International Student Applications

UNC Asheville is a co-educational, four-year, state supported undergraduate institution. With more than 30 majors, we offer a strong liberal arts and sciences curriculum with numerous applied and career-related programs.

Applications cannot be reviewed until all documents are received. If high school and university transcripts and bank letters are not in English, certified English translations must be submitted. All test scores must be sent to UNC Asheville directly from the testing service to be considered official. Student copies and/or photocopies cannot be accepted.

If you are interested in applying as an International Exchange Student, please contact the Study Abroad Office.

If you are unable to obtain an F-1 student visa (which requires an I-20 form) in time to begin classes, you cannot enter the United States on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa and register for classes.

International Application Process

  1. Submit the application. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You can apply through the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) or the Common Application.
  2. Arrange for your official school transcripts to be sent to us. All first-year applicants are required to submit an official transcript from their secondary school. All transfer applicants must submit official transcripts of all work taken at any college or university, whether or not they expect to receive transfer credit. All academic transcripts not in English must be translated by an official third-party organization such as WES, SpanTran, or another NACES approved service. Occasionally, we may request a full course evaluation from first-year applicants. Transfer applicants attending schools outside of the U.S. must secure a course-by-course analysis from one of the above third-party organizations.
  3. Submit your English proficiency exam scores from one of the below listed tests when you apply. We’re able to waive this requirement if you have lived in an English-speaking country for at least four years or if you have attended an English-speaking high school for at least four years.Transfer students can be eligible for an English proficiency exam score waiver if they have taken two college-level English courses at an accredited U.S. institution or attended an accredited postsecondary U.S. institution for two or more years.
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score considered: 550 on paper-based test and 80 on the Internet-based test. The UNC Asheville code is 5013. 
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum score considered: 6.5
    • Pearson PTEA minimum score considered: 53
    • Duolingo English Test (DET) minimum score considered: 105

Please have school and/or testing officials send transcripts and other materials to:

Office of Admission
UNC Asheville
1 University Heights, CPO #1320
Asheville, NC 28804
admissions@unca.edu

Documents Needed for I-20 Packet

Once admitted, we will work to issue you an I-20.

  • Copy of your passport
  • An Affidavit of Financial Support for International Student Applicants and a bank statement or letter from you or your sponsor’s bank, demonstrating your financial support on official letterhead. You must have minimum liquid assets to cover the cost of insurance (roughly $2,950.64) and indirect out-of-state cost of attendance ($44,205), totaling $47,155. Liquid assets include checking, savings, or deposit accounts.
  • If you are currently studying at another U.S. institution, you must submit copies of any I-20 forms previously issued, as well as copies of your passport, visa, and I-94 card.

I-20 and Student Visa Timeline

1. It’s important for you to submit all of your documents to the Office of Admissions in sufficient time for us to process all the paperwork and send your I-20 form to you.
Use the following dates as guidance (you can submit documents earlier, but all bank statements must be from within six months of the date of submission):

Fall semester: June 1
Spring semester: November 1

2. Once you receive the UNC Asheville’s I-20 form, and your SEVIS Fee is paid, take the following to your U.S. Embassy or consulate:

For further information on obtaining the F-1 visa, go to travel.state.gov.

3. Upon entering the United States, present your UNC Asheville I-20 form to a U.S. immigration official along with your F-1 visa (stamped in your passport) and I-94 form (obtained on the plane).

Have Questions? Contact the Admission Team! 

We’re here to help!

Phone: 828.251.6481

Email: internationaladmission@unca.edu

Address:

UNC Asheville

Brown Hall, CPO #1320

One University Heights

Asheville, NC 28804

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m