How to Apply & Deadlines

Graduate Admissions - Supplemental Application Materials

For programs administered through the School of Education

Your application is not considered complete and ready for review until all materials have been received.

Additional Requirements:

Campus Safety Information

Applicants must answer questions stating whether they have ever been convicted of, or arrested for, a violation of law other than a minor traffic violation. This information has an impact on the school's ability to place a student in a public school field experience, including student teaching, and will affect his or her eligibility for licensure to teach.

Failure to provide complete, accurate and truthful information will be grounds to deny or withdraw your admission, or to dismiss you after enrollment. The same actions will occur if you fail to promptly notify the Admissions Office in writing of such charges that occur at any time after you submit the application.

Consent to Release Social Security Number

The University now uses personal identification numbers (PIDs) for record-keeping purposes.

However other agencies related to professional licensure of educators require an applicant’s social security number as part of the licensure process. It will help us assist you in the licensure process in North Carolina and other states if you give us permission now to use your social security number under specific circumstances as described.

Application Deadlines and Fee

Applications and payment must be received before the application deadline. Application fees are non-refundable and no applications will be considered after the graduate program has closed admission. Due to the volume of applications received, School of Education recommends that applicants submit applications as early as possible. See a complete listing of programs and application deadlines.

Please check Financial Aid & Funding for information on graduate assistantships, scholarships and other program based funding options.

A non-refundable $75 application fee is required for each program to which you apply. Applicants can pay their application fee online by credit card or by mailing a check or money order made payable to School of Education. Applications that arrive without the required application fee will remain on file, unprocessed, pending receipt of the application fee. If someone is paying the application fee for you, please ask him or her to include your name as the intended applicant when they submit the check or money order.

Application fee waiver requests are only considered for two groups of domestic applicants listed below. This is a fee waiver process and not a fee payment reimbursement process. Once the application fee is paid by either check or credit card, waiver or reimbursement is no longer an option.

a) full-time permanent employees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Please submit your application UNPAID and submit a UNC-CH Employee Application Fee Waiver (PDF), approved by employee Benefits, to the School of Education along with the online admission application confirmation receipt.

b) U.S. citizens who

  • are currently enrolled in a degree program with no breaks in enrollment from point of entry at the undergraduate level;
  • have continuously received need-based financial aid; and
  • have had no breaks in financial support since onset of support.

We will be happy to consider your waiver request if you can satisfy these criteria and upon receipt of the required letter of certification. While participation in select Scholar programs or payment waivers granted by other sources do not automatically grant fee waiver eligibility at this campus, we welcome fee waiver requests from participants who meet the above need-based eligibility criteria. Requests must be current with no break in enrollment. Please present a copy of these instructions to the Representative at all institutions that you attended. Request a letter on University letterhead with an original signature certifying the specific items listed above (no form letters, photo-copies, or financial aid transcripts, please).

This documentation must cover both your enrollment history and financial aid history from point of entry at the undergraduate level. No other forms of documentation can be accepted. Your application will remain on file, unprocessed, pending receipt of the required documentation. Fee waiver requests must be received before the deadline for any application to be considered.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required, one from your immediate supervisor, one from a person who can speak to your academic work, and one who knows your professional work and background.

Programs may accept original letters in lieu of the recommendation form. If you use the recommendation form, please carefully complete the top portion and provide the mailing address of your intended program. Please also note the right of access statement on the recommendation form; you may or may not elect to sign this waiver.

You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and who can address your potential for success in this particular academic setting. If you have been out of school for a number of years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. We advise against using generic letters of recommendation such as those provided by campus career planning and placement offices.

Transcripts

One official transcript of all post-secondary education (including community colleges, summer sessions and extension programs), bearing the signature of the registrar and the seal of the institution, are required. Transfer credit posted on the transcript of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from the institution attended. An original transcript from each institution* is always required.

*Internal (unofficial) transcripts from UNC-Chapel Hill only are acceptable. Please ask the UNC-Chapel Hill University Registrar for an internal transcript at no charge.

Applicants may submit transcripts before mid-year grades are posted (final transcripts must then follow). If possible, submit your official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) at the same time as your application. However, if the institution will not release official transcripts directly to the student, they may send the transcripts directly to us.

Standardized Test Scores

Official GRE or MAT test scores are only required for Educational Leadership, Ed.D. applicants. See Supplemental Instructions for additional information.

For programs administered through the Graduate School, please visit The Graduate School Admissions for further information regarding testing requirements for these programs.

Statement of Purpose

All graduate programs require a written statement as a part of your application. How the statement is to arrive varies by program, we prefer that they are uploaded electronically within the application, but if not, they can be mailed directly to the program to which you are applying.

The form and content requirements also vary by program so before applying, be sure to read the information and/or instructions specific to your intended program. Your written statement is a critical component of your application for admission, and can sometimes be the determining factor in approval of admittance or financial support. Therefore, your statement should reflect your professional goals, as well as familiarity with the program and faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Resume

Include a resume describing your educational background and professional experience.

Mailing Instructions

Applicants are responsible for directing the materials appropriately and according to the instructions provided below. Failure to direct materials per the instructions will result in delays in the processing of your application. All application materials must be received in the SOE Admissions Office by the application deadline for the application to be considered complete. The School of Education cannot be responsible for materials not submitted in accordance with these instructions.

Graduate Admissions Office, School of Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CB 3500, 103 Peabody Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500