International Applicants

GRE Test Scores

Official GRE exam scores are required for all applicants to the HIA Master’s degree. UNC Charlotte’s school code is 5105. The test score requirement can be waived if an applicant holds a degree from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education with a minimum 3.0 GPA, or a terminal degree (Ph.D., JD, or MD).

TOEFL/Duolingo/IELTS

Official TOEFL, Duolingo, or ELTS exam scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English. Official scores are required and must be sent directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). UNC Charlotte’s school code is 5105. A department code is not necessary.

• TOEFL – Minimum score of 83, Interenet based.
• IELTS – Minimum overall band score of 6.5
• Duolingo- Minimum score of 115

Applicants can request a test waiver if they have earned a degree from an accredited U.S. institution. International applicants should refer to the International Admissions website for deadlines and additional admissions information.

Applicants who meet one of the following criteria are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement:

1. Has completed at least one academic year of post-secondary (academic) study in the U.S. (*or an approved country) within five years of the proposed term of enrollment.
2. Has completed at least one full calendar year of professional work experience in the U.S. (*or an approved country) in a position where English is heavily used in writing and speaking.

*Approved Countries with English as the Primary Language:

Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees

International applicants who have earned three-year bachelor’s degrees are required to submit a “foreign credential evaluation” along with their supplemental application requirement. Such evaluation must be performed by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), for example, the World Education Services (WES) . Either a document-to-document or a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation meets this requirement. UNC Charlotte will consider such an agency’s assessment as to whether the academic credential earned is, or is not, equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree as well as its recalculation of grades. A listing of other NACES members is available here.

Foreign Credential Evaluations

Foreign Credential Evaluations are not required for traditional four years degrees earned outside the United States unless otherwise requested once your application is processed. While not required, a WES or NACES evaluation is strongly encouraged by the admissions committee. These evaluations provide more detail and grant a generic baseline, allowing for the admissions committee to better review international applications, particularly for institutions that do not use a 4.0 scale.