• TypeUniversities
• LocationCullowhee, The United States
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Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina, just over 50 miles west of Asheville, in the mountains of the south-eastern United States. It is the westernmost institution of the University of North Carolina System. Besides its residential main campus, WCU has an instructional site in Asheville at Biltmore Park Towne Square and offers online study.

WCU awards bachelor's, master's and professional doctoral degrees, with more than 115 degrees and programmes overall and over 40 graduate degree and certificate programmes. Fields include:

• Nursing
• Education
• Engineering
• Forensic science and emergency management
• Entrepreneurship and project management
• Natural resources conservation

International undergraduate, graduate and exchange students are guided through the application process by the Office of Global Engagement. Undergraduate applicants whose first language is not English need, for example, TOEFL iBT 75 or IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.0). Students on the main campus can live in the university's residence halls.

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1 University Drive, Cullowhee, NC, The United States, 28723-9646

WCU offers more than 115 degrees and programmes, in residential, hybrid and online formats. Areas include nursing (BSN, RN to BSN), engineering (B.S., B.S.E.E.), education, forensic science, emergency management, entrepreneurship, project management and natural resources conservation.

More than 40 graduate degree and certificate programmes, including master's and professional doctoral degrees. Depending on the programme, classes are held on the main campus in Cullowhee or at Biltmore Park in Asheville. Each programme sets its own deadline, and some require the GRE or GMAT in addition to an English test.

• Official transcripts sent directly by the school or an evaluation company; non-U.S. transcripts (other than IB or Cambridge) must be evaluated by a NACES member agency, such as WES, International Education Evaluations or TEC
• SAT or ACT only for international students graduating from a U.S. high school
• Proof of funding for the first year of study, through the certificate of finance form, to receive the I-20

Obtaining a visa can take 11 months or more, so early application is advised.

All international students must show English proficiency. Minimum scores:

• Undergraduate: TOEFL iBT 75, IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.0), Duolingo 95 or PTE Academic 50
• Graduate: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), Duolingo 105 or PTE Academic 56

Applicants from countries where English is the primary language, with an IB diploma or with schooling in an English-medium institution may be exempt.

After applying to WCU, students can apply for WCU scholarships through the Scholarship Portal; applications open each year on 1 October. For graduate students, programmes award graduate assistantships (stipends of around US$5,000 per semester) and out-of-state tuition remission case by case. The university does not offer full scholarships to international graduate students.

The main campus in Cullowhee is residential, and students can live in university residence halls. Room assignments, meal plans and other housing details are managed through the Housing Portal, and a guide to university housing is published for 2026-27. Housing accommodations for students with disabilities are handled by the Office of Accessibility Resources.

https://www.wcu.edu/learn/office-of-global-engagement/international-students/index.aspx