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    University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Check whether the University of North Carolina Wilmington is right for you as an international student.

    Official university website

    Uni facts

    Wilmington, USA
    • Type
      Public
    • Rank
      1002
    • International students
      2680
    • Nationalities
      26
    • Total programs
      93
    • Acceptance rate
      61%

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    Study abroad at the University of North Carolina Wilmington

    A public research university based in Wilmington, the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) is one of North Carolina’s 16 public universities. Their campus is located just minutes from several beaches, and Wilmington has a vibrant art, culture, literature, film and music scene.

    UNCW was established in 1947 and offers 49 undergraduate majors for 54 bachelor’s degrees, 29 graduate programs, and four doctoral programs. Popular majors for international students include business, computer science, environmental studies, film studies and marine biology.

    There are more than 260 student organizations on offer at UNCW, and their 19 athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I. The University has a number of regular traditions including Oozeball, Beach Blast, Convocation, Involvement Carnival, and UNCWelcome Week.

    Why study at UNCW?

    • Sports and athletics

      The UNCW athletic teams are NCAA Division I members

    • Student-staff ratio

      18:1 student-staff ratio helps each student receive a personalized education

    Life as an international student

    The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is dedicated to attracting and supporting UNCW’s community of international students and staff.

    The OISS provides support to help international students transition into life at UNCW, and they aim to address the unique needs of each student. They also coordinate events and programs designed to engage international students with the broader community to promote a global culture throughout the campus.

    International students are encouraged to live on campus to help you integrate into life at the University. There are also a large number of clubs and organizations you can join that are an ideal way of meeting new people.

    Student reviews for the University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Overall rating
    3.91428571 stars
    Based on 7 reviews
    Overall experience
    4.1429 stars
    Accommodation
    4.1429 stars
    Academic
    3.7143 stars
    University facilities
    4.4286 stars
    University social
    3.1429 stars
    • Asami Minei
      Japan
      Overall experience 4 stars
      Academic
      3 stars
      University social
      3 stars
      Accommodation
      5 stars
      University facilities
      5 stars
      University of North Carolina Wilmington Geophysical Sciences
      Tell us about the University of North Carolina Wilmington
      What I like about this University the most is the medical support they offer. They have an accessible clinic on campus, medical insurance covering 100% of the cost, and an easy online check-in system. What I like the least about the school is that international students must pay out-of-state tuition fees. My old school had a tuition waiver if you volunteered for 10 hours, but the tuition here is three times as expensive than in-state students.
    • Ciaran O'Cleirigh
      Ireland
      Overall experience 5 stars
      Academic
      4 stars
      University social
      5 stars
      Accommodation
      5 stars
      University facilities
      5 stars
      University of North Carolina Wilmington Recreation Management
      Tell us about the University of North Carolina Wilmington
      The social life is great as we have the beach and lots of activities that the University has to offer everyday. The food is good and they have a lot of variation.
    • Johan Bjorck
      Sweden
      Overall experience 5 stars
      Academic
      5 stars
      University social
      3 stars
      Accommodation
      4 stars
      University facilities
      4 stars
      University of North Carolina Wilmington Agribusiness
      Tell us about the University of North Carolina Wilmington
      The location really is awesome and close to the beach. The facilities are great too, with great halls and dining places
    • Anamo Kisho
      Ethiopia
      Overall experience 4 stars
      Academic
      4 stars
      University social
      3 stars
      Accommodation
      4 stars
      University facilities
      4 stars
      University of North Carolina Wilmington Information Technology
      Tell us about the University of North Carolina Wilmington
      The facilities in UNCW are great, they really care about the students and help us to reach our full potential. The university has good resources to help students further their knowledge like a math lab and writing center. It's a medium size university located close to the beach but it has low diversity. People are friendly and it's an amazing community. Transportation is not efficient; students definitely need a car for transport.
    • Dimitra Tzialla
      United States
      Overall experience 3 stars
      Academic
      3 stars
      University social
      4 stars
      Accommodation
      3 stars
      University facilities
      3 stars
      University of North Carolina Wilmington Digital Marketing
      Tell us about the University of North Carolina Wilmington
      One of the things I did not like about my university is the transportation they offer. The buses were always late, sometimes the drivers would change the route and they would not pick up some students.

    What the University of North Carolina Wilmington says

    • Jessie Heim

      Jessie Heim

      University of North Carolina Wilmington Assistant Director of International Admissions
      Jessie Heim says

      UNCW welcomes students from around the world. Once you’re here, you’ll recognize a sense of belonging you didn’t realize was missing. It feels like home.

      Here at North Carolina's coastal university, you’ll enjoy a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry, critical thinking, and thoughtful expression in a beautiful campus setting. Located just minutes from the beach, Wilmington, North Carolina has a vibrant culture that celebrates the arts, film and music, and a host of campus/community connections to ensure you find where you belong both on and off-campus.

      Our residence halls include programming spaces, technologically advanced study spaces, and best of all you will avoid the hassle of multiple bills and grocery shopping; living on-campus is an all-inclusive payment (rent, cable, internet, water, and phone). We have over 100 plus cable channels, free laundry machines on each floor, vending/ice machines, high-speed internet, and iPrint stations in every area just to name a few of the amenities we offer.

      UNCW provides support and various programs to help international students on F-1 visas secure jobs and internships during their studies and after in collaboration with the Career Center.

    Student life & facilities

    Group of students planning a presentation in a living room
    • Library
      • Computer labs
      • Group Study Rooms
      • Quiet Areas
    • Fitness Centre
      • Spin Studio
      • Machines
      • Free Weights
      • Fitness Classes
      • Sauna / Steam Rooms
      • Personal Trainers
    • IT Support
      • Loan Laptops
    • No. of All Weather Sports Pitches
      • No. of Baseball Pitches 1
      • No. of Squash Courts 1
      • No. of Tennis Courts 13
      • No. of Climbing Wall 1
      • No. of Basketball Courts 8
      • No. of volleyball courts 4
    • Transport
      • Campus Bus Service
      • Bike Rental
      • Campus parking
      • On-Campus Shuttle
    • Food & Restaurants
      • Restaurants
      • Cafe’s
    • Sports Facilities
      • No. of Natural Turf American Football Pitches 1
      • Sport facilities 1
      • No. of Natural Turf Soccer Pitches 1
    • Healthcare & Medical
      • Campus Doctor
    • Tutoring Support
      • Academic Tutoring & Support
    • Praying Rooms
      • Pre sessional English Academic skills courses

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    Fees and funding

    Financing a UNCW education may seem like a challenging responsibility, so the University tries to be accessible to all who are granted admission. UNCW meets this through need-blind admissions and through financial aid.

    Financial assistance from UNCW for international students is extremely limited, since the out-of-state tuition at UNCW is lower than at many comparable institutions. As such, it is urged that international students look for outside sources of funding to help lower costs.

    Undergraduate Scholarships Freshman - $5,000 / year SAT 1300 or higher or ACT 30 or higher (automatically received)

    Essay submitted once admitted $2,500 / year

    Ambassador Scholarship (applied after their first year of studies) - up $2,000 / year

    Teaching assistantships for Postgraduate students, maximum of $11,000 / year (working 20 hours per week)

    Location

    University of North Carolina Wilmington

    601 S College Rd, NC 28403

    Wilmington is a charming, friendly city on the southeastern coast of North Carolina in the United States. Located just minutes from numerous beaches, Wilmington has a renowned historic district as well as a vibrant art culture, literature, film and music scene.

    Find a program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Program level

    Visa requirements for the University of North Carolina Wilmington

    Many international students will require a visa to study in the US, and this is a vital step of your study abroad journey. Make sure you understand the requirements you may need to meet before applying.

    USA student visa requirements