International Students

Anyone who has completed his or her education outside of the United States is considered an international applicant irrespective of citizenship or residency. If you will require an F-1 visa to study in the United States, then you are considered an international student for tuition purposes and an international applicant.

The deadlines are as follows:

With Durham as an international entry to the south, the multicultural campus of NCCU simplifies transitional periods, providing a rewarding academic, social, and professional environment for its students. 

• All international applicants must file a complete application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee.
• International applicants must complete a Financial Statement Certificate of Eligibility and provide evidence of funding to support their tuition, fees and living expenses. Students being financially funded by a sponsor such as parents, other relatives or friends must provide evidence of funding for their first year of study at NCCU with a bank statement. Students supporting themselves must provide evidence of funding for all years of study. Bank statements should be on official bank letterhead and be signed, stamped or notarized by a bank official. If not, they will not be accepted, which may cause a delay in the admissions process. If the funds are from an account that is not the applicant’s, an affidavit of support from the account holder is required.
• All international applicants must demonstrate their English proficiency by providing either TOEFL scores of at least 500 on the paper test or 61 on the internet-based test, a minimum SAT I score of 450 on the critical reading section of the old SAT, or a score of 25 on the redesigned SAT. The Pearson Test of English is also accepted, with a minimum score of 44. At least one of these tests is required for admission.

  Test scores will be waived for English Language Proficiency if

  • Native country’s official language is English
  • Secondary school’s primary language of instruction is English
• Please submit transcripts from high schools or secondary schools attended.
• International students are not eligible for federal financial aid and are unable to complete a FAFSA form. 
• SpanTran has created a custom application to help NCCU international students get their transcripts evaluated at a discounted rate. Access the SpanTran application.

• All students must file a complete application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Official transcripts must be provided from all colleges and universities attended. No other documentation will be accepted.
• International applicants must complete a Financial Statement Certificate of Eligibility and provide evidence of funding to support their tuition, fees and living expenses. Students being financially funded by a sponsor such as parents, other relative or friend must provide evidence of funding for the student’s first year of study at NCCU with a bank statement. Students supporting themselves must provide evidence of funding for all years of study. Bank statements should be on official bank letterhead and be signed, stamped or notarized by a bank official. If not, they will not be accepted, which may cause a delay in the admissions process. If the funds are from an account that is not the applicant’s, an affidavit of support from the account holder is required.
• All international applicants will be required to prove their English proficiency by presenting either TOEFL scores of a minimum of 500 for the paper test or 61 on the internet-based test or a minimum SAT I score of 450 on the critical reading of the old SAT or 25 on the redesigned SAT. At least one of these tests is required for admission.

Students who have attended a high school, college, or university outside the U.S. must submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all courses via one of the following services accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services:

• AACRAO International Education Services: 202-293-9161, ext. 6600
• Education Evaluators International: 401-521-5340
• Educational Credential Evaluation: 414-289-3400
• International Education Research Foundation: 310-258-9451

We recommend using IEE, Educational Perspectives, or ECE, for the evaluation. (Please note: WES does not offer a course-by-course evaluation for high-school records and does not include high-school information with a college credit evaluation.  We will accept WES evaluations granted they meet our requirements.)

Are you attending another university and/or college within the United States and wish to transfer to NCCU?

• To do so, you must submit an F-1 Student Visa Transfer Clearance Form. The form must be signed by your current international student advisor.
• As well, you must provide signed and dated copies of all Certificates of Eligibility (I-20) from your current and any previous schools, if applicable (all pages of form I-20 are required), an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, a valid passport copy, and an F-1 visa page. If you are on Optional Practical Training (OPT), please provide a front and back copy of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. 
• If you are presently in F-1 status at another U.S. institution and plan to transfer to NCCU and stay in the U.S., you will need to process your transfer through the Office of International Affairs. If you do not check in to complete the transfer process, you will be considered "out of status."
• If you are in F-1 status and plan to leave the U.S. and re-enter from abroad before you begin your program at NCCU, please contact the Office of International Affairs at [email protected].

• Applications to change immigration status in the U.S. are granted or denied by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Non-immigrants in C, D, K, or M status or WT and WB visitors who were admitted to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program cannot change to F-1 status in the U.S.
• Non-immigrants in J status who are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement or J-1 physicians admitted to receive graduate medical education or training may not change to F-1 status in the U.S.
• There are two ways to apply for change of status: You may leave the U.S. and apply for a new F-1 visa at the U.S. embassy in your home county and re-enter the U.S. with the proper documentation, or you may apply for change of non-immigrant status with USCIS. Prospective students wishing to apply for change of status in the U.S. should contact the Office of International Affairs at [email protected].
• Non-immigrants with a B1/B2 visitor/tourist status cannot enter the U.S. to pursue a course of study.
• Having B1/B2 status may make it difficult for you to change to F-1 visa status unless you have informed your consulate/embassy of your plans to pursue a course of study and “prospective student” is on the B1/B2 visa.

For additional information regarding U.S. student visas, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

For additional student visa resources, please visit VisaGuide's information page on the F-1 visa.

Immunizations

• Immunizations are required for general admission to the U.S. and are required by law in the state of North Carolina; they cannot be waived.
• Submit immunization record immediately to Student Health Services when you arrive. If the required immunizations are not completed within 30 days of enrollment, your registration will be canceled by Student Health Services, an action that may affect your visa status.
• Immunization appointments can be made in Student Health Services. Call 919-530-6317 to schedule an appointment. A medical history form must be completed.

Health Insurance

The North Carolina Central University Student Medical Insurance Plan is required of all international students. NCCU requires international students to enroll in the university health insurance plan through Student Health Services. Contact Student Health Services at 919-530-6317 for more information.