Undergraduate Business Global Programs Visiting Exchange Students

Greetings from Chapel Hill!

The Undergraduate Business Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School looks forward to welcoming you to the Carolina community.

About UNC Kenan-Flagler

The University of North Carolina is the oldest public university in the United States. UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the country and is noted for our collegial learning culture, rigorous coursework and unrivaled faculty.

The Visiting Business Exchange Student Experience

As a visiting business exchange student, you will attend classes with students in the Undergraduate Business Program. These students have been admitted to study for the business major or minor after completing two years of general education and prerequisite coursework.

Business courses at UNC Kenan-Flagler are dynamic and engaging. They require participation and collaboration with the other students in your classes. You’ll hone your leadership skills as you work in groups to solve challenging, real-world problems.

Our dedicated Global Programs team aims to provide our visiting students with an exciting, transformative and business-focused exchange experience. The key to having a great experience at Carolina is to get involved, not only in your academic work, but in the many worthwhile and stimulating organizations and opportunities that abound on our campus.

Eligibility

Our visiting exchange program is only open to students who attend partner institutions. To be eligible to apply, you must be nominated by a partner institution included in the list below. If your institution does not have a formal agreement with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, it’s not possible to study here as a visiting exchange student.

Eligibility Requirements

GPA equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
English language proficiency*
Nomination from one of these partner institutions:
- Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
- Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
- Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark
- BBA ESSEC, Paris, France
- ESADE, Barcelona, Spain
- ICADE, Madrid, Spain
- IE University, Madrid or Segovia, Spain
- Korea University Business School, Seoul, South Korea
- Manchester Business School, Manchester, United Kingdom
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Peking University, Beijing, China
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile
- Rotterdam School of Management, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Singapore Management University, Singapore
- Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
- University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic
- University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar, Germany

* If English is not your native language or the exclusive language of instruction at your home university, then you must have a TOEFL score of 100 IBT, 7.5 IELTS, or 5 APIEL.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2021 Exchange: March 15, 2021
Spring 2022 Exchange: October 1, 2021

Application Requirements

Please note: If you want to attend UNC as a degree-seeking student, apply directly to UNC. The requirements listed below are only for application as a visiting exchange student.

You must submit all required documents electronically before your application will be reviewed.

Online application form, including a one-page personal statement
Upload PDF of your official transcript and current course schedule
Upload PDF of your TOEFL Score Report, if English is not your native language or the language of instruction at your home university
Home College Reference Form (available within the online application)
Visa Supporting Documents (more information will be provided upon your acceptance)
Upon acceptance to the exchange program, you will pay a $100 USD application fee, which will be billed to your UNC Student Account prior to the start of the semester.

After your official nomination from your home university and eligibility are confirmed, all relevant information needed to make your transition from applicant to an admitted student at UNC will be communicated to you.

Online application form

Academic Calendar

Fall 2021

Campus Arrival: August 12
Visiting Exchange Orientation (mandatory): Friday, August 13 (tentative)
Classes Begin: Wednesday, August 18
Classes End: Wednesday, December 1
Exam Period*: December 3-10
Earliest Departure: Saturday, December 11

Spring 2022

Campus Arrival: January 5-6
Visiting Exchange Orientation (mandatory): Friday, January 7
Classes Begin: Monday, January 10
Classes End: Wednesday, April 27
Exam Period*: April 29 – May 6
Earliest Departure: Saturday, May 7

* You must be present in Chapel Hill for the entire exam period.

Academics

Important Course Regulations for Visiting Exchange Students

To maintain your student visa status, you must remain registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester at UNC.
You are not permitted to register for more than 18 credit hours at UNC.
The majority of your courses must be business courses, but you are permitted to take one non-business course during your exchange.
Courses offered through The Friday Center are not available to exchange students.

Available Courses

Course listings are searchable on the University Registrar website under the BUSI subject. The fall course schedule is available in mid-February. The spring course schedule is available in mid-September. Please note that course syllabi are not available until you arrive on campus.

Course Selection and Scheduling

As part of your exchange application process, you are required to submit an online Course Selection Application (emailed to you) in order to request space in Business School courses only (i.e. courses beginning with BUSI).

When selecting BUSI courses, please refer to the two documents that were emailed to you for your Course Selection Application. To view other course listings at UNC, refer to the Office of the University Registrar.

Courses in the 401-412 range are introductory business core courses.
Courses numbered above 490 are advanced business electives and will have an introductory course as a prerequisite. As long as you have taken any stated prerequisites at your home university, you may request registration in upper level electives. Please refer to the “Notes” column within the course schedule spreadsheet for course prerequisites and restrictions.
Some BUSI elective courses require application and permission to enroll. If you’re interested in such a course, you will need to follow the guidelines and submit an application by the deadline. Please refer to the BUSI Elective Course Description document for instructions. You will not be registered for such a course until you are given appropriate permission. We recommend selecting an additional course or courses that will fulfill your 12 credit hours in case you are not admitted to the course. If you are admitted, you can drop any extra courses.

When making your course schedule, keep in mind that the majority of BUSI courses are held either on Monday/Wednesday (MW) or Tuesday/Thursday (TTH) and last for 75 minutes, unless otherwise indicated on the provided course schedule. The Undergraduate Business Program offers both semester length (3 credits) and Mod length (1.5 credits) courses. Mod courses meet for half a semester (Mod 1: Aug-Oct; Mod 2: Oct-Dec; Mod 3: Jan-Mar; Mod 4: Mar-May).

Course Registration

Course registration begins in early April for the fall semester and early November for the spring semester.

Course registration is subject to availability; placement in the requested courses is not guaranteed. You must submit your course information by the deadline specified in the email you received from our office.

In order to be registered for a course, the course must have room and you must:

Submit your selection on time.
Meet any stated prerequisites.
Submit the application and receive approval for any courses that require application.

This process will register you only for the number of credit hours that are required by your home university.

You may register for additional courses after you have received your UNC student access information. Typically students register for additional courses in late April for fall exchange and late November for spring exchange.

A Note on Textbooks

Textbooks can be quite expensive in the US. You can save some money by ordering your textbooks online. Amazon Student allows you to purchase textbooks online with free 2-day shipping.

Student Life

Housing

Accommodation in Chapel Hill

On-campus accommodation is available for fall and spring semester exchange students. Once you have been officially admitted as an incoming exchange student you will receive specific details about applying for on-campus housing (typically in April for fall exchange and November for spring exchange). Exchange students have three options for housing during their exchange to UNC Kenan-Flagler:

UNC Residential/On-Campus Housing
Recommended for visiting exchange students.
Granville Towers
Only available for visiting exchange students who will study at UNC-Chapel Hill for the entire academic year. University-owned, privately operated residence that offers a wide range of housing plans. Space is not guaranteed at this facility.
Off-Campus Housing/Apartment
Off-campus housing is not encouraged for exchange students and UNC Kenan-Flagler does not assist students in securing this type of accommodation.

UNC Housing Move-in Dates:

Fall 2021: TBD
Spring 2022: TBD

More information about on-campus accommodation is available on Housing & Residential Education.

Budget

The figures below should give you an approximate idea of how much it will cost to be a student at Chapel Hill. How much you spend will depend a great deal on your own habits and personal finances.

Room: US $3,500
Board: US $2,500
Books/Supplies: US $750
Travel (local): US $400
Personal: US $700
Health Insurance: US $1,350
Visa: US $360
Exchange Application Fee : US $100
Total: US $9,660

These budget estimates were updated in January 2020.

Exchange Student Code of Conduct

Registration

COVID-19 Considerations: Preparing for Your Arrival

UNC continues to operate with some uncertainty regarding policies and procedures for the Fall 2021 semester related to COVID-19. To stay on top of the latest health and travel updates, we encourage you to follow the resources below:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for travel guidance to the U.S.
U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs for travel guidance to the U.S.
Carolina Together for information specific to UNC
UNC Office of International Students and Scholars Services for frequently asked questions and resources for international students

We recommend waiting to purchase flights and/or making any other financial commitments until you have your student visa. We encourage you to continue checking resources in your own country for health information related to travel to the U.S.

Visiting Exchange Students FAQ

How do I apply to come to Kenan-Flagler as an exchange student?

What are UNC’s English language requirements? Do I have to take the TOEFL?

UNC provides very few support services for students who may have difficulty with the English language. As a result, UNC has strict English proficiency requirements for international students. If your native language is not English or if English is not the sole language of instruction at your home institution, you will need to submit a copy of your TOEFL score report with your application materials. The minimum TOEFL score accepted is 100 IBT. UNC will also accept a 7.5 on the IELTS or 5 on the APIEL.

I’m on exchange at UNC through the Arts & Sciences Study Abroad Office. Can I take business courses?

Where will I live while at UNC?

Most visiting exchange students live in a student residence on south campus near the Business School. If you are on exchange for the entire academic year you may opt to live in a private residence called Granville Towers. You also have the option to find housing off campus, but the Undergraduate Business Program is unable to provide assistance with finding off-campus housing. Information on accommodation options and the application process is available on the Housing Office’s website.

How will I be registered for classes? Will I have an opportunity to change my schedule?

What are the academic expectations for students at Kenan-Flagler?

Where can I find the academic calendar?

How long will it take to receive my acceptance letter and the I-20 form for the student visa?

Which U.S. visa will I apply for?

Do I have to have health insurance coverage while at UNC?

All students at UNC, including visiting exchange students, are required to have health insurance. Students are automatically enrolled and billed for insurance coverage provided by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (called Student Blue). It is possible to waive the Student Blue coverage if you have comparable existing coverage. More information is available on the Campus Health Services website.

What medical information do I need to submit to the university?

UNC requires all new students, including visiting exchange students, to submit a report of medical history and immunization records. If you are missing certain immunizations, you can have them done at Campus Health Services once you reach Chapel Hill. Failure to submit the report of medical history and obtain all of the required immunizations will result in your withdrawal from UNC. Medical information is private and protected by law in the United States. Your records should be sent directly to Campus Health Services.

What student organizations can I join while at UNC?

Will I be picked up from the airport when I arrive?

Is there a required orientation session before classes begin?

Will UNC provide a transcript to my home university?

Contact Us

Mailing Address:
Undergraduate Business Global Programs
Kenan-Flagler Business School
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Campus Box 3490, McColl Building Suite 3100
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3490

Physical Address:
300 Kenan Center Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Email: ubpglobal@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
Phone: 919-962-0339
Fax: 919-962-6964