Admissions

Admissions decisions are based on several criteria. One of the most important parts of the application is the statement of purpose and research interests. We encourage you to be as specific as possible in outlining your scholarly interests and career goals and their fit with our program and faculty. We also consider standard criteria like grade-point averages and letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required.

Criteria for admission include:

• A recognized undergraduate degree
• Undergraduate grade-point average of “B” or better (3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale)
• For international applicants, a minimum score of 105 on the internet-based TOEFL exam or 7.5 on the IELTS exam (exceptions apply)
• GPA and test-score standards treated as guides, and meeting these criteria is not a guarantee of admission.

Visit the UNC Graduate School website to apply online, selecting “Master’s or Doctorate Degree” as your application type and these selections on the Program of Study page:

• Major: Media and Communication
• Degree: Master of Arts
• Are you applying for a dual degree?: No for most students; yes for students seeking admission to our J.D./M.A. dual degree with the UNC School of Law
• Area of interest: Theory and Research
• Term of Entry: Fall

The following materials are required with your online application (due at the application deadline unless otherwise noted):

• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation, submitted by recommenders
• Resume/CV
• Writing sample(s)
• Application fee

An approximate timeline for the admissions process, subject to change:

• Email list open – Any time; join via the interest form below
• Application opens – Early August
• Online info sessions – September and November
• Application deadline – Jan. 14, 2025
• Faculty review of applications – January-February
• Video interviews with finalists – February
• Admission  decisions – February
• Virtual programming for admitted applicants – Late February/early March
• Deadline to accept offer of admission and submit $250 enrollment deposit* – Mid-April (or at least three weeks after the offer of admission)

*The non-refundable $250 enrollment deposit will be credited toward your first-semester tuition and fees. Failure to respond within stated timeframe may result in the withdrawal of the offer of admission.

Incoming graduate students attend orientation the week before classes begin. We’ll provide information about orientation and other onboarding during mid-summer.