All international applicants who want to have UNCW sponsor their F-1 visa are required to:
These documents provide evidence of the applicant's ability to pay for all expenses for at least one year of study, including expenses for any dependents who might accompany him or her. Until a completed International Student Data Form and accompanying financial documents are received proving an applicant has at least $38,955 available, a Form I-20 for securing a visa cannot be issued. All documents above will be handled through the Office of International Programs after a student is admitted.
The I-20 for an F-1 visa will be issued only when all requirements have been met. Once an applicant is admitted, an acceptance letter, along with the I-20, will be sent to the student. Next, the student must take the information to the home country consulate or embassy, where the decision is made whether or not to grant the F-1 visa to the student. Please note that securing an appointment in your native country with the embassy or consulate may take time and cause unforeseen delays.
International students who want to attend UNCW in a legal status other than F-1 student (e.g., H4, E2, L2, etc.) do not need to submit proof of financial support or the International Student Data Form. They must provide a copy of their current visa.
UNCW ESL students who have been accepted to a UNCW degree program must submit the International Student Data Form and financial documents to the Office of Admissions so that the Office of International Programs can issue them a new I-20 reflecting the change of degree level.
For those needing to strengthen proficiency, UNCW offers an English Learning Center (ELC).
We also offer conditional admission to applicants who have demonstrated strong academic performance but need additional English language preparation in order to be successful in their program of study.
Financial assistance for UNCW for international students is extremely limited since the out-of-state tuition at UNCW is lower than at many comparable institutions.
To research outside sources for funds, please review the following websites:
Every international undergraduate applicant who wants to have UNCW's F-1 sponsorship must present evidence of sufficient financial resources to meet projected expenses. This information will be requested by the Office of International Programs after a student is admitted if visa sponsorship is needed.
UNCW offers three deadlines for applications. Applications are not reviewed or evaluated until they become complete (the application and all credentials have been received).
Applicants will receive a decision approximately four to six weeks from the time their application becomes complete and ready for review. We strongly recommend you apply four to six months before the term you plan to enter the university. Applying after the stated deadlines increase the risk that there will not be enough time needed to process all the required paperwork.
When possible, we strongly encourage the use of an online application (more than 95% of our applicants applied using an online application last year).
There are several items you must submit in order for your application to UNCW to be considered. These include:
UNCW Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Phone: (910) 962-3243
Fax: (910) 962-3038
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Summer hours:
Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.