Welcome to Chapel Hill!  We know moving here requires a lot of change, so we’re here to help.

For help finding housing, visit the UNC housing webpage (the off-campus housing link takes you here).  Additionally, feel free to contact Hang Yu (hangyu@live.unc.edu)

You should read about establishing residency for tuition purposes.  The department expects US Citizen and Permanent Resident graduate students, who have lived in North Carolina for one year, to apply for North Carolina residency for tuition purposes.  This is an involved process, and the summer prior to coming to UNC is the best time to start going through the checklist of items:

(1) Obtain a North Carolina driver’s license.
(2) Register your car in North Carolina (if you have a car, and remember to pay the taxes on the car every year).
(3) Separate all finances from your parents (you need to look financially independent).
(4) Make sure your parents don’t claim you as a dependent on their taxes next year (you’ll need to submit a copy of their taxes when applying for residency).
(5) Get a public library card, join civic groups, religious institutions, etc. (anything that shows you have ties to communities in North Carolina).
(6) Maintain North Carolina residency over the summer (if you go home for the summer the residency committee will take this as evidence of temporary North Carolina residence).
(7) Register to vote, and actually vote in an election in North Carolina.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of items required for NC Residency.  Please become familiar with the website in the previous link.

Click here for a bit of advice and information for newcomers.