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International Students

 

Become a part of the WCU Community

We are glad you are interested in joining us here at Western Carolina University. Tucked away in the mountains of Western North Carolina, we are a close-knit community of faculty and students who are working together to build a global community. All of us in the Office of Global Engagement are here to help guide you through the application process, answer your questions, and introduce you to our university, as well as life here at Western Carolina.

If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or contact us by phone at +1 828.227.7494 or email at international@wcu.edu.

Undergraduate

Graduate

Exchange

  

Undergraduate

Join our supportive community in the Blue Ridge Mountains! With over 120+ undergraduate programs to choose from and incredible access to outdoor adventure, WCU is a unique study abroad experience that you will never forget.

Summer deadline for transfer and exchange applicants - April 1

Fall deadline for freshman applicants - February 1
Fall deadline for transfer and exchange applicants - April 1

Spring deadline for all applicants - October 1
Apply today!

**Please note that all deadlines are application deadlines. Supplemental documents, official test scores, and official transcripts must be turned in by the deadline in order to complete your application for review. All of our applications open one year in advance.**

All international students must demonstrate a proficiency in English in order to be admitted to Western Carolina University. Students may be exempt from demonstrating English proficiency in certain situations. Some of these situations may include:

  • Students from countries where English is the primary native language (listed below).
  • Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) high school.
  • Students who have completed high school or higher education in an English-medium institution.
    Note: An official from your institution must send a letter to the WCU Undergraduate Admissions Office, admiss@wcu.edu, that English is the language of instruction at your institution.  
  • Students who have successfully completed 24 credit hours or more at a US college or university.

Countries with English as Primary Native Language (Exempt): Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Greenland, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

All others must take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic, SAT, or ACT. English requirements must be met when entering as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.

TOEFL (Internet-Based) (school code: 5897): 75
TOEFL (Paper-Based): 537

IELTS: 6.0 Overall (No score lower than 5.0 in each area)

Duolingo English Test: 95

PTE Academic: 50

SAT (school code: 5897): 880

ACT (school code: 3172): 18

*First year international students attending a non-U.S. high school their senior year must take one of the four tests above

*International students who graduated or will be graduating a U.S. high school their senior year must take the SAT or ACT

Transfer students must request a course by course transcript evaluation.

All U.S. high school, college, and university transcripts must be officially sent to WCU Undergraduate Admissions to the following address below or at admiss@wcu.edu. Students may not send the transcripts; only their institution or approved evaluating company. Transfer students age 21 or older or have an AA/AS or higher degree, the high school transcripts are waived. All freshman students, regardless of age, will need to send in high school transcripts.

Western Carolina University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
110 H.F. Robinson
Cullowhee, NC 28723

Any non-U.S. high school, college, or university transcripts that are not on the U.S, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge grading scales must be evaluated by www.wes.org or one of our approved companies and sent directly by the evaluator to the address above or admiss@wcu.edu
Note: The international transcript evaluation is a required part of your application and cannot be waived except for the reasons stated. 

Explore our quality academic programs including nationally recognized degree programs in fields such as nursing, education, forensic science, emergency management, entrepreneurship, engineering, project management, natural resources conservation and much more.

NC Promise: All international undergraduate students, both residential and online, attending WCU will receive dramatically reduced student tuition costs only of $2,500 per semester as part of a new program from the State of North Carolina called the NC Promise Tuition Plan. LEARN MORE. all other fees

In order to issue or update travel documents and visas, students must show proof of funding for their first year of study. Once admitted, you will recieve the certificate of finance form that you must complete to receive your I-20. With that form, you will need to attach a bank letter or statement proving the funds. Multiple bank statements or letters adding up or beyond the amount is acceptable. The bank statements do not need to be translated, but it should be clear what the balance is and the name of the currency.  All documents must have a date no more than 6 months from the time of application. 

*Please note that actual bill will be less than above amount and students pay a semester at a time.

All students must have the required immunizations to attend campus and must fill out the immunization information form. Immunizations not completed will be administered at orientation or afterward at student's own cost. The form is not part of initial admissions but can be completed after acceptance.

 

   

Graduate

Earn a graduate degree at WCU! With more than 40 graduate degree and certificate programs to choose from there is a something that will appeal to almost everyone. The program you select will determine which campus at which you will attend classes. WCU has two locations: our main campus in Cullowhee and Biltmore Park in Asheville.

Each graduate program has its own program deadline. Some graduate programs have earlier deadlines. Deadlines for specific programs. Please be advised that obtaining a visa can take up to 11 months or more. Apply earlier than the deadlines to ensure that you can obtain a visa in time for the start of classes.

Apply today! Please be sure to upload any visa, I-20, or DS-2019, if you have any in your application form.

Admission Deadlines for International Applicant Requirements

All international students must demonstrate a proficiency in English in order to be admitted to Western Carolina University. Students may be exempt from demonstrating English proficiency in certain situations. Some of these situations may include:

  • Students from countries where English is the primary native language (listed below).
  • Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) high school.
  • Students who have completed high school or higher education in an English-medium institution.
    Note: An official from your institution must send a letter to the WCU Graduate School, gradadmissions@wcu.edu, that English is the language of instruction at your institution.  
  • Students who have successfully completed 24 credit hours or more at a US college or university.

Countries with English as Primary Native Language (Exempt): Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Greenland, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The minimum TOEFL score is 79 (Internet Based-iBT) or 550 (Paper Based-PBT). A minimum overall score of 6.5 is required on IELTS, with a minimum score of 6 on each of the four bands. The minimum Duolingo English Test score is 105. A minimum overall score of 56 is required on PTE Academic.

If graduate students do not yet have the required level of English proficiency, WCU's Intensive English Program welcomes students until they can achieve it. The student will no longer need the TOEFL or IELTS score which grants them conditional admissions.

Check your program for specific details on all the tests and documents required of your specific graduate program. Some programs may require the GRE or GMAT in addition to an English proficiency test.

Transfer students must request a course by course transcript evaluation.

All undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be officially sent to WCU Graduate School. All non-U.S. undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be evaluated by www.wes.org or one of our approved companies. Please send transcripts to the address below:

WCU Graduate School

110 Cordelia Camp
69 East University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28723

Note: The international transcript evaluation is a required part of your application and cannot be waived except for the reasons stated. 

more information on how to send your transcripts

Explore our quality academic graduate programs designed with three things in mind: quality, flexibility, and affordability.

Find out more about the cost, funding opportunities, and how to pay for your education. Please note that we do not offer full scholarships.

 In order to issue or update travel documents and visas, students must show proof of funding for their first year of study. Once admitted, you will recieve the certificate of finance form that you must complete to receive your I-20. With that form, you will need to attach a bank letter or statement proving the funds. Multiple bank statements or letters adding up or beyond the amount is acceptable. The bank statements do not need to be translated, but it should be clear what the balance is and the name of the currency.  All documents must have a date no more than 6 months from the time of application. If you are granted an assistantship, please provide that documentation. Please contact your program director to obtain it. 

If you have a spouse and/or children coming with you, please provide their passports, the marriage certificate in English translation, and financially show that you can pay $5,000 extra for the spouse and/or $3,000 extra for each child for the year.
*Please note that actual bill may be less than above amount and students pay a semester at a time.

All students must have the required immunizations to attend campus and must fill out the immunization information form. Immunizations not completed will be administered at orientation or afterward at student's own cost.


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