Travel Information

Airport: Wilmington International Airport (ILM)

• Flights through Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), New York (LGA), & Washington D.C. (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport-DCA or Washington Dulles International Airport-IAD) on American Airlines, Delta, & United Airlines arrive daily. For a list of cities with direct flights to Wilmington, please visit the ILM airport's website.
• ILM Airport Distance from Campus: 10-15 minutes
• Take a video tour of ILM International Airport to know what to expect and where to go when you arrive.

Important things to remember when booking your flight to the U.S.:

• Do not book your flight until your U.S. visa is confirmed.
• You will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prior to landing in Wilmington. Don't forget to bring the items below for the CBP officer. Do not pack these documents in your checked-baggage as you will not be able to enter the U.S. if your baggage is lost. All documents will be returned to you before you leave the CBP area.
  • All Students:
  • Passport
  • Visa (this will be stamped in your passport, excluding Canadian citizens)
  • UNCW Admissions or Acceptance Letter
• F-1 Degree Seeking Students
  • I-20, signed by you and your F-1 advisor (DSO)
  • Proof of I-901 SEVIS fee payment
  • Proof of financial support - you may use the same documents you submitted in your I-20 application.
• J-1 Exchange Students
  • Signed DS-2019 Form

If you plan to arrive prior to on-campus housing opening or if you want to arrive early to look for off-campus housing, you are responsible for arranging temporary accommodation. Please refer to the chart below for suggested area hotels that often offer discounts to UNCW students. Please note the minimum check-in age required.

• You can view the UNCW calendar dates through the Registrar's Office: Calendar of Events.
• The recommended arrival date at UNCW is August 17th for Fall 2023. Students must attend  International Student Orientation, on August 18th.

1. Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay
2. Your DS-2019/I-20.

• Email International@uncw.edu for shuttle information.
• New students will get an email from OISS with specifics on arrival and transportation.
• Please review the tab on transportation options from ILM International Airport.
• Click here to tour ILM International Airport to know what to expect and where to go when you arrive.

• Taxis cost approximately $20 USD from ILM to UNCW.
  • For a list of taxis and contact numbers that provide transportation from the airport, please visit ILM's website.
  • Most taxis accept credit cards.
• Uber & Lyft are both readily available in Wilmington and are easy to access from the airport.
• ILM is a small and friendly airport. ILM staff can assist you in finding transportation if needed.

Take a video tour of ILM International Airport to know what to expect and where to go when you arrive.

Steps to Check-In

1. Review the Recommended Arrival Dates: By reviewing the academic calendar dates, you can plan your travel dates and will have the best move-in experience to UNCW on-campus housing. You can plan your arrival for when the UNCW Shuttle is running.
2. Go directly to your residence hall: On your move-in day, you may go directly to your residence hall. You can also learn more about the UNCW move in procedures through the Housing and Residence Life website. You can also email UNCW Housing. See UNCW Campus Map for directions.

On-Campus Housing

For students who apply to live on campus, the UNCW Office of Housing and Residence Life coordinates all housing assignments. Detailed information for the room sign up process can be found on your TealTicket for degree-seeking students, or will be sent to you via email if you are an exchange student. To learn more about on-campus housing, visit the Housing and Residence Life website.

Off-Campus Housing

For students living off campus, the PERCH office serves as the university resource for off-campus accommodation options. For information regarding off-campus housing, please visit the off-campus housing search website. Please note that PERCH provides off-campus housing resources as a guide, but students are ultimately responsible for finding their own accommodation, signing a lease, acquiring furniture, etc.

Hotels

We strongly encourage you to arrange accommodations prior to arriving in Wilmington, but if you wish to arrange temporary accommodations on your own to allow time to look at apartments we suggest contacting one of the hotels listed below which may offer discounts for UNCW students. Be sure to confirm the age required to check-in when booking a hotel room.

Required Immigration Check-In (Online)

• Required immigration video
• Required immigration quiz
• Required submission of immigration documents