Ph.D. Application Process

Our Graduate Application Review Committee welcomes the opportunity to review and evaluate an admission application and supporting credentials from you. A master’s degree in a related field is required to apply for the Ph.D. programs in the Wilson College of Textiles. It is preferred for students to have proof of research performance such as through Masters Thesis, or scientific conference proceedings, or peer reviewed publication.   

A completed application package must contain:

• Official transcripts (minimum graduate GPA of 3.0). All relevant unofficial or official transcripts from previously attended college or university.   
• Official GRE scores
• Proof of English Proficiency (international students)  
• Three letters of recommendation 
• A personal statement indicating strong research interests in and match of research interest with WCOT faculty research expertise
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Application Fee ($75 for domestic and US permanent residents, $85 for international).  All application fees are non-refundable.
• Online North Carolina Residency Form if claiming NC residence for tuition purposes submitted within one (1) week of application submission

Applications and all supporting documents must be received on or before the priority deadlines OR the Program Deadlines, whichever is earlier. The Graduate School Priority Deadlines are shown below. Note that applications must be submitted to the Graduate School by midnight Eastern Standard Time on the deadline.

	Fall	Spring	Summer 1	Summer 2
US Citizens:	Jun 25	Nov 25	Mar 25	May 10
Internationals:	Mar 1	Jul 15	Dec 15	Dec 15

Please be aware of specific program deadlines, as many are earlier than the Graduate School priority deadlines. All application fees are totally non-refundable.

While applications will be accepted and reviewed until the deadline for each application group, it is encouraged that you submit your application early to be considered for funding opportunities. For fall enrollment, the first round of funding recommendations will be made in mid-March. Remaining funding opportunities (relatively less) will be distributed before the end of April. 

This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways:

• Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section are listed below. Test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term. The institution code 5496 is the only code needed to report scores to NC State University.

Minimum TOEFL iBT Section Scores are 18 points for all sections (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).

NOTE: The current computer- and paper-based versions of the TOEFL test will be given until the iBT version is implemented in a particular location. Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 213 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13). The paper-based test requires a score of 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45).

• Provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are listed below. Test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term. The institution code 5496 is the only code needed to report scores to NC State University. 

Minimum IELTS Section Scores are 6.5 points for all sections (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).

In response to the temporary closings of testing centers in countries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate School now accepts Duolingo English Test examination results. Duolingo English Tests taken after February 3, 2020 will be accepted. To be admitted, a minimum score of 110 will be required. In addition to providing a score at or above the minimum, the Graduate School or graduate programs may choose to require students to participate in a Zoom or Skype interview prior to making an admission decision.

The GRE general exam is required of all applicants. GRE test scores expire five years after the test date, and expired scores are not accepted. Recommended GRE scores are: Verbal Reasoning 150, Quantitative Reasoning 155, and Analytical Writing 3.5. All three sections of the GRE are considered when evaluating applicants.