INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS | INTERNATIONAL FRESHMAN REQUIREMENTS | INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS | ENGLISH PROFICIENCY | VISAS AND DOCUMENTATION | COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES |
WELCOME TO INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a dynamic, growing, public university, located on the southeastern coast of the United States. We are building a global community of students to further enrich the diversity of the student population, and therefore we welcome your interest in UNC Wilmington.
Please familiarize yourself with general information about UNCW, including location, athletics, etc.
UNCW has received the following national recognition:
- Ranked sixth among the top public universities in the South by U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges”
- Named one of the 440 best in Peterson's Competitive Colleges, Top Colleges for Top Students, that attract the best and brightest students
- Recognized as one of the 150 academically outstanding “Best Value Colleges” in the United States by The Princeton Review
- Received the “Best Southeastern College” designation by The Princeton Review
Of the nation's 1,200 business school programs, the Cameron School of Business is one of 340 to receive the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, which places it in the top one-third of business education programs in the country. The School features an exciting, innovative program called the Cameron Executive Network, in which active and retired executives work directly with our students. Members participate in a variety of roles, from sharing experiences in the classroom to being personal mentors for our business school students.
UNCW is recognized nationally for its marine biology program and offers a Ph.D. in marine biology, one of only three such degrees available on the East Coast.
The film studies program benefits from the university's proximity to EUE Screen Gems studio, which is frequently the backdrop for movies and TV shows, including the Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill series. The creative writing program has received much student demand and external attention. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
Regarding affordability, UNCW has been rated the 35th best value national for in-state students and the 51st best value nationally for out-of-state students in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine’s 2007 rankings. Tuition costs
Definition of an International Applicant
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UNCW defines an international applicant as an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder). If you are an international student with dual U.S. citizenship, you may apply as a U.S. citizen by providing a copy of your passport.
No UNCW visa sponsorship wanted
International students who want to attend UNCW in a legal status other than F-1 student (e.g., H4, E2, L2, etc.) and who do not want the university to sponsor them for F-1 student status must fill out this form.
Such students do not need to submit proof of financial support or the International Student Data Form.
ESL students
UNCW ESL students who have been accepted to a UNCW degree program must submit proof of financial support and the International Student Data Form to the Office of Admissions so that the Office of International Programs can issue them a new I-20 reflecting the change of degree level.
Details
As an international applicant, there are several factors you should consider before submitting your application. The University does NOT provide financial assistance or scholarships for international students; therefore, all international applicants who want UNCW's F-1 visa sponsorship must be able to provide documentation indicating the availability of funds for at least the first year of study in order to meet government requirements for financial support. Furthermore, all international students must prove English proficiency to be considered for admission. UNCW offers an ESL (English as a Second Language) program for those who need to strengthen their English language proficiency before applying for admission.
Admissions office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. After reviewing all of the information for international applicants, if you have further questions, please contact the international admissions counselor, Ms. Linda Byrnes, at byrnesl@uncw.edu.
Additional non-admissions information for international students is available from:
UNCW Office of International Programs
601 S. College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5965 USA
phone: 910-962-3685
fax: 910-962-4053
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If you want UNCW to sponsor you on an F-1 visa or you currently hold an F-1 visa sponsored by another institution, you are required to submit all documents listed below (1-6). If you do NOT need UNCW to sponsor you on an F-1 visa (for example, you hold a visa such as H4, E2, L2, etc.), you are required to submit items 1 to 3 ONLY.
- Completed application and fee
- Academic records (official transcripts for coursework completed outside of U.S.)
- Proof of English proficiency
- International Student Data Form
- A financial document verifying availability of funds (i.e., bank statement)
- Letter of support (from sponsor, if student is not providing funds)
Application and Fee
International applicants may apply online or download the application. Or you may request a paper application. A non-refundable fee of $45 is required (in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank, or money order, payable to UNCW.)
Application Deadlines
It is important to be aware of deadlines to ensure consideration for admission.
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INTERNATIONAL FRESHMAN REQUIREMENTS
A strong academic record and standardized test scores are the primary factors used in evaluating an international freshman applicant’s eligibility for admission.
Academic Records
Transcripts from U.S. high schools or American schools outside the U.S. must be official, listing both courses and grades. Transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be original or certified true copies, with original signatures on all transcripts and English translations. A certified true copy is one that bears an original signature of the registrar or other designated school official, an original impression of the institution’s seal, or signature/seal of the examining board. Foreign transcripts may be sent directly from a certified translation service or from the secondary school. Any transcripts delivered by the applicant will not be considered official unless they are sealed. Records should list subjects studied each year and the mark or grade or proficiency earned in each. An explanation of a secondary school’s grading system should be included in order to calculate the U.S. equivalency Grade Point Average (GPA). If you completed secondary school in a country where a secondary school leaving examination (GCE, GCSE, CXC, French Baccalaureate, Abitur, etc.) is administered, you must provide an original or certified true copy of the results.
A minimum 2.5 GPA on a U.S. scale of 4.0 is required; most students exceed the minimum.
Applicants whose secondary school work is from outside the U.S. are exempt from the minimum course requirements as set forth by the UNC Board of Governors.
SAT/ACT with Writing
While international freshman applicants are not required to take either the SAT-I or ACT exam (writing section required), we encourage applicants to do so. An SAT-I critical reading score of 450 or higher, or an ACT score minimum score of 20 on the reading section may be submitted in lieu of the TOEFL score.
Click here for registration information for the SAT or ACT.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS
Transfer students will be reviewed on the basis of their academic record at all institutions attended. There is no minimum for credit hours earned; however, a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a U.S. scale of 4.0 is required.
Academic Records
Secondary school records are required for all applicants who are less than 24 years of age.
All foreign and/or U.S. academic transcripts must be submitted to UNCW Office of Admissions, and must be translated to English prior to submission.
If applicant hopes to earn credit at UNCW for completed coursework at a foreign university:
1. Applicant is responsible for sending official transcripts to be reviewed by an accredited foreign credential evaluation service. *see list below
2. Official evaluations must include course(s), grade(s), and credit equivalencies in U.S. terms.
3. Credit evaluations determine admissibility, number of credits earned and how courses transfer into the U.S. education system. The registrar will determine from the report provided by the credential service which credits will transfer. This will only be determined if the applicant is accepted and chooses to enroll.
* We will accept reports from one of the following accredited companies:
Educational Credential Evaluators
Please note the following:
- UNCW will consider the report from the credential evaluation service as our copy of the official transcript.
- It usually takes 4-6 weeks to obtain a credit evaluation; be sure to request a “course-by-course” evaluation.
- Applicant will be granted at least one general elective course for three credit hours.
- Length of study at UNCW will depend on type of degree program and number of credits awarded from previous insitutions.
English proficiency is required of international applicants and is proven by one of the following:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); minimum score of 71 on the Internet-based exam, 197 on the computer-based exam, or 525 on the paper-based exam
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS); minimum score of 6.5 on the academic module
- SAT-I Critical Reading score of 450 or higher
- ACT reading section score of 20 or higher
- Successful completion of UNCW’s ESL program, prior to applying
- Having lived in the U.S. for 4 years or more
- Completion of 2 college-level courses of English composition at a U.S. college or university with a grade of B or better
For those needing to strengthen proficiency, UNCW offers an English as a Second Language (ESL) program . For information on this program, click here.
Financial Documents
All international applicants who want to have UNCW sponsor them on an F-1 visa are required to complete the International Student Data Form and attach a financial document verifying that funds are available. These documents provide evidence of the applicant’s ability to pay for all expenses for each year of study, including expenses on any dependents who might accompany him or her. If privately sponsored, you must document the first year of assured support. You must also provide certification from parents/sponsors of support for all your years of study thereafter. Until a completed International Student Data Form and accompanying financial documents are received and approved, a Form I-20 for securing a visa cannot be issued.
If you intend to live on campus, you must provide a letter stating where you will reside, with whom, and how you plan to provide for living expenses. In that case, the cost of private residence replaces the published cost of $7,050 for UNCW room and board.
Visas
The I-20 for an F-1 visa will be issued only when all requirements have been met. Once an applicant is admitted, an acceptance letter, along with the I-20, will be sent to the student. Next, the student must take the information to the home country consulate or embassy, where the decision is made whether or not to grant the F-1 visa to the student. Please note that securing an appointment in your native country with the embassy or consulate may take time and cause unforeseen delays.
COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Financial Information for International Applicants
There is NO financial assistance of any kind available from UNCW for international undergraduate students. Every international undergraduate applicant who wants to have UNCW’s F-1 sponsorship must present evidence of sufficient financial resources to meet projected expenses as detailed in the International Student Data Form.
The chart below provides detailed cost estimates for a full-time, single student paying out-of-state tuition.
Expenses 2007 - 2008
Tuition and Fees |
$14,695 |
Room and Board* |
$7,050 |
Books and Supplies* |
$600 |
Miscellaneous* |
$2,713 |
Total |
$25,058 |
*estimated cost |
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The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina reserves the right to adjust these charges without prior notice.
UNCW operates on a semester calendar. Fall term begins in late August and ends mid-December. Spring term begins in early January and concludes in early May. Summer school offers two sessions, from late May to late July.
The application deadlines are:
Fall semester – apply by March 1
Spring semester – apply by September 1
Summer semester(s) – apply by January 1
Please allow approximately 4 to 6 weeks for processing and review of your application. Also note that an application will not be reviewed until ALL materials are received and the application is complete. We strongly recommend you apply 4 to 6 months before the term you plan to enter; applying after the stated deadlines will greatly reduce the amount of time needed to process all the required paperwork.
UNCW Office of Admissions
601 South College Road | Wilmington, NC 28403-5904
phone 910 962-3243 | fax 910 962-3038
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