Application Process | Future Students | FAQ | NC State OR
Last Updated: 10/12/2023 and all information on this page is accurate and up-to-date
Application Process FAQ
Admission Semester | Deadline |
---|---|
Fall (for funded first-round Ph.D. offers and an invitation to recruitment weekend) | January 18 |
Fall (for funded Ph.D. offers) | March 15 |
Fall (international master’s students) | March 15 |
Fall (master’s students and certificate students) | June 1 |
Spring (master’s students and certificate students) | November 25 |
Summer 1 (certificate only) | March 25 |
Summer 2 (certificate only) | May 10 |
No, this is not necessary. You will be admitted to the program, not directly to a lab or advisor.
The application fee is $75 for domestic and US permanent residents, $85 for international and $25 for certificates.
In special circumstances, the fee can be waived. Please contact our Program Coordinator, Linda Smith | lcsmith2@ncsu.edu | 919.515.2350.
Complete and submit the NC State Graduate School Online Application with the application fees and all supporting documents directly to the Graduate School. Supporting documents include:
- One transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended. An official transcript will be needed upon recommendation of acceptance.
- Residence form if claiming NC residence for tuition purposes.
- References from at least three people who know of the applicant’s academic record and potential for graduate study.
- A non-refundable application fee.
- Official GRE test scores.
Official GRE and TOEFL test scores must be sent electronically from the Education Testing Service (ETS). The NC State University Institution Code for Test Score Distribution is 5496. A department code does not need to be selected.
To submit IELTS scores, email the TRF number or a copy of the IELTS score sheet to the Graduate School Admissions Office (graduate_applications@ncsu.edu). The admissions office staff will be able to access your official score on the IELTS website and will upload the score to your online application. Or, send a hard copy official IELTS score report to the Graduate School Admissions Office at this mailing address:
Graduate School Admissions Office
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7102 / 1020 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695 USA
You do not need to submit your official transcripts when submitting your application. Official transcripts and degree statements will be required no later than one month into your first semester. Mail official transcripts to the Graduate School Admissions Office at this mailing address:
Graduate School Admissions Office
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7102 / 1020 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695 USA
If your application status is listed as “Submitted,” and the status of each supplemental document is listed as “complete,” then the application is complete and is currently under review by our admissions committee. Your application may appear incomplete, even if you have correctly submitted your online application and all of your supplemental documents by our application deadline.
You can check your application status through the online application. The status of each supplemental document will update to “complete” as the Graduate School receives it. You will not be able to see if your Areas of Interest Form has been completed in the online application. You will need to check the status of your Areas of Interest Form in GradWatch.
If you have just submitted your online application and paid your application processing fee, your application will be “incomplete” until your recommendation letters have been received and standardized test scores have been attached to your application.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) electronically reports GRE and TOEFL scores to NC State University. It takes up to four weeks for NC State to receive scores from ETS and several business days for the Graduate School Admissions Office to match supplemental documents and exam scores to the online application. If you miss any supplemental documents, you will be notified by the OR Program.
We understand that waiting to hear back about your application can be stressful. We want to thank you for your patience throughout the application process. You can expect a decision within three to eight weeks of completing your application.
Contact the graduate school at graduate_applications@ncsu.edu.
Can’t find your answer? Please contact our Program Coordinator Linda Smith | lcsmith2@ncsu.edu | 919.515.2350.