Auditing allows a student to enroll and attend a class without receiving academic credit. Audit students pay regular tuition and fees for audited classes.
Senior citizens age 65 and older can enroll to audit courses tuition-free on a space-available basis.
Who is an Audit-Only Student?
Auditing allows a student to enroll and attend a class without receiving academic credit. While the course counts as attempted hours, it does not count as earned hours, GPA hours, quality points, or in a GPA calculation.
Audit students pay regular tuition and fees for audited classes. Audit students cannot later retake courses completed as audit for credit or toward degree requirements.
Should you decide to pursue your education at UNCW with the intention of earning an undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a separate application to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline.
Acceptance as an audit only student does not guarantee admission to the university as a degree-seeking student.
Deadlines
Spring: December 15 Summer: June 15 Fall: July 15
How to Apply
Students who are not currently enrolled at UNCW and wish to audit a class must
Submit an application for admission here and select Audit student type
If you register for more than four (4) credit hours, you will need to comply with the immunization requirements under North Carolina state law. Please contact Student Health Services at 910.962.3280 for more information.
Auditing additional classes in subsequent terms does not require a new application. However, if you miss two or more consecutive semesters, you must reapply through the Office of Admissions.
Senior Citizens
In fall 2017, the General Assembly authorized the Board of Governors to promulgate rules permitting North Carolina residents who are at least 65 years old as of the start of the applicable term, and who meet applicable admission standards, to enroll to audit lecture-based courses tuition-free on a space-available basis.
Acceptance as a non-degree senior citizen audit student does not guarantee admission to the university as a degree-seeking student. If admitted as a degree-seeking student, tuition and fees will apply.
Please note the following restrictions:
Laboratory, studio, performance, distance education (online), independent study, internship, or special topic courses are ineligible for this tuition-free opportunity.
Senior auditors shall be allowed to audit courses only if there is space available after regularly enrolled students are placed. Audit requests will be accepted according to the institutional calendar of registration dates and will be processed after the institution can confirm space will be available in the requested course. Registration will be held until such time as space available can be determined by the institution.
Senior Citizen Application & Registration Process
Senior citizens 65 years of age or older who are not currently enrolled at UNCW and wish to audit a class must:
Submit an application for admission here and select Senior Citizen Audit student type
Once admitted, follow the instructions on the Office of the Registrar's website for how to request an Audit Course Registration.
