Inter­national Students

Important Application Details

As an international student, here are some key things you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re applying:

English Translations

All transcripts must be translated to English. If your school does not issue English transcripts, students must have an official English translation made and submit this in addition to the official copy from the school.

English Proficiency

We’ll ask you to share your English proficiency exam scores when you apply. We accept TOEFL (our code is C182), IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English C1 Advanced and Cambridge C2 Proficiency. These exams show us that you’ll be ready to jump into coursework taught in English. We’re able to waive this requirement if you have lived in an English-speaking country for the last four years or if you have attended an English-speaking school for at least the last four years. Questions on your application to Carolina will determine if you qualify for a waiver, which will be applied automatically should you qualify.

Paying for University Studies

Students who do not hold US citizenship or permanent resident status are not eligible to receive need-based financial aid and should be prepared to pay the full cost of attendance for non-resident students. For non-resident students enrolling in Fall 2024, the anticipated total cost of attendance is just over $60,000. The vast majority of undergraduate students complete their degree in four years, so you should be aware that your degree will require resources of at least $240,000 over four years.

In you are offered admission and choose to enroll at Carolina, you’ll want to understand if your country’s government limits the amount of money that may be sent to its students in the United States, and make arrangements to ensure that your funds will be available. When you leave your country to come to UNC, you’ll need enough funding to cover:

• Traveling expenses to Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Full cost of attendance for the entire term
• Living expenses until funding for your next semester reaches you
• Traveling expenses to return home for holidays and/or the end of the academic year

Please note that even once you are enrolled at Carolina, additional financial assistance will not be available.

In order to obtain a student visa, you must be able to provide written evidence demonstrating you have adequate financial resources for the entire time needed to complete your degree program. After a student is offered admission, the International Student and Scholar Services office provides information on the financial documentation and what to expect from the visa process. Please do not submit this information as part of your application for admission.