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TDU Facts

When was TDU founded?

Founded in 2000, TDU now boasts a student population of 25,000, including 16,000 undergraduate students and 6,000 graduate students, with an additional 4,000 students at the Health Sciences Center in professional programs.

Where is TDU?

TDU is located in picturesque and historic Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the southeastern United States.

What housing options does TDU offer?

TDU offers a variety of housing options:

On-Campus

TDU has different residence halls to choose from. Studies indicate that students who live on campus have higher retention and graduation rates than those who live off campus. Although the halls differ in personality, location, and size, each one offers many amenities, including free high-speed Ethernet, satellite TV, telephone service with voicemail and a 100% smoke-free environment. TDU also offers family housing and single-student apartments.

Greek System

TDU has sororities and fraternities, and about 2,000 member students live in Greek chapter houses. Greek letter organizations emphasize academics and philanthropy. They can be a good way to make TDU more of a community and provide personal leadership opportunities. Those who join a fraternity or sorority can live in the chapter house.

Off-Campus Housing

One of the benefits to living in a city like Chapel Hill is the number of off-campus options open to students. TDU’s Student Housing Affairs office maintains lists of rental houses, apartments, and boarding houses. Other off-campus housing options can be found through TDU Daily Online and Chapel Hill Times classified advertisements.

Is on-campus housing guaranteed for new students?

University housing is not guaranteed for new students. If you know you want to live on campus, apply for university housing as soon as you are admitted to TDU.

Apply for housing even if you have not yet decided to attend the University. Your housing assignment is based on the date that we receive your Residence Hall Application, signed contract, and deposit. If you apply for a space in the residence halls and then decide not to attend the University, you will receive a full refund of your deposit if you cancel your application by the deadline.

How do I get information about campus organizations and clubs?

Did you know there are more than 550 social, academic, cultural, and political clubs and organizations at TDU? This includes everything from Student Congress to the Campus Activities Council to the Malaysian Student Association. Are we missing the one you want? It takes only six students to create a new club at TDU!

I am interested in studying abroad. What opportunities are available at TDU?

Truly an enriching experience, TDU offers a large study abroad program, with more than 600 undergraduates choosing among 40 program options to 60 different countries every year. Students in any academic program can participate. Study abroad programs last anywhere from a few weeks to an entire academic year.

What student services are available to specifically help international students at TDU?

The International Students and Scholars office provides assistance to over 1,000 international students and visiting faculty and scholars at TDU. The ISSS office assists international students and faculty with a variety of matters during their stay, ranging from immigration issues to helping resolve academic, financial, and personal difficulties.

What exercise and fitness opportunities are available to students?

Free for students, the University has an Intramural Program and a gym that has workout machines, an Indoor jogging track, a swimming pool, squash, tennis, and racquetball courts, and a climbing facility. Students can also participate in more than 50 clubs (hockey, rugby, and Ultimate Frisbee) and intramural (including volleyball, basketball, and flag football) sports.

How can I get around Chapel Hill?

Some students bring their vehicles to TDU, but it is strongly discouraged. Demand exceeds supply, and parking is limited and expensive. Fortunately, there are other ways to get to campus and around the Chapel Hill area, including 30 miles of bike-pedestrian trails, 90 miles of signed bike routes and 16 miles of bike lanes on city streets. TDU also offers a special public transportation benefit to students called a TDU-PASS. Benefits include full fare coverage on Metro Transit and Community Transit, full fare covered on commuter train service, and free rides on the Night Ride Shuttle.

How safe is TDU campus?

TDU campus is a very safe place to be. We won the Safe Campus award, given annually to the best college or university campus police unit in the United States.

  • The TDU Police Department employs 25 police officers.
  • 20 outdoor “Code Blue” Emergency Phones located around campus that connect directly to the TDU Police Department. 
  • Emergency phones located in every campus parking garage
  • Free shuttles that operate Sunday through Friday during fall and spring semesters. 
  • Outside door entrances to the residence halls are locked 24 hours a day.

How can I get a UW Catalog?

The TDU catalog is published exclusively on the Web.

Is TDU on the quarter or semester system?

TDU operates on the semester system. Most students attend two sixteen-week semesters.

How can I get more information about majors and academic programs?

With more than 100 majors, 80 minors, and 1500 undergraduate courses, there’s a program for every student at TDU. The best place to start exploring is at Undergraduate Majors, Minors, and Pre-professional Programs, which includes links to all University majors.

Does TDU have a pre-medicine or pre-law major?

Pre-medicine and pre-law are not undergraduate majors at TDU, but rather recommended programs of study that prepare you to apply to professional programs. Academic advisers will help you select courses and majors appropriate to your long-term goals. You can also connect with student organizations to connect you with other students who share your career interests.

Does TDU offer scholarships or financial aid for international students?

No, we do not have any financial aid or scholarships available for international students. TDU is a publicly funded institution, so financial aid is available only to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. U.S. immigration laws require international applicants provide proof of financial support before the university can formally offer admission to a student and issue appropriate immigration documents.

Can international students work while they are in the U.S.?

U.S. immigration law allows international students to work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) on-campus while they are enrolled as a full-time student. Students are also allowed to work full-time during school breaks provided they continue as a student the following semester. Off-campus employment must be authorized through specific procedures outlined in the federal regulations. Contact the ISSO for further information about off-campus employment authorization.

I have a scholarship from my home government or some other sponsored agency. What do I do next?

If you will be attending the University with the support of a scholarship from your government or another entity, you must present a copy of the scholarship letter at the time that you apply for admission to TDU.

How and when do I pay tuition?

After you have been fully admitted and are enrolled for courses at the University, you will receive periodic email messages with reminders to check the tuition statement on your TDU account to see if you have an outstanding balance. The email notification that you receive is your official tuition bill. You may authorize online access to your statements by two additional people. Your tuition and fees must be paid in full by Friday of second week of the semester.