FAQs and Tips for Applying Online
Do you have a question about admissions at UNC Charlotte? Listed below are
some of the frequently asked questions by prospective students and applicants.
If your question is not listed, please email us at gradcounselor@uncc.edu.
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
Q. Am I eligible to apply for graduate study at UNC Charlotte?
A. To be eligible to apply for graduate study at UNC Charlotte, applicants
must complete a bachelor’s degree (or its U.S. equivalent) from a
regionally accredited college or university.
Exceptional UNC Charlotte undergraduate students (3.2 overall GPA) may
be considered for early-entry to a master’s programs and begin work
toward a graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.
In those programs offering this option, an applicant may be accepted at
any time after completion of 75 or more hours, although it is expected that
close to 90 hours will have been earned by the time the first graduate
course is taken. These students will have provisional acceptance status,
pending the award of the baccalaureate degree. Not all graduate
programs offer this option.
Details about admissions requirements are found online in the Graduate
Catalog and on the Admissions Information webpage.
Graduate Programs Offered
Q. Where can I get information about the departments at UNC Charlotte and its
graduate programs?
A. The Graduate Programs page has a list of all graduate certificate,
master’s and doctoral degree programs offered, links to departmental
websites, and contact information for the graduate coordinator/director of
every program. While the Graduate School can answer your general
questions about admissions, the graduate coordinator/director can answer
your academic questions about the program to which you are interested in
applying.
Application Procedures
Q. How do I apply for admission?
A. Apply online at www.uncc.edu/gradmiss/p_app_instructions.html.
Q. Can I apply on paper?
A. UNC Charlotte uses an online application. If you need assistance,
contact the Graduate School at 704-687-3366 or
gradcounselor@uncc.edu.
Q. Can I apply to more than one graduate program?
A. Yes, you will need to complete an online application for each program
to which you apply, and a separate fee is required for each application.
Q. Do I need to submit a separate application to a department in addition to the
application for graduate study?
A. No, our online application is a common application used for all
certificate and degree programs; however, the program to which you apply
may have special application requirements such as essays or portfolios.
Please review the application requirements for your particular graduate
program.
Q. I applied to a graduate program but was not admitted. Do I need to send a
complete application when I reapply?
A. You must submit a new online application and pay the fee. If you are
reapplying to the same program, you may contact the Graduate School to
inquire if your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores are
still on file as materials are kept for only one year.
Q. My transcripts or test scores are not ready, should I wait until I get them to
submit an application?
A. No. Submit your application as soon as possible. Request your
transcript from previous schools and have your test scores sent as soon
as they are available.
Q. Can I request my credentials (transcripts, test scores, and letters of
recommendations) be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions prior to
submitting my application?
A. We recommend you submit your application first as we only keep
credentials in our office for one year.
Q. Once I submit my materials to the Graduate School, can they be returned to
me?
A. No. When credentials are submitted to the Graduate School, they
become the University property and cannot be returned to you or
forwarded to another institution.
Deadlines
Q. What is the application deadline?
A. Standard deadline dates are:
Fall – May 1st
Spring – October 1st
Summer – April 1st
Many departments have earlier deadline dates and admit once a year.
Visit the Graduate Programs webpage for details.
Application Fee
Q. What are the payment options for the application fee?
A. At this time, online payment is not available.
After you complete and submit your online application for admission, the
Payment Voucher will be visible. You must print the Payment Voucher,
attach a check or money order for the $55 processing fee, and enclose all
of your official transcripts and any other supplemental materials for your
application. Mail these items to the Graduate School.
Q. Is the application fee refundable or are fee waivers granted?
A. The application fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable. Fee
waivers are granted to McNair Scholar applicants.
Q. I would like to withdraw my application. Will the application fee be refunded?
A. No, the application fee is non-refundable.
Transcripts
Q. Do I need to have transcripts sent from every college I attended?
A. Yes, we require a transcript of all previous academic work attempted
beyond high school. Transfer credit posted on the records of other
institutions is unacceptable, and official transcripts of these credits must
be supplied.
Q. Where do I send my transcripts?
A. You should collect all your transcripts and keep them in sealed
envelopes. Then, after you submit your online application, you should
attach them to the payment voucher and mail them to the Graduate
School along with any other supplemental materials you wish to be
included with your application.
Recommendations
Q. Whom should I pick to write my recommendations?
A. Academic recommendations are acceptable along with workplace
supervisors. Some programs have specific guidelines about who you
should ask, so be sure to check the program requirements.
Q. Have all my recommendations been received?
A. Return to your online application. Enter your PIN and password in the
User Login box on the right side of the page. Scroll to “Recommendation
Providers” where you will see the status of each recommendation.
Q. How can I send email reminders to my recommendation providers?
A. Return to your online application. Enter your PIN and password in the
User Login box on the right side of the page. Scroll to the bottom of the
first page and click on “Application for Admission.” Click on
“Recommendations” in the red area. Then, scroll to the button called
“Recommendation Provider List” and click on it. Mark the providers to
whom you wish to send a reminder by clicking on the checkbox beside
each name. Click on the “Resend” button. Note that you cannot send an
email reminder in this way to a provider whom you indicated will be
submitting an off-line recommendation.
Q. How can I change information on an online recommendation request that has
already been entered into my online application?
A. Once you enter the name and email address of a provider, a message
to that person is sent immediately even though you may not have
submitted the application yet. While you will not be able to change any
information, you can add additional recommenders.
Q. How can I change one of my recommendation providers?
A. Once you have entered the name of a recommendation provider along
with his/her correct email address, a request is immediately sent to that
person even though you may not yet have submitted your application. If
you wish to add or delete a provider, or resend a request to someone
whom you have already named, you should go to the “Recommendation
Provider List” in your online application as described above. You will see
the providers that you originally entered, and you can use the add, delete,
and resend buttons to perform those actions as needed. Note that if you
originally indicated a provider would submit an off-line recommendation,
you cannot send him/her a reminder using this method. You will need to
contact him/her by separate email, regular mail, or phone.
Q. My recommendation provider cannot get the recommendation link to work,
and I’ve already submitted the application. Is there another way for him/her to
send the recommendation?
A. Sometimes, depending upon the type of computer and browser that a
provider is using, the online recommendation submission process does
not work. If you provider wishes to continue trying to submit the
recommendation electronically, he can contact the Apply Yourself
Technical Support Desk from within the recommendation form by clicking
on the button, “Tech Support,” which appears at the top of each page, for
advice and help. Utilization of this feature allows the provider to write an
explanation about his problem. In addition, information about the type of
computer and software he is using is also communicated to Apply
Yourself, so they will have all necessary information to assist with the
problem.
A simpler alternative might be to login to your online application and use
the downloadable forms link to retrieve the paper recommendation form.
Then, email the form to your recommender.
Q. One of my recommendation providers cannot login to the online
recommendation website. He tried several times, using the ID and password in
his email.
A. Ensure that your recommendation provider is using the latest version of
his/her web browser software. Suggest that your provider utilize the
technical support option available on the Recommendation Provider login
screen to report a problem, or return to your online application
recommendation provider list and change the status of the provider to
offline by clicking his/her name in the list and then saving the record. Use
the downloadable forms link to retrieve a paper recommendation form for
mailing to the provider.
Statement of Purpose
Q. What should I write in my statement of purpose?
A. Some programs have specific instructions and guidelines for what you
should included in your statement of purposes, so please follow the
guidelines recommended by the program to which you are applying. If no
specific guidelines are listed, the Graduate School recommends you
describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program, your
preparation for this field of study, future career plans, and other aspects of
your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in
evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
Q. How do I submit my statement of purpose?
A. We recommend you write your statement of purpose in MS Word
before applying. When you apply online you will be asked to upload your
statement.
Standardized Tests
Q. Where should I have my GRE, GMAT, Miller Analogies and/or TOEFL scores
sent?
A. Applicants should have scores sent directly to the Graduate School.
See Graduate Test Information for the school codes and other details. It
is not necessary to indicate a department code.
Q. Do I need to take the GRE, GMAT or Miller Analogies Test.?
A. All applicants to graduate programs must take one of the required tests.
If you are applying to a graduate certificate, the test may not be required.
Check the Graduate Programs webpage for required tests. Also, consult
the Graduate Test Information for details about standardized tests.
Q. Do I need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
A. Success at UNC Charlotte depends upon the student’s ability to
converse in, write, and understand (American) English. To assure such
competence, the university requires any applicant whose native language
is not English, and/or who has been educated primarily outside of the
U.S., to submit official TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB scores. To be
considered official, the scores must be sent directly from the testing
agency to UNC Charlotte. Scores older than two years will not be
accepted. For more details, view the Graduate Test Information.
Q. My test scores are not recent. Will you accept them?
A. GRE, GMAT, and MAT scores are valid for five years from the date you
took the test. TOEFL, IELTS, or MELAB scores are valid for two years
from the date you took the test.
Admission Decision
Q. When will a decision be made on my application?
A. Every department has different timelines. Continue to check the status
of your online application as you will be able to see the admissions
decision once it has been made.
Q. Can my application be evaluated before the test scores arrive?
A. Test scores are a component of the admissions application; therefore,
no review or decision will be made until all application credentials
(including official test scores) are received.
Once You Are Admitted
Q. What is the policy on deferred admission?
A. We encourage you to apply for the term in which you wish to enroll. If
unforeseen circumstances prevent you from enrolling in that year, you
must submit a new online application and fee.
Q. What constitutes a full-time load in graduate school?
A. Generally, full-time graduate students take three courses (nine hours)
per semester. Some programs require students to take twelve credit hours
per semester.
Q. How much does graduate school cost?
A. Current rates for tuition and fees are available online.
Q. Is financial aid available?
A. Yes, refer to the Graduate Student Support webpage.
Q. Is housing available for graduate students?
A. While many graduate students live off campus in nearby apartment
houses, the university provides limited housing on campus for graduate
students.
Q. Can I transfer credit in to UNC Charlotte?
A. While policies differ from program to program, most will accept up to six
credits of coursework taken from another regionally accredited university.
See the Graduate Catalog and consult with your graduate
coordinator/director.
Q. Can I pursue my graduate education on a part-time basis?
A. It depends. While most programs accept part-time graduate students,
some are for full-time students. Check your program’s website for
complete information.
Q. Are classes scheduled at convenient times on a part-time basis?
A. Many programs offer evening courses that generally meet once a week.
Again, this varies depending on the program.
Q. My address has changed. Who should I notify?
A. If you are an applicant or current student your contact information can
be updated using the student portal 49er Express.
Q. I have been classified as an out-of-state student. What are the requirements
for NC residency for tuition purposes?
A. RSVP online to attend a workshop. Click here for details about NC
Residency for Tuition Purposes.
Q. How can I find what classes are offered this semester?
A. View the current schedule of classes.
Q. Where do I get answers about the registration process?
A. View the Registrar’s webpage on Questions about Registration.