deadlines and Fee
International applicants should apply early in order to allow sufficient time for financial and visa document preparation. Applications and payment must be received before the application deadline. Application fees are non-refundable and no applications will be considered after the graduate program has closed admission.
The Graduate School recommends that international applicants submit a complete application well before December 1. For individuals who wish to be considered for Graduate School funding, the fall application deadline is January 1. However, most of the funding available to graduate students is program-based and many programs continue to accept applications after the Graduate School January 1 application deadline. Individuals who apply after January 1 will be eligible for program-based funding.
A non-refundable $73 application fee is required for each program to which you apply. This fee cannot be waived or deferred. Applicants can pay their application fee by credit card (Visa/MasterCard) or mail a check or money order made payable to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mail-in payments are restricted to a check (in U.S. funds) that contains the pre-printed electronic routing numbers, or an international money-order made payable to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Please include your full name, birthdate and program to which you applied. Applications that arrive without the required application fee will remain on file, unprocessed, pending receipt of the application fee. If someone is paying the application fee for you, please ask him or her to include your name as the intended applicant when they submit the check or money order.
Letters of Recommendation
Three current letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications are required. Depending on the program you select, the application software will prompt you to submit 3 recommender email addresses for electronic submission, or provide you a link to the paper form
to be used. Some programs who accept electronic documents DO NOT accept paper, please check the program website for specific requirements. Programs may accept original letters in lieu of the recommendation form. If you use the recommendation form, please carefully complete the top portion and provide the mailing address of your intended program. Please also note the right of access statement on the recommendation form; you may or may not elect to sign this waiver.
You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and who can address your potential for success in this particular academic setting. If you have been out of school for a number of years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. We advise against using generic letters of recommendation such as those provided by campus career planning and placement offices. Those submitting recommendations will send them directly to the intended program electronically, by mail, or return the recommendation to you (in a sealed envelope with their signature over the flap) for inclusion with the other supporting documents you send the program to which you are applying.
Transcripts
All international applicants are required to submit complete official academic transcripts from all institutions attended, bearing the signature of the registrar or another academic official and either a raised or ink stamp or seal of the issuing institution. Records must be complete (not select courses), issued in the original language and be accompanied by certified English translations.
Two official transcripts of all post-secondary education (including community colleges, summer sessions and extension programs), bearing the signature of the registrar and the seal of the institution, are required. Transfer credit posted on the transcript of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the institution attended. An original transcript from each institution* is always required.
*Internal (unofficial) transcripts are only acceptable from UNC-Chapel Hill. Please ask the UNC-Chapel Hill University Registrar for an internal transcript at no charge.
Send one transcript to your intended program and one to The Graduate School (CB#4010, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-4010).
Applicants may submit transcripts before mid-year grades are posted (final transcripts must then follow). If possible, submit your official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) at the same time as your application. However, if the institution will not release official transcripts directly to the student, they may send the transcripts directly to us.
Foreign Degrees
Assessment of a foreign degree is based upon the characteristics of a national system of education, the type of institution attended, its accreditation and the level of studies completed. The following guidelines indicate the level of study expected of international applicants prior to graduate enrollment:
- British patterned education — bachelor's degree with honours
- French patterned education — degree of diplome requiring four years of post Baccalaureat study
- Germany — university Diplom preferred. Applicants with very strong academic records may be considered if they have completed at least one year of full-time study beyond the Vorprufung, Zwischenprufung or Vordiplom
- Other European Countries — university degree requiring a minimum of four years of study
- Canada — three year bachelor's degree from Quebec; four-year bachelor's degree from all other provinces
- Latin America — university degree requiring a minimum of four years of study
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal — bachelor's degree in engineering or medicine; master's degree in all other fields.
- Philippines — five year bachelor's degree or four year bachelor's degree plus one year of graduate work
- Other Asian countries — university degree requiring minimum of four years of study
Individuals with 3 year degrees and others who do not meet the educational requirement for graduate admission are welcome to consider other admission options available at http://www.unc.edu/admissions/
Standardized Test Scores
Official GRE (or GMAT, MCAT, etc., if accepted by your intended program) General Test scores are required for applicants to all programs except Studio Art, Dentistry (except Oral Biology), and Dramatic Art. Some programs also require the Subject Test.
Standardized test scores must be official (reported directly by ETS) and current (no more than five years old). If you did not specify the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School (institution #5816) as a score recipient at the time of taking the test, or if your scores were sent more than one year ago, you must contact the Educational Testing Service to request that your scores are sent to us. No departmental code is required. While photocopies of score reports are useful for informal evaluation, the official report of your score must arrive before admission can be offered. GMAT scores should be sent to UNC (c/o KFBS) Program Code D40-HL ( -50 or -34 as appropriate).
Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree may be exempted from the standardized score requirement at a programs request. Applicants near completion of a doctoral degree may request an exemption based on the receipt of appropriate degree verification status from the university registrar of the institution currently attending. If the degree or official verification is not received, the standardized scores will remain a requirement.
We recommend that you plan to take the required exam in October (or as early as possible) to allow sufficient time for scores to arrive in time for consideration for Fall admission. Information on computerized testing and score distribution requests is available via ETS, or by calling 1-800-967-1100.
Average scores of applicants offered admission
TOEFL Score
All international applicants — except those from countries where English is the SOLE OFFICIAL language of instruction (Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada — except Quebec, England, Ghana, Ireland, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobego, Uganda and Wales) OR those who have received or will receive a degree from a university in the United States — must submit an acceptable, official (reported directly from ETS) TOEFL Score. If you are currently enrolled at a U.S. institution, you must submit an official transcript or verification of degree candidate status from that institution to qualify for a TOEFL waiver. If the degree or an official verification is not received, the TOEFL score will again be required.
The required minimum total score on the computer-based TOEFL exam is 213 with a minimum score of 18 in each subsection. The required minimum total score on the paper-based TOEFL exam is 550 with a minimum of 50 in each section. The required minimum total score on the internet-based TOEFL exam is 79. Some programs require a higher score and The Graduate School honors that requirement. TOEFL scores are reportable for a period of two years from date of the exam. Exam results more than two years old will not be reported by ETS, and thus cannot be considered by us. TOEFL scores that are submitted to this institution are kept on file for only one year.
When you register for the test, you should indicate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School (institution #5816) as a score recipient. If you did not specify at the time of taking the TOEFL that the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School was to receive your scores, you must promptly ask Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your scores to us (institution #5816). Their address is TOEFL, CN6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151. While we will be happy to receive photocopies of score reports for informal evaluation, admission cannot be offered until the official report arrives. You should take the test no later than October in order for the score to arrive by our deadline.
All new international students are required to take an English Proficiency exam prior to enrolling for classes — without exception. Individuals who fail to achieve a passing score on this exam are required to register for a non-credit English course (English 101X) their first semester of enrollment. Failure to take the test and/or register for the required course will prevent future registrations.
Statement of Purpose
Most graduate programs require a written statement as a part of your application. How the statement is to arrive varies by program, some are uploaded electronically within the application and some are mailed directly to the program to which you are applying.
The form and content requirements also vary by program so before applying, be sure to read the information and/or instructions specific to your intended program. Your written statement is a critical component of your application for admission, and can sometimes be the determining factor in approval of admittance or financial support. Therefore, your statement should reflect your professional goals, as well as familiarity with the program and faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Financial Certificate
In order to meet U.S. Immigration requirements for entry into the United States, proof of sufficient financial resources to cover educational and living expenses for the duration of your program must be in place before visa documents can be issued. A completed Financial Certificate outlining financial support available to you, along with original evidence to support the amounts indicated (bank statements, scholarship letters, etc.), must be submitted directly to the program to which you are applying. Please attach a photocopy of the identification page of your passport. The financial certificate is also required for international students currently residing in the United States. The University does not have special travel or study scholarships for international students.
We suggest that international applicants in need of financial aid write to the Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
The University's Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid can only fund students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents with I-151 or I-551 Alien Registration Receipt Cards, permanent residents of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory or the Pacific Islands, and other non-citizens who have Arrival-Departure Records (I-94) showing “refugee” or “adjustment applicant” or official grant of asylum in the United States. Students who meet these requirements should apply for financial assistance between December 1 and March 1.
Information concerning visa, U.S. Immigration, or financial certificate matters can be obtained from our International Center. Please follow the mailing instructions below and DO NOT MAIL ADMISSION MATERIALS DIRECTLY TO THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER.
Mailing Instructions
Applicants are responsible for directing the materials appropriately and according to the instructions provided below. Failure to direct materials per the instructions will result in delays in the processing of your application. The Graduate School cannot be responsible for materials not submitted in accordance with these instructions.
Send to The Graduate School, CB#4010, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010:
- application fee: either (a check or money order in U.S. funds) if paying for the application by mail; and
- one official copy of each full transcript (not just selected courses) for all post-secondary work, even if the coursework appears as transfer credit on another university transcript, plus the certified English translation if not issued in English.
Send to the Director of Graduate Admissions in the program to which you are applying (program addresses):
- Financial Certificate (international applicants only);
- one official copy of each full transcript (not just selected courses) for all post-secondary work, even if the coursework appears as transfer credit on another university transcript, plus the certified English translation if not issued in English;
- three letters of recommendation (submitted on paper or electronically depending on program and application instructions); and
- supplemental application/materials required by your program (personal statements, writing samples, portfolios, etc— submitted on paper or electronically depending on program and instructions within application).
The Graduate School prefers to receive applications online, and those received with the application fee paid by credit card are processed the next business day. However, if it is not feasible for you to submit your application electronically, please print and mail a paper application to the address below. Please allow a minimum of two weeks for mail delivery and processing time.
The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB 4010, Bynum Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010
USA
Application Status
You may monitor the status of your application at https://admissionsapp.unc.edu/grad/DEFAULT.ASP
You may obtain your Person Identification Number at https://s4.its.unc.edu/SISMisc/pidwmp