International Applicants

Meeting Your Language Requirements

Success at UNC Charlotte depends upon a student’s ability to converse in, write, and understand (U.S.) English. To assure such competence, any applicant whose native language is other than English must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score. To be considered official, the scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to UNC Charlotte. Typically, testing agencies retain scores for two years. 

Applicants who meet one of the following criteria are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement:

1. Has completed at least one academic year of post-secondary (academic) study in the U.S. (*or an approved country) within five years of the proposed term of enrollment.
2. Has completed at least one full calendar year of professional work experience in the U.S. (*or an approved country) in a position where English is heavily used in writing and speaking.

*Approved Countries with English as the Primary Language:

• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Canada (exception of the Province of Québec)
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• St. Kitts
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• United Kingdom
• United States and territories
• Zimbabwe

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement cannot be admitted. They may, however, choose to enroll at UNC Charlotte’s English Language Training Institute (ELTI) and apply to the Graduate School once English language proficiency is obtained.  See ELTI’s website for details.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS)

• Minimum Score Required:  83 Internet-based
• Official scores sent directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS) are required. 
• UNC Charlotte’s school code is 5105. A department code is not necessary.
• MyBest Scores are accepted.  You must send all of your individual scores to us and not just your “MyBest Scores.“.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESO Examinations, British Council, and IDP:IELTS Australia.

• Minimum Score Required: Overall band score of 6.5.
• Official scores must be sent directly from the testing center to UNC Charlotte.
• Request your scores be sent electronically to University of North Carolina Charlotte Graduate Admissions.

Duolingo English Test

Provided by Duolingo.

• Minimum Score Required: 115
• Scores should be made available electronically to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Graduate School via the Duolingo test taker portal.

English Language Training Institute (ELTI)

UNC Charlotte’s accredited intensive English program for academic language development.

The ELTI will work with the Graduate School to identify current ELTI students who seek admission to UNC Charlotte graduate programs. The ELTI Program Director will send a memo of completion along with a final grade report for any eligible student to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the conclusion of the semester.  

Minimum proficiency: Completion of the last level of the program (Level 5) with a final grade of B (80%) or higher.

Curriculum, application requirements, dates and schedule, and tuition and fees schedule are located on the ELTI’s webpage.

Admission to the Graduate School requires a student to show evidence of successful completion of a U.S. bachelor’s degree program or its foreign equivalent from a regionally accredited (in the U.S.) or an officially recognized/approved or accredited institution abroad. An applicant’s academic credentials, if earned outside of the U.S., are reviewed for the purpose of assessing institutional accreditation, as well as the U.S. equivalency of the degree and grades.

International applicants who have earned a (three-year) bachelor’s degree (such as a BBA or BCA from India), or those who have earned a standard (four-year) bachelor’s degree (such as BEng), are not required to submit a credential evaluation performed by a foreign credential evaluation service as part of their application for admission, although it is quite helpful to provide one (and some graduate programs strongly encourage it).

I-20 Issuance for Students Who Intend to Enroll on F-1 or J-1 Visas

The following requirements apply only to those international students who are admitted to a graduate program at UNC Charlotte and who hold, or who intend to hold, an F-1 or J-1 visa/status during their studies.

International Financial Certification

The Financial Certification includes information regarding dependents in the event a spouse or children will accompany the student; preferences for receiving Form I-20/DS2019; SEVIS transfer, if applicable, etc.

The International Student/Scholar Office (ISSO) manages the I-20 process, and staff in the unit are available to respond to questions. Information for new international students is available online.

The Financial Solvency Form is made available within a few days after an applicant has been granted admission, via an email sent directly from the ISSO.

ISSO Services

The mission of the International Student and Scholar Office is to provide information, services and programs that help international students and visiting scholars achieve their individual educational and personal goals and that foster an appreciation for a culturally diverse learning environment in the larger University community.

The ISSO provides support services and programs for international students and scholars in the following areas:

• Orientation to the University and the Charlotte community
• Individual counseling and advising
• Information and referral on issues related to academics, health, finances, housing, and campus programs
• Immigration advising and processing of documents
• Cross-cultural workshops
• Coordination of the Host Family Program
• Coordination of the Friendship & Culture exchange program
• Advising of international student clubs and organizations
• Support for UNC Charlotte’s International House
• Support to hiring departments of international scholars

For more information on international student services, visit UNC Charlotte’s International Student Scholar Office.

STEM Designated Programs and OPT Work Permit Extensions

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency publishes a list of STEM-designated programs that allow holders of certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degrees to obtain an additional 24-month OPT work permit extension, in addition to the 12-month post-completion OPT work permit. 

Essentially, a STEM degree allows for a total OPT time of 36 months, compared to 12 months for non-STEM degrees. Graduate certificate programs are not eligible for the OPT work permit extension.

Please see the STEM-list programs provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the most up-to-date information.  Corresponding UNC Charlotte STEM-designated programs listed below may qualify for the OPT extension.