About Economics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Economics trains students to analyse markets, policy, finance and human behaviour with quantitative methods, and opens careers in finance, consulting, government, international organisations and research.
At University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (QS World University Rankings 2026: #140) in Chapel Hill, Economics is one of the subject areas international students choose most. UNC Chapel Hill is one of the oldest public universities in the United States.
Degree levels for Economics
- Bachelor’s — typical length in the US: 4 years
- PhD — typical length in the US: usually 5–6 years
Program names, specialisations and exact length differ by department — check the official program page before applying.
Admission requirements for Economics at UNC Chapel Hill
- Bachelor’s: apply through the Common App with transcripts, essays, recommendations and English scores.
- Master’s / PhD: a relevant bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, recommendations, CV and English scores; some programs ask for the GRE. PhD applicants should show research experience and interests.
- English: TOEFL iBT around 80–100 or IELTS Academic 6.5–7.0 (requirements vary by program).
Fees and funding
University tuition (undergraduate, university-wide): Approx. $35,000 – $50,000 per year (non-resident / international undergraduate tuition; varies by program). Graduate and professional fees for Economics are set separately by the school. PhD students are usually funded through fellowships and teaching or research assistantships. Limited merit scholarships for international undergraduates; graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships.
Careers and work after graduation
F-1 graduates can apply for up to 12 months of OPT. Some programs in this field are STEM-designated — check the program’s CIP code to see if the STEM OPT extension applies.
Apply for Economics at UNC Chapel Hill with GIEC Global
GIEC Global offers free counselling, program shortlisting, SOP guidance, application support and F-1 visa assistance for Economics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
