International Students & Scholars

Founded in 1924, High Point University is a private, liberal arts institution with 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The university has a strong academic history and is committed to building character, modeling values, and ensuring that students graduate with hands-on experience in their discipline, and with the life skills necessary to be successful. It offers 70 undergraduate majors, 73 undergraduate minors, and 18 graduate degree programs. The typical class size is 25 students and the undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1, allowing for a personalized learned environment that promotes collaboration, exploration, and access to professors, advisors, and academic staff.

The HPU campus is innovative and engaging. There are over 200 academic, service, and social student clubs and organizations and the Student Government is active in offering a forum for leadership and civic development. The High Point University Panthers compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports and are members of the Big South Conference.

Why Choose High Point University?

High Point University was named the #1 Best-Run College in the nation by The Princeton Review in “The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition,” and has been ranked as the #1 Best Regional College in the South for the 12th consecutive year, the #1 Most Innovative Regional College in the South for the 9th consecutive year, and #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching by US News and World Report. HPU was recognized as a College of Distinction for the 2024-25 academic year for the 14th year and continues to be recognized and ranked in many other honors including Best College Dorms, Best Career Services, Best Student Support and Counseling Services, and more!

This means that you will receive a top-notch education at a respected university that is known for excellence in academics, its dedicated faculty and staff, and campus facilities that are indeed extraordinary. You will experience firsthand what makes High Point University great: small class sizes, caring professors, 17 NCAA Division 1 sports teams, 50+ club sports and intramural opportunities, and over 200 student-led clubs and organizations.

This also means that you will be provided with services that are geared towards the unique needs of international students. Our Office of Global Education and colleagues across campus provide immigration and academic advising as well as assistance with various tasks such as applying for a social security number and North Carolina driver’s license, opening a bank account, obtaining an on-campus job, and more. Upon arrival to High Point, you’ll be greeted at the airport and shuttled to campus for a comprehensive orientation, during which you’ll be paired with a Global Education Mentor (GEM), an HPU student who can help introduce you to other students, help you get involved on campus, and help you get acclimated to life in the U.S. We also provide opportunities for cultural engagement, with trips to local sites of interest as well as on-campus activities in cooperation with the Global Student Association.

Where will you live?

High Point University is located in High Point, North Carolina, a city known for its involvement in the furniture industry. Together, the cities of Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem form the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area with more than 1.9 million people and over 20 colleges and universities. The city of High Point alone has more than 100,000 people.

Both Greensboro and Winston-Salem are 20 minutes from campus. Other popular destinations and locations surrounding campus include:

High Point is easily accessible from Interstate 40 or Interstate 85. In addition, High Point University offers complimentary shuttle service to local airports, train stations, and bus stations. The Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), which provides direct flights to major U.S. cities each day, is 20 minutes from campus; the Charlotte Douglass International Airport (CLT) and Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) are both 90 minutes from campus; and the Amtrak train and Greyhound bus stations are both five minutes from campus.

High Point University offers a variety of classes with relatively small class size. Undergraduate classes average about 25 students per class with a 17:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio. Students in all degree levels are able to develop a close relationship with their professors, improving their learning experience.

Undergraduate Study

HPU offers undergraduate courses through the Congdon School of Health Sciences, the David R. Hayworth School of Arts & Design, the David S. Congdon School of Entrepreneurship, the Douglas S. Witcher School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, the Earl N. Phillips School of Business, the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, the Stout School of Education, the Teresa Caine School of Nursing, the Wanek School or Natural Sciences, and the Webb School of Engineering.

All undergraduate coursework is taught in person.

Our largest majors and niche programs include Biology, Business Administration, Communication, Education, Exercise Science, Human Relations, Interior Design, Music, and Physics.

Read more about our academic programs.

Graduate Study

HPU offers graduate programs in the the Congdon School of Health Sciences, the Earl N. Phillips School of Business, the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy, the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, the School of Optometry, the Stout School of Education, the Teresa Caine School of Nursing, the Wanek School or Natural Sciences, and the Workman School of Dental Medicine.

Degrees are offered with coursework taught in person, online, or in hybrid formats. Students with a nonimmigrant F-1 or J-1 visa status are restricted to in-person programs only as regulations require full-time enrollment in face-to-face courses. Be sure to know the instructional format and any restrictions you may have if you have a different nonimmigrant status before applying to the program.  

Read more about our academic programs.

Exchange Student Program

High Point University maintains a number of bilateral exchange agreements with universities around the world, offering opportunities for an exchange of educational experiences and academic training. Learn more about our Exchange Visitor Program.

Restrictions

Degree-seeking students are not restricted in their choice of study within their enrolled degree plan. In order to enroll in a course, students must have satisfied all pre-requisites. Undergraduate students are not permitted to enroll in graduate-level coursework.

Exchange and study abroad students are not restricted in undergraduate course selection; however, some courses have prerequisites and Music, Theatre, and Art & Design courses often require auditions or portfolios. Additionally, some courses and programs of study may not be available to non-degree students due to limited availability, such as Psychology. Currently, High Point University is not able to accept exchange students for graduate study.

Semester Enrollment

Credits values at High Point University are based on the Carnegie Unit. One credit carries a minimum of 12.5 instructional hours plus 25 hours of out-of-class assignments, study, and other relevant academic preparation.

Unless otherwise stated, courses at the undergraduate level are worth 4 credits, some of which may include experiential components such as lab work, field work, studio, or service leaning projects. Some activity and some special-topics classes worth 1-2 credits. Generally, courses at the graduate level are worth 3 credits, although courses, practicums, and internships may be valued at more or less credits.

• Full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is a minimum of 12, maximum of 18, credits per fall or spring term. The recommended number of credits for exchange and study abroad students is 16 credits per term, which would typically be an enrollment of four, 4-credit courses.
• Full-time enrollment for graduate students in health-science programs is a minimum of 9 credits per term.
• Full-time enrollment for graduate students in other graduate programs is a minimum of 6 credits per term.

Summer Enrollment

High Point University does not require enrollment in summer courses for undergraduate students. For students with F-1 visa status, the summer is when you’ll participate in your annual vacation benefit. Unless it’s your first or last term of you degree program, courses you choose to take over the summer are incident to status and can be taken in-person or online with part-time or full-time enrollment.

Some graduate programs may require summer enrollment. You should check with your program to determine your enrollment requirements.

Searching for Classes

Our course catalog is open to all users online through a portal called MyStuff. Go to MyStuff and click on the orange Search for Classes button and then the blue Search for Classes link. This will open the Search for Sections page where you can search by term, dates, subject, course levels, days of the week offered, course titles, or the last name of your instructor.

Language of Instruction

Language courses are taught in the respective languages; all other courses are taught in English.

HPU-Sponsored Student & Scholar Visas

International students are able to pursue a degree as a full-time student by obtaining a nonimmigrant status that permits university study. Typically, students will apply for F-1 student status, but in some situations, especially for exchange students, they will apply for J-1 exchange visitor status, instead.

Student Visa

HPU is certified to sponsor full-time enrolled nonimmigrant students for an F-1 student visa. This is the typical nonimmigrant status for students pursuing a university degree. Admitted students will be issued a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, to apply for F-1 student status, usually by applying for an F-1 visa.

In order to issue a Certificate of Eligibility, the student must provide evidence that they meet the requirements for sponsorship, including a minimum proficiency of the English language and proof of financial support for themselves and any dependents who accompany them to the U.S.

Exchange Visitor Visa

HPU is designated to sponsor full-time, degree-seeking students, exchange students, and scholars for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. This is the typical nonimmigrant status for students and scholars participating in an Exchange Visitor Program. Admitted exchange visitors will be issued a Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, to apply for J-1 exchange visitor status, usually by applying for a J-1 visa.

In order to issue a Certificate of Eligibility, the student or scholar must provide evidence that they meet the requirements for sponsorship, including a minimum proficiency of the English language and proof of financial support for themselves and any dependents who accompany them to the U.S.

English Language Proficiency

Students and scholars of non-English speaking countries are required to submit one of the following accepted English proficiency exams. Below are the accepted tests and the minimum test score requirements: Exceptions: Students of non-English speaking countries who have completed school in the USA for 2 years or more, students who have completed an Intensive Language Program, or exchange students who have successfully completed one semester of full-time college study in an English-taught program in an English-speaking country do not have to submit an English language proficiency test for admission.

Financial Support

Students and scholars requiring F-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship, and any dependents requiring F-2 or J-2 visa sponsorship, will be required to submit a Certificate of Financial Support with proof of financial support documents before their Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility, can be issued. The Certificate of Financial Support is found in a student’s Panther Page.

Those seeking F-1/F-2 visa status must show their ability to cover the costs of tuition, fees, room, board, and other relevant expenses for the primary (F-1) visa holder plus any F-2 dependents for at least one year or the length of their program if they’ll finish in less than a year.

Those seeking J-1/J-2 visa status must show their ability to cover the costs of tuition, fees, room, board, and other relevant expenses for the primary (J-1) visa holder plus any J-2 dependents for the duration of the Exchange Visitor Program.

Financial documents that are not in the principal visa holder’s name must be accompanied by an affidavit of financial support completed by the financial sponsor.

Health Insurance

North Carolina law requires all full-time enrolled students to maintain health insurance. Read about the Student Health Insurance program, fees, coverage, and more.

Further, the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program requires participants and their dependents to have and maintain health insurance in effect that covers them for sickness or accidents during the time of their exchange visitor program, as listed on their Form DS-2019. This includes any time spent outside of the U.S. during the program period. Read about Health Insurance for Exchange Visitors to better understand this requirement.

In order to be admitted to HPU, students must demonstrate adequate proficiency by submitting TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, or other approved test scores. Additionally, all admitted non-native English speakers will be required to take an English placement exam administered by HPU. The results of this placement test will help HPU best support English language learners be most successful in their studies and daily life in the U.S.

We understand that many non-native speakers of English benefit greatly from additional ESL instruction during their first years at college. In order to support our English Language Learners in the best ways that we can, HPU offers a selection of English as a Second Language Programs.

College-Level English as a Second Language Courses

These credit-bearing courses are intended for students who meet the English proficiency admission requirement but may benefit from additional, directed practice reading, writing, and/or speaking English.  Non-native speakers of English with English proficiency scores that are near the minimum required for unconditional admission may be required to take one or more of these courses for additional instruction in speaking and writing in English. Note: these courses fulfill the foreign language requirement in the general education curriculum.

• ESL 1010:  English Grammar Skills for Speakers of English as a Second Language.
• ESL 1020:  Composition Skills for Speakers of English as a Second Language.
• ESL 1030:  Oral Communication Skills in English as a Second Language.
• ESL 1040:  Reading in English as a Second Language.

ESL options are available to students both throughout the academic year and in Summer School programs.

General Education English Requirement

All students at HPU are required to take (or transfer credit for) English 1103, College Writing and Public Life. As an alternative, Non-native speakers of English may elect to take ENG 1101 and ENG 1102; taken consecutively, these courses fulfill the General Education requirement. Offered by the Department of English, the two-semester stretch allows instructors to pace the course in accordance with the students’ English proficiency and allows students the opportunity to receive additional instruction as needed.

ESL Peer Assisted Learning Services

Peer Assisted Learning Specialists are available through the Office of Peer Assisted Learning Services, located on the 4th floor of Smith Library.

For more information about ESL classes or placement, contact Dr. Daliang Wang, Chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

Housing & Residential Life

High Point University is committed to providing some of the finest residential communities and options in private higher education in the United States. Living on campus within a student-focused, caring community provides wonderful opportunities for students to get involved in all areas of academic and campus life. High Point University provides an environment where students can thrive both in and out of the classroom. Our Residential Communities are a big component of the campus life at High Point University, and the Office of Student Life takes pride in the support that we are able to offer our students through our Residential Community. HPU is a residential campus; on-campus accommodations are compulsory during a student’s first 3 years of study at HPU.

Students can select between seven tiers of housing. Tier 1 accommodations are our standard housing options. Tiers 2 – 7 offer upgraded and premium amenities and come with a supplemental semester fee. Often times, international students studying only for one or two semesters at High Point University are housed in one of our Tier 1 accommodations, if available. These are our standard rooms and consist of double-accommodation rooms in Belk, Finch, McEwen, Millis, North, North College Court, North College Terrace, University Houses, Wesley, and Yadkin.

On-campus residence halls are furnished with a bed, desk, chair, and dresser or cabinet to store clothes and personal items. Some accommodations include kitchen facilities. All accommodations have access to showers and toilets, some have these facilities ensuite, some are shared with two or more rooms, and some are shared with a hall of rooms. Linens, cookery and cutlery, cleaning supplies, and other personal items are not provided. During the orientation week, the Office of Global Education will coordinate opportunities for students to purchase linens, supplies, and other personal items.

Dining

High Point University Dining offers 19 restaurants and 3 convenience stores providing students a variety of food options. Students are enrolled in an on-campus meal plan providing 14 meals per week to use at an All-You-Care to eat dining hall or retail location and $150 “Dining Dollars” throughout the semester to use at any dining location. At orientation, students can review other dining options and made selection changes as they see necessary (note that all meal plan options cost the same fee, but offer a different combination of meal allowances and Dining Dollars). The HPU dining plan is compulsory for all students enrolled in campus accommodations.

A limited number of Tier-1 residence halls are furnished with kitchen facilities. Students housed in a residence hall with kitchen facilities can purchase groceries at one of the on-campus convenience stores or from local grocery stores (regular shuttles provided by HPU Transportation).

Student Activities & Organizations

High Point University offers many services to students included in the HPU fees, including concierge services (e.g., wake-up calls and reservations) and laundry facilities. Students also have access to multiple fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, an on-campus movie theatre, and an on-campus arcade as well as many academic and cultural events such as guest speakers, concerts, performances, and art exhibits. Visit the Office of Student Activities website for more information.

HPU also offers many clubs and organizations focusing on topics of interest. The Global Student Association is a great way for international students to get involved on the HPU campus. They host many activities on and off campus to help students get connected with HPU and other cultures.

In addition, HPU provides regular, complimentary round-trip shuttle service from the HPU campus to the Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), the Charlotte-Douglass International Airport (CLT), the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), and the High Point Amtrak and Greyhound Stations. HPU Transportation also offers daily campus shuttle service to all of the campus locations and weekly shuttle service to local shopping venues.

While most activities and services on campus are included at no additional cost, some activities (e.g., excursions, clubs, and organizations) require additional participation fees. These amounts vary by activity or service.