Applying for Graduate School

Research your specific program of interest and note any application deadlines, admission requirements, and required materials.

Graduate programs may use different application portals based on the program or applicant type. Be sure to access the appropriate application before beginning your application.

• Upload your statement of purpose- Applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose as part of the online application process. The statement should explain your motivation for pursuing graduate study, your interest in the selected program, and how your academic, professional, or research experiences have prepared you for the field. Applicants should also discuss their future goals and any additional experiences or perspectives that provide insight into their readiness for graduate-level study. 
• Request all official transcripts from all previously attended universities or colleges. Transcripts delivered by students are considered unofficial/will not be accepted.
• Upload additional materials such as a résumé, writing sample, or licensure.

If your program requires recommendations, enter your recommenders' email addresses in the application. They will receive instructions for submitting their recommendations by email.

• Before requesting recommendations, review your program’s requirements and deadlines. 
• Choose recommenders who are familiar with your academic or professional background and can provide a strong assessment of your qualifications.
• Notify your recommender(s) in advance that they will be asked to complete a brief online recommendation form and, if required by the program, upload a letter of recommendation.
• Provide your recommenders with adequate time to complete the online recommendation. 
• Obtain each recommender's email address, as it is required to submit your recommendation request. Verify that each recommender's email address is entered correctly before submitting your request. Incorrect email addresses may delay the recommendation process.
• Recommenders will receive instructions to access the secure system and complete the required recommendation form and upload a letter if required by the program.
• Once a recommendation has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. You may also monitor the status of your recommendations at any time through your application portal.
• If you apply to more than one graduate program, each application requires its own recommendation request. You may use the same recommender for multiple applications; however, the recommender must submit a separate recommendation for each application. If a letter of recommendation is required, it should be updated and addressed specifically to the graduate program to which you are applying. Programs will not accept letters addressed to a different graduate program.

• If your graduate program requires the GRE General Test, have your official scores sent directly to North Carolina Central University, School of Graduate Studies.
• GRE Institution Code: 5495 – North Carolina Central University, Graduate Admissions
• A department code is not required when submitting GRE scores.
• To register for the GRE or request official score reports, visit the ETS GRE website or contact ETS for additional assistance.
• GMAT- Visit the GMAC website at www.mba.com for additional information and to register for the GMAT.

Review your application, pay the application fee, and submit before your program's deadline.

Graduate application deadlines vary by program, degree level, and term of entry. Each graduate program establishes its own deadlines, admission requirements, and priority dates for consideration, such as funding or assistantships.

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications at least 60 days prior to the term in which they plan to begin graduate study.
• Applicants should review program-specific deadlines carefully, as some programs may have earlier deadlines than those listed by the School of Graduate Studies. To request a deadline extension, contact the graduate program directly.
• To ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information, review the deadlines and requirements for your program of interest through the Graduate Admissions Programs Page or by visiting our Application Deadline Page before submitting your application.
• Material deadlines indicate the date by which all required materials must be received, including transcripts, test scores, recommendations, and any other necessary documents. Applications missing one or more required items will be considered incomplete and subsequently closed. 

**Enrollment deadlines may vary for MBA programs and applicants entering during Fall II and Spring II terms.

• Options After the Application Deadline
  • SGS and academic programs reserve the right of refusal to receive applications submitted after published deadlines. 
  • If you missed the deadline to apply to a graduate degree or certificate program, you may consider enrolling as a non-degree-seeking student, provided that registration remains open for the term and the course or program has not reached capacity for the term. Non-degree students may take graduate courses without being admitted to a degree program; however, they are not eligible for financial aid and are limited in the number of credits they can complete. For more information, review the Visiting and Non-Degree Seeking Applicants section below.

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the status of their application. Students can view a complete list of outstanding requirements in the ‘My To-Do List’ section of the Graduate Admissions portal. Applicants should regularly review this section and submit any missing materials to ensure their application can be reviewed.

• Once your application is complete, it is reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies and forwarded to the appropriate graduate program for review.
• Complete Application: An application is considered complete when all required materials have been received and matched to the application record, including transcripts, required test scores, required letters of recommendation, and payment of the application fee. Completed applications are forwarded to the appropriate graduate program for review. 
• Incomplete Application: An application is considered incomplete when one or more required materials are missing. Incomplete applications cannot be forwarded to the academic department or program for review and missing documents will delay application processing. All required materials must be received by the published material/document deadline to ensure consideration. Examples of missing documents may include:
  • Official transcripts from required institutions
  • Required standardized test scores (if applicable)
  • Letters of recommendation (if required)
  • Statement of purpose or personal statement (if required)
  • Résumé/CV, writing sample, portfolio, or other program-specific materials (if required)
  • Application fee payment

An Incomplete application means that your application has been submitted but is missing required documents in order to be considered complete and ready for departmental review.

• Check Your Application Status: Your application portal is the most convenient way to stay updated on your admission status. Through the portal, you can review your application checklist, identify any missing materials, monitor your application progress, and access your admission decision letter once available.
• Incomplete Applications: Applications that remain incomplete after the application period closes will not automatically be moved to a future term by the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants who wish to apply for a future term must submit a new application and pay the required application fee.
• Application Material Deadline: The application material deadline is the date by which all required documents must be received, including transcripts, test scores, recommendations, and other program-specific materials. Applications missing required materials after this deadline will be considered incomplete and may be closed.
• Changing the Graduate Application: Applicants who wish to change their selected graduate program after submitting an application must submit a new application for the desired program. The new application will be subject to the applicable program deadlines, application fee, and required materials, including any required letters of recommendation.

• Application Fee: A $50 nonrefundable, nontransferable application processing fee is required for each application submitted.
• Enrollment Fee: A $100 nonrefundable, nontransferable application processing fee is required for each application submitted. This fee is required prior to enrollment and course registration and cannot be waived. 
• Application & Enrollment Fee Payments: Application fees apply only to the term for which an applicant submits an application and cannot be transferred to a future term or used for multiple applications. Fees must be paid by the application deadline, not the application material deadline. We do not accept checks or money orders, only debit or credit cards. 
• Graduate Application Fee Waivers
  • No Refunds: Fee waivers must be requested and approved before submitting your application. Application fees paid prior to a waiver approval will not be refunded.
  • Domestic Limitations: Fee waivers are strictly limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International applicants are not eligible for application fee waivers.
  • Application fee waivers must be submitted at least five days prior to the program's application deadline. Requests received after this window will not be reviewed.
  • Eligible Fee Waiver Groups & Verification Requirements
    • NCCU Current Students and Alumni
      • Requirement: Verification of active enrollment or a completed degree from North Carolina Central University.
      • Process: 
        • Select the "NCCU Graduates/Readmits/Alumni" apply option on the graduate admissions website; eligibility is programmatically verified using institutional student records via your Banner ID or matching name and date of birth.
        • Email [email protected] before submitting your application payment to request verification and consideration for a fee waiver.
        • Application fee waivers must be submitted at least five days prior to the program's application deadline. Requests received after this window will not be reviewed.
    • Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Scholars
      • Requirement: Active participation in or completion of a federal McNair Scholars program.
      • Process:
        • Submit your graduate application without the application fee.
        • Email an official letter of participation signed by your institutional McNair Program Director directly to [email protected]. The form will be manually added by the graduate into the application portal prior to submission.
        • Application fee waivers must be submitted at least five days prior to the program's application deadline. Requests received after this window will not be reviewed.
    • Active-Duty U.S. Military Personnel
      • Requirement: Current active-duty, veterans, and reserve status in the United States Armed Forces.
      • Process:
        • Submit your graduate application without the application fee.
        • Indicate active-duty status on your application form. No external or sensitive documentation is required to initiate the initial portal waiver.
        • Email [email protected] before submitting your application payment to request verification and consideration for a fee waiver.
        • Application fee waivers must be submitted at least five days prior to the program's application deadline. Requests received after this window will not be reviewed.

• Departments and programs then evaluate applications and make recommendations for admission to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
• At the end of the review process, the graduate program will issue an admission recommendation: Unconditional Admission, Conditional Admission, or Deny Admission.

• Admission with Conditions: Conditional admission allows a graduate program to admit a student who has not fully met all standard admission requirements but has demonstrated potential for success in graduate study. Students admitted with conditions must complete specific requirements identified by the School of Graduate Studies and/or their graduate program.

  Once all conditions have been successfully satisfied, the conditional admission status can be removed from the student’s record. Failure to meet the required conditions may affect continued enrollment in the program.

We strive to process completed applications and release admission decisions within five business days whenever possible. However, some graduate programs review applications in batches after the application deadline or at the end of the admission cycle. As a result, decision timelines may vary by program.

Admission to a graduate degree or certificate program at North Carolina Central University involves collaboration between the School of Graduate Studies and the academic program. Applicants must meet the admission requirements established by both the School of Graduate Studies and their intended graduate program.

Graduate programs are responsible for reviewing applications and making admission recommendations based on each applicant’s academic preparation, qualifications, and potential for success in graduate study. Programs establish their admission standards and enrollment decisions based on factors such as faculty availability, program resources, and academic priorities.

Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Graduate programs consider the overall strength of each application and determine whether an applicant is prepared to successfully complete graduate-level study.

Admission decisions are approved and released by the School of Graduate Studies in accordance with Graduate School policies. Applicants receive official admission notifications through the designated communication process and may monitor their application status through the graduate application portal.

Students admitted to NCCU must confirm their intent to enroll within (14) days, complete the required enrollment steps, and pay the enrollment fee by the specified enrollment deadlines. Failure to meet enrollment requirements may result in cancellation of the admission offer, and a new application may be required for future consideration

All materials sent via mail for graduate admission must be submitted directly to the School of Graduate Studies at the address below.  Any other variation will result in delays.

For mailing purposes, please use the following address:

North Carolina Central University
School of Graduate Studies
Attn: Graduate Admissions
1801 Fayetteville Street

123 Taylor Education Building
Durham, NC 27707 USA

[email protected]

Application materials and supporting documents submitted for admission become the property of North Carolina Central University and will not be returned. Documents will not be released to third parties outside the University unless required by legal authority. Materials may be shared with appropriate university offices as needed for academic review, enrollment processes, or consideration of financial awards.

Applications and supporting documents are maintained in accordance with the records retention policies of the State of North Carolina.

**Enrollment deadlines may vary for MBA programs and applicants entering during Fall II and Spring II terms. 

Graduate credit from another regionally accredited institution may be considered for transfer toward an NCCU master’s or doctoral degree if it meets university and program requirements

Transfer courses must:

• Be completed at the graduate level from an accredited institution (or approved international equivalent)
• Apply to the same degree level being pursued
• Align with the NCCU program of study
• Have a grade of B or higher (or equivalent)
• Not duplicate coursework, apply toward another completed degree, or exceed program time limits

Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. All requests require review and approval by the academic advisor, department chair, and academic dean. Credit will be evaluated after required documentation has been submitted.

Students must complete the required number of credit hours at NCCU and satisfy all university and program residency requirements.

Current students may request transfer credit after admission by consulting with their academic advisor and submitting the required Graduate Credit Transfer Form.

Review the Graduate Catalog and consult your graduate program coordinator for program-specific transfer credit limits and requirements to ensure your credits align with your program of study. 

All transfer credit requests are subject to official review and final approval in accordance with Graduate School policies. Transfer credit is not automatically granted and will be posted only after all required documentation has been received and evaluated. Currently enrolled students may request transfer credit by submitting the Graduate Credit Transfer Form after consultation with their academic advisor and upon admission to the program.