BA Asian Studies (South Asian Studies Concentration) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

South Asia refers to a geographic region comprising the nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. With strong cultural ties to the region, Iran, Myanmar, and Tibet are also sometimes considered part of South Asia. Some 5,000 years ago, the highly developed Indus Valley Civilization developed along the Indus River system in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Over the course of its history, South Asia has been divided into various polities, but in the premodern period experienced significant political consolidation under the Mauryas, the Guptas, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, and the Marathas.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Required courses include HIST 135 History of the Indian Subcontinent to; HIST 136 History of India; ASIA 152 Survey of South Asian Cultural History; GEOG 267 South Asia; HNUR 221 Introduction to the Urdu Script (Nastaliq); ASIA 124 Iranian Post-.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level admission applies (not programme-specific): apply through UNC-Chapel Hill Undergraduate Admissions; international applicants submit an English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge C1/C2) unless they qualify for the waiver, and transcripts translated into English.

Domestic applicants: USD 7,230 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 in-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (NC resident rate, $3,615 per semester on the University Source

International applicants: USD 47,472 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 out-of-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (non-resident rate, $23,736 per semester on the Univ Source

First-year applicants apply for fall enrollment (fall 2027 entry); transfer applicants apply through the Common Application with decisions by April 30.

First-year Early Action (non-binding): application deadline October 15, decision by December 20 for North Carolina residents and by February 15 for all other applicants. Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, decision by March 31. Enrollment confirmation deadline for both is May 1. Apply through the Common Application. The non-refundable application fee is $85, with a fee waiver available. SAT or ACT scores are optional with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale; students below 2.8 must submit an ACT of 17 or higher or an SAT of 930 or higher.

Transfer applicants: application and fee or waiver due February 15; supporting materials and residency due March 15; decisions by April 30; enrollment confirmation by May 15. Apply through the Common Application; the non-refundable application fee is $85.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.unc.edu/

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