Study North Carolina | NC District Export Council

Mountains to Coast International School Counselor Tour 2025
Dates: Monday, July 7 - Friday, July 11, 2025
Questions? Interested in Participating? Please contact:
Sami Smith, StudyNC Vice Chair, Associate Director of International Admissions at High Point University | ssmith18@highpoint.edu
Cathy Knudson, Director for International Enrollment & Engagement at East Carolina University | knudsonc17@ecu.edu

Study North Carolina works collaboratively with its member colleges, universities, community colleges, Intensive English Programs, and other partners through special programs and global outreach to promote North Carolina internationally as the premier study destination for students, researchers, visiting professors, and other exchange visitors. This page is designed to provide information to international students interested in studying in North Carolina. Are you a higher education institution in NC that is interested in becoming a Study NC member? Click here.

Why Study in North Carolina?
Over 20,000 international students chose North Carolina as their study destination last year!

North Carolina has it all! Bordered on the east by over 300 miles of beautiful beaches and on the west by picturesque mountains, central North Carolina contains the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte, and the well-known Research Triangle Park - the largest research park in the U.S. and a premier global innovation center.
North Carolina is centrally located - it is a short trip via plane or car to New York City; Washington, DC; Charleston, South Carolina; Miami; and other popular East Coast destinations.
North Carolina has a low cost of living compared to the national average - You don't have to pay a lot of money to study in a great location!
North Carolina is home to educational excellence. We have 52 colleges and universities, including three Tier 1 research universities, and the third largest community college system in the U.S. North Carolina's education institutions award over 25,000 STEM degrees annually.
There is so much to do in North Carolina outside the classroom! Relax on the beach, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, or root for your favorite North Carolina team at a college or professional football, basketball, or hockey game. You can also see a musical or play at one of North Carolina's performing arts centers, dine on exquisite cuisine in one of North Carolina's cities, or visit museums or the Asheboro zoo.
Major industries in North Carolina include aerospace, automotive, food processing and manufacturing, information technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, business and financial services, furniture, outdoor recreation, and textiles.
(Sources: The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) and Visit North Carolina)

Member Institutions

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

Appalachian State University
www.appstate.edu
Campbell University
www.campbell.edu
Catawba College
https://catawba.edu
East Carolina University
www.ecu.edu
Greensboro College
www.greensboro.edu
Guilford College
www.guilford.edu
High Point University
www.highpoint.edu
Meredith College
www.meredith.edu
Methodist University
www.methodist.edu

North Carolina A&T State University
www.ncat.edu
North Carolina State University
www.ncsu.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
www.uncc.edu
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
www.uncg.edu
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
www.uncp.edu
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
www.uncw.edu
Western Carolina University
www.wcu.edu

Intensive English Language Programs

Appalachian State University - AppELS Institute
http://international.appstate.edu
East Carolina University Language Academy
https://ecula.ecu.edu
NC State University Intensive English Program
https://intensive-english.ncsu.edu/
University of North Carolina at Charlotte - English Language Training Institute
https://elti.charlotte.edu/
University of North Carolina at Pembroke - English Language Institute
https://www.uncp.edu/departments/global-engagement/english-language-institute
University of North Carolina at Wilmington - English Language Center
https://uncw.edu/international/elc/

Study North Carolina Photo Contest
Congratulations to the winners of Study North Carolina's first photo contest!

School Spirit Category

Photo Winner_School Spirit_Ebba Åhman_High Point University.jpg

Winner: Ebba Åhman, High Point University

School or NC Landmark Category

Photo Winner_School or NC Landmark_Mohan Yelugoti_NC State University.jpeg

Winner: Mohan Yelugoti, NC State University

Engineering Building III, Centennial Campus, NC State University

Meet Some of Our Students!

Zakia Maryam Najafizada, Methodist University

Wizaso Munthali, NC State University

Vanja Przulj, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Farsheed Harque, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Travel to North Carolina

North Carolina has 10 international and regional airports. Most international flights will either fly directly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte-Douglas International or will connect to an airport through a major U.S. hub. For more information on getting to your study destination, please work with your international advisor and visit https://visitnc.com/getting-around.

Are you an employer in the state? Click here to learn how to hire an international student (spoiler: it is super easy!)

Zakia Maryam Najafizada is a senior Computer Science major at Methodist University. She earned a full scholarship to the university, working as a teaching assistant and researching the intricate interplay of AI and cyber security. Born as a refugee in Pakistan and raised in Afghanistan, Zakia is intimately acquainted with the barriers that women can face accessing education. The Taliban takeover in 2021 exacerbated the plight of Afghan women, depriving them of their fundamental right to education. Fueled by her own experiences and passion for learning, Zakia founded Amoozesh, a mobile app that seeks to empower Afghan women and men by providing an English learning platform in Persian, transcending geographical constraints. This innovative application is a beacon of hope, offering a transformative opportunity for individuals who are eager to learn and improve their lives despite challenging circumstances. It exemplifies Zakia's commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a brighter future for her community. As an advocate for education and an embodiment of strength against adversity, she resolutely stands as a beacon of inspiration. In her words, "Education is a compass that guides us through the maze of our challenges and leads us toward liberation of the mind and the transformation of our world."

Wizaso Munthali is a 2024 graduate of NC State University with a Ph.D. in forestry and environmental resources and a minor in geographic information systems. From Zambia, Wizaso worked for her country's environmental protection agency prior to enrolling as an international student at NC State. She began her program as a Fulbright scholar and concluded with the honor of commencement speaker for the university's College of Natural Resources. Wizaso spent most of her degree researching alternative energy sources, and she currently lectures at Copperbelt University in Zambia, where she mentors young environmental engineers. Read the full story here.

Vanja Przulj's love for volleyball began in Belgrade, Serbia, with a dream of going pro. At 18, she left home for the U.S., where after standout seasons at Eastern Wyoming College, she joined UNC Pembroke. There, she became one of the top Division II players and helped revive the program. Before graduating from UNC Pembroke, Przulj signed a professional contract with Hämeenlinnan Lentopallokerho Ry in Finland, fulfilling her lifelong dream. Przulj's dominance at UNC Pembroke earned her numerous accolades, including All-American, Conference Carolinas champion, and school records. Her confidence and versatility on the court set her apart. Head Coach Jaleesa Harper praised Przulj's exceptional talent, leadership, and impact on the program. Przulj, who helped UNC Pembroke win its first Conference Carolinas title since 1991 is now ready to continue her winning journey in Finland.

Farsheed Haque, a second-year PhD student in Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), is making significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence. Originally from Bangladesh, a country where research opportunities are scarce, Farsheed's journey to becoming a distinguished researcher is driven by his unwavering passion for using AI to improve the welfare of humanity. At UNCC Farsheed works as a research assistant, where his research is primarily focused on Fair Machine Learning and Bias in Natural Language Processing (NLP). These areas are critical in ensuring that AI technologies are developed and applied in ways that are equitable and unbiased, addressing some of the most pressing ethical challenges in the field. Farsheed's contributions to the academic community are already impressive, having published several papers, including authoring a paper that was presented at the prestigious 2024 Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (NAACL). This paper introduced an innovative algorithm designed to detect and mitigate social bias in NLP models, a breakthrough that could have far-reaching implications for the development of fairer AI systems. Farsheed was also awarded Best Poster at the UNCC School of Data Science's Poster Showcase, further solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the field. His work not only advances academic knowledge, but also has the potential to influence the development of AI technologies that are more inclusive and just.

Farsheed's academic journey at UNCC is supported by a full scholarship, allowing him to focus on his research and contribute to the broader goal of creating a more equitable future through advanced technology. His story is one of determination, innovation, and a deep commitment to harnessing the power of AI for the greater good. As he continues his studies and research, Farsheed Haque is poised to make a lasting impact on the field of computer science and beyond.