ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

These are things that you must do before arriving on campus. Once you are admitted, keep an eye out for an invite to our Canvas course! It’s designed to guide you through the Next Steps and help us track your progress together, ensuring you have a smooth and successful start.

Questions? Contact our office at global@wcu.edu or +1.828.227.7494.

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New students should arrive at the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) on the days below. Please click the appropriate link to tell us your flight information. Read the information carefully.

Fall 2026 – August 11th -

IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

• Deadline to submit travel plans: July 1, 2026
• Airport pick-up day: August 11th, 2026
• Required international student orientation: August 12-14, 2026

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Students must arrive at the Asheville Airport on August 11th, 2026.

For ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Global to take you to campus, you must submit your flight information (flight number, arrival date/time, airline) via the travel survey by July 15th, 2026.

Students who arrive early may stay at one of the hotels listed on the travel survey. Individuals staying at one of the listed hotels will be picked-up by our office on the morning of the designated arrival date.

Students SHOULD NOT arrive late. Anyone who arrives after the designated pick-up date is responsible for finding their own transportation to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s campus from the airport. Taxi rides from the airport to campus are very expensive, and you should expect to pay at least $160+ USD.

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Important Note: Graduate students are not required to pay an enrollment deposit. However, if you plan to live on campus as a graduate student, you will need to submit a deposit. To do so, please contact our office at global@wcu.edu

What is the enrollment deposit?
Paying the enrollment deposit tells the university that you intend to attend Western Carolina University. This must be paid to register for classes and sign up for on-campus housing. When the semester begins, this will be added as a credit towards bills on your student account.

Payment Instructions:

• Go to
• Log in
• Click on the purple "Application" button
• Confirm/accept your offer of admission
• Enter payment information

Fall Semester Enrollment Deposit Deadlines:

First-Year students- May 1st

Transfer students- June 1st

Spring Semester Enrollment Deposit Deadlines:

First-Year students- December 1st

Transfer students- December 1st

Payment doesn't work?
Contact us at global@wcu.edu with screenshots of what you see. We will help you!

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There are two types of housing available for international students:

• On Campus
• Off Campus

Explore these options and sign-up for on-campus housing.

Housing Agreement: Students will have access to their Fall 2026 Housing Agreement after paying the enrollment deposit. They will receive an email from the Department of Residential Living at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ asking them to log into their Housing Portal, complete their Housing Agreement, room preferences and sign up for their Meal Plan.

Housing Preferences: The deadline for students to submit their Housing Preferences is June 30th by 5pm. While students will still be able to submit their Housing Agreement, they will not be able to complete their preferences. If you have any questions regarding housing or accessing the Housing Portal, please email the Department of Residential Living at housingquestions@wcu.edu. 

Student housing both on and off campus is in very high demand. Our office strongly recommends that accepted students plan their housing as early as possible.*IMPORTANT: Exchange and first-year students are required to live on campus.

 

On-Campus housing over winter break (mid-December to mid-January):

Students that plan to stay on-campus over winter break (typically mid-December to mid-January), must choose Robertson as their residence hall. Robertson is the only residence hall that stays open over winter break. It costs around $30 per day to stay over winter break, and you must email housingquestions@wcu.edu to request that option before December 1. Keep in mind that the university closes for a majority of the winter break and dining options will be limited. However, there are modified kitchen facilities within Robertson.
*Note: If a student needs to stay for winter break and is not already living in Robertson, they will need to make a pre-Spring room change and make a change for not only the duration of winter break but also the Spring semester.

 

If you are an ISEP or KNPU student, please contact our office (global@wcu.edu)to discuss your housing and meal plan options based on the exchange agreements with your institutions.

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Health insurance is mandatory for all students at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. Services will be available to all students at Health Services, located in the Bird Building.

ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ offers the opportunity for students to enroll in and purchase .  

The University of North Carolina System, including ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, requires all international students holding F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant statuses to participate in the UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

You can waive the SHIP insurance if you have insurance that meets one of the exceptions below:

a.      Your current plan is a different university-sponsored plan such as a school sponsored graduate Student Health Insurance Plans or a school sponsored GeoBlue plan.

b.     Your current plan is insurance provided through your sponsoring agency, government, or program.

c.      You need to maintain insurance for your dependents and need a plan with dependent coverage.

d.     Your insurance that was approved for waiver in the fall semester covers you for the full 2025-2026 academic year and you have already paid the entire annual premium.

If your insurance does not meet any of the exceptions, you will be required to enroll in the UNC system plan.   The enrollment/waiver period for Fall 2026 will begin on TBD.

Student Blue Health Insurance 

or

Submit a to waive Student Blue IF you qualify for one of the exceptions listed above:

If you do not take action, you will be automatically enrolled in the StudentBlue plan after the waiver period ends.  

The charge for the insurance will automatically be added to your ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Statement of Tuition and Fees for the spring semester.

J-1 Visa students will be required to enroll in the premium plan to meet insurance requirements by the US Department of State

Please find attached a that can help address your questions.   If you cannot find the answer in the FAQ document, please contact Angela Mills in Health Services at 828-227-7640 or email apmills@wcu.edu.

For more information on student health insurance at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, please visit the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Health Services information page.

The Fall 2026 deadline to enroll or waive the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ student health insurance:TBD 

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Note: This is a very important step. You will not be able to register for classes until you submit your immunization documents and Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire. If you have any questions about the patient portal or the documents required, please email Health Services at hsimmunizations@wcu.edu.

You may use the Immunization Record Form on page three (3) of this document to record your immunization history. Please enter as much of your immunization information as possible. This form will require a signature or clinic stamp from your physician or health department.  Required for international students or non-US Citizens is the Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire that should be submitted with your immunization record. The tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire is available on .

OR

You may submit other acceptable records as proof of your immunizations. Those records may be obtained from any of the following:

• North Carolina High School Records – These may contain some, but not all of your immunization information.
  • High school transcripts from other states are not considered acceptable documentation per NC Branch of Immunization Requirements.
• Previous College or University – Your immunization records do not transfer automatically.  You must request a copy.
• Personal Shot Records – Must be verified by a doctor’s signature or by a clinic or health department stamp.
• Military Records or WHO (World Health Organization) Documents – These records may not contain all of the required immunizations.
• NCIR records are an acceptable proof of immunization.

Your records must include:
Name, Date of Birth, Student ID Number (92#), Name and address of the physician or clinic that administered the immunizations, Month,Day & Year of immunization.

Important: If you do not submit the immunization and TB questionnaire forms by the deadline, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Health Services will place a hold on your account preventing registration for classes. Upload these into the Patient Portal.

Students with incomplete records, or without immunization records, will be required to receive immunizations from ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Health Services after you arrive on campus. The cost of these shots will be billed to your student account. Email hsimmunizations@wcu.edu with immunization-related questions.

.
Learn more about ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Health Services

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Important Note: You must submit your required immunizations documents, covered in Step 5, before you can register for courses.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
New first-year and transfer students at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ are enrolled in classes by their assigned academic advisor; students do not self-enroll in classes. To be assigned your advisor, you must complete the Preregistration process found in your admissions portal, which includes submitting your immunization documents and registering for first year or transfer student orientation.

If you have any issues with the Pre-registration process, please let us know.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Exchange students are not assigned an academic advisor and must enroll themselves in classes. If you are unable to register for a course due to a prerequisite error, please complete Exchange Student Course Registration Form. Our office will review your information and coordinate with the instructor to determine whether you’ve met the necessary requirements for enrollment. Course registration opens for exchange students on April 15 at 9:00pm EST for the Fall 2026 semester.

For a step-by-step guide on registering for courses, please refer to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s Course Registration Guide.

GRADUATE STUDENTS
Work with your faculty advisor and program coordinator to develop your class schedule.

View ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s academic calendar.

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Important Note: If you have not registered for classes before you arrive on campus, your CatCard will not work. Make sure you register for classes as soon as possible. 

Please submit your CatCard ID photo by December 1st, 2025, by logging into myÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½.  If you are having trouble uploading the photo in myÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, send a clear headshot with no sunglasses, filters, etc. to tdbeck@wcu.edu.  Please include your full name and student ID number (920____) in the email.

Your picture should follow these guidelines:

• JPEG file format
• Look at the camera (like in a passport photograph)
• Do not cover your face
• No hats (traditional headwear is fine)
• No sunglasses
• Picture of your head + shoulders is preferred

Please Note: Your CatCard is used for many important purposes on campus such as accessing your residence hall, accessing dining facilities, checking out books at the campus library, and more. Therefore, it is imperative to submit your CatCard information before you arrive on campus. In addition, you must be registered for classes so your CatCard will work. 

For questions regarding your CatCard, please email tdbeck@wcu.edu. 

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Bring these items with you on the plane. Have these items with you at the Port of Entry.

1. I-20 or DS-2019 (original copy)
2. Valid passport
3. Valid visa
4. Letter of acceptance to ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
5. SEVIS fee proof of payment
6. Evidence of financial support
7. Airline ticket
8. Cash or Credit Card (not pre-paid) - USD $250-$300 or Visa/MasterCard. This is money you can spend until you set up a bank account. Please do not bring traveler's checks, pre-paid credit cards, or non-USD currency.
9. Remember to check the weather! North Carolina has four seasons, so make sure to pack appropriately.

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The International Orientation Fee ($130) is a one-time fee charged upon initial arrival. The International Student Fee ($150) is charged each continuing year at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. This is used to support activities and services throughout your time at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. Both fees are payable by all international students, except ISEP and KNPU students.

Submit your enrollment deposit in Slate ($300): This deposit is required to reserve a room on campus and will go towards your student account. This is payable by all international students, except ISEP and KNPU students.

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ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ expects ALL students (undergraduate, graduate, and exchange) to pay their university charges prior to the start of each semester. You will need to be prepared to make the necessary payments. This includes housing, meal plan, and other fees. The final date to pay your Fall 2026 bill is Monday, August 17, 2026.

Fall 2026 payment plan enrollment periods begin : early July 2026

Degree-seeking students pay out-of-state tuition and fees.

Exchange students pay Room/Board, International Student Fee, International Orientation Fee, Health Insurance, and Book Rental.

see all the Payment Options

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ISEP and KNPU students, email global@wcu.edu regarding any financial charges or questions.

If you need more time to make payments, please notify global@wcu.edu . We can assist you in making a payment plan. Be aware that ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ will hold you responsible and limits the duration of time to defer payments.

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