Required Application Documents

Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts into their Admissions Portal for initial review. If admitted to UNCSA, official transcripts must be sent to UNCSA directly from each attended institution so that UNCSA can confirm the final grades at each school.

Transcripts should be submitted to the UNCSA Office of Admissions electronically whenever possible. If an institution does not have the capability to send a transcript electronically, the official transcript can be mailed to the Office of Admissions.

Official Transcripts should be sealed, signed or notarized for all secondary school academic records, and should include a list of courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time of application. Any transcript uploaded by the student through the Admissions Portal is considered unofficial.

Home Schooled Applicants
Home schooled applicants should provide documentation that the home school is recognized by the state of residency (if applicable), a transcript with course titles and course descriptions for each year of home schooling, and any tests or assessments used to show that the applicant has completed the equivalent of the UNC System minimum course requirements. If the applicant has attended a traditional high school, an official transcript from that school should also be submitted.

Dual Enrollment Students
Students who have completed dual enrollment coursework should only need to submit their high school transcript at the time of application. If the dual enrollment courses are not included on the high school transcript, students should also submit a college transcript. Official transcripts from high school and college, with final grades and graduation dates, will be required should a student be accepted to UNCSA.

Transfer Students
College transfer students that have earned a high school diploma at the time of application will need to submit an official high school transcript, including final grades and graduation date, in addition to their college transcript. Unofficial college transcripts will be accepted for initial review of an application. If an applicant has earned a bachelor’s degree, then a high school transcript does not need to be submitted.

International Applicants

Transcripts MUST be translated to English with both a credential evaluation and a GPA equivalent from a certifying agency. Transcripts from each school attended must be sent to the certifying agency for evaluation and certification. Approved agencies can be found at www.naces.org(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) or www.aice-eval.org(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab).

A certified credential evaluation is required in order to be reviewed for admission.

Official test scores should be submitted electronically to UNCSA.

ACT or SAT Scores
All applicants for first-time admission as freshmen with a weighted High School GPA below 2.8 are required to submit either ACT or SAT test scores with the following minimum score requirements:

• ACT: 17 (writing portion optional).
  The ACT institution code for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 344438. 
• SAT: 930 (composite score in Critical Reading & Math)
  The SAT institution code for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 5512.

Submitting either ACT or SAT test scores with the minimum score requirements is optional for applicants for first-time admission as freshmen who have a weighted High School GPA above 2.8.

The average applicant's ACT score is 24 and the average SAT Critical Reading, Math & Writing score is 1200.

International Applicants
International applicants should submit official ACT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores with the following minimum score requirements:

• TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 79
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• Duolingo English Test: 100
• ACT: English Language Arts (ELA) section: 21
• SAT: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (ERW) section: 540

The TOEFL institution code for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts is 5512.

Advanced Standing for Undergraduate Students through Placement Tests
UNCSA accepts Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB), and Cambridge International Certificate college credits. Our Division of Liberal Arts grants advanced standing credit. Learn more.

UNCSA requires applicants to submit contact information for two references. UNCSA will send the references a recommendation form and the ability to upload a recommendation letter. UNCSA requires contact information for the following:

• One letter from an arts instructor
• One letter from an academic instructor

If not currently enrolled in school, a letter may come from an employer, mentor, instructor, director, etc.

Undergraduate applicants should print, complete and upload a copy of the Application Agreement Statement (opens in new tab) if under the age of 18 at the time of applying.

A resume detailing artistic experience and educational objectives.

An original portfolio of your work is required for your admissions interview with the School of Design & Production. Read more about requirements for your portfolio.

In addition to the documents listed above, international applicants should be prepared to submit the following documents to an Admissions Counselor only if notification of being accepted to UNCSA is received:

• A copy of your current passport
• If you hold an F-1 Visa, submit a copy of your visa and Form I-20 (opens in new tab)
• Complete a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (to be provided by UNCSA)