The University of North Texas Scholarship portfolio includes admission-based awards for high-achieving freshmen and separate routes for transfer and continuing students. International applicants can be considered when they meet the published academic, enrollment and admission conditions.
This guide focuses on the current UNT Excellence structure and explains where transfer or graduate applicants follow a different funding route. The scholarship agreement issued by UNT remains the final authority for each recipient.
Key Facts
- Provider: University of North Texas Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- Location: Denton, Texas, United States.
- Main award: UNT Excellence Scholarship for first-time freshmen.
- Degree level: first bachelor’s degree.
- Annual value: $2,000 to $12,000 under the published Excellence matrix.
- Selection factors: high-school class rank and unweighted high-school GPA.
- Unranked applicants: academic-record review with the unweighted GPA.
- Enrollment: at least 12 UNT hours in each fall and spring semester.
- Duration: up to eight semesters when renewal conditions are met.
- International benefit: qualifying non-Texas recipients may also receive a competitive scholarship tuition waiver.
University Overview
The University of North Texas is a public research university in Denton. Its colleges and schools cover business, education, engineering, information, liberal arts and social sciences, merchandising and hospitality, music, public affairs, science, and visual arts and design.
International freshmen and transfer students apply through the undergraduate admission system and must meet academic and English-language requirements. Admission to UNT does not automatically guarantee admission to every major, because some departments require additional materials.
After applying, students use MyUNT to track missing items and decisions. Admitted students can also use the Eagle Scholarship Portal to search for additional institutional and departmental awards beyond automatic Excellence review.
Scholarship Overview
- UNT Excellence is a competitive merit scholarship for first-time freshmen seeking a first bachelor’s degree.
- The published award matrix combines class rank with unweighted GPA.
- Applicants without a reported rank receive a holistic academic-record review.
- Annual awards are divided between fall and spring.
- The current matrix ranges from $2,000 to $12,000 per academic year.
- Students outside the Excellence matrix may be considered for a separate UNT Achievement award.
- Transfer students use the Transfer Excellence route rather than the freshman matrix.
- The official UNT Excellence Scholarship page contains the controlling award matrix and renewal rules.
Eligible Majors
UNT does not publish a major restriction for the general Excellence award. Eligible freshmen may pursue their first bachelor’s degree in an admitted field, but the chosen department can require an audition, portfolio, prerequisite courses or a separate application.
- Business, economics and logistics
- Education and human development
- Engineering and computing
- Information and data-focused programs
- Liberal arts and social sciences
- Science and mathematics
- Music and performing arts
- Visual arts and design
- Public affairs and community service
Target Groups
- First-time freshmen entering UNT after high school.
- Students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- International freshmen who satisfy UNT admission and scholarship conditions.
- Non-Texas recipients who may qualify for a competitive scholarship tuition waiver.
- Transfer applicants using the separate Transfer Excellence criteria.
Benefits
- Annual Excellence awards from $2,000 to $12,000 according to the published matrix.
- Equal application of the annual award across the fall and spring terms.
- Renewable support for up to eight semesters when all conditions are met.
- Possible Texas competitive scholarship waiver for qualifying international and other non-Texas recipients.
- Automatic consideration from the completed admission record for the general freshman merit review.
- Access to additional scholarship opportunities through the Eagle Scholarship Portal.
UNT does not describe Excellence as a full scholarship for housing, meals, insurance, books, travel or personal expenses. The final financial plan should use the actual award notice and the university’s current cost of attendance.
Duration and Renewal by Degree
First bachelor’s degree — freshman entry.
UNT Excellence can support up to eight semesters toward the first bachelor’s degree. Renewal requires continuous fall and spring enrollment in at least 12 UNT hours per semester, a cumulative UNT GPA of at least 3.00 and completion of at least 24 UNT hours during each academic year.
First bachelor’s degree — transfer entry.
Transfer applicants are evaluated under the separate Transfer Excellence program. They must meet the transfer-hour, GPA and enrollment requirements published for that route, and the award agreement determines the available duration.
Graduate degree.
UNT Excellence does not fund graduate study because it is tied to the first bachelor’s degree. Graduate applicants should use the Toulouse Graduate School and academic-department funding pages for assistantships, fellowships and graduate scholarships.
Scholarship Requirements
- Be admitted as a first-time freshman for the Excellence route.
- Pursue a first bachelor’s degree.
- Provide a complete high-school transcript for academic review.
- Enroll full time in at least 12 UNT hours in the entering fall semester.
- Maintain continuous full-time enrollment in fall and spring.
- Maintain the cumulative UNT GPA stated in the renewal rules.
- Complete the required annual UNT credit hours for renewal.
- Accept and follow the terms in the official scholarship agreement.
- Meet Selective Service requirements when they apply to a tuition waiver.
Admission Requirements by Degree
First Bachelor’s Degree — Freshman Requirements
- Undergraduate international application through an accepted application service.
- Non-refundable international application fee.
- Graduation from a secondary school recognized by the home-country education authority.
- Official transcripts and diplomas covering the final years of secondary study.
- Native-language records and certified English translations when applicable.
- Evidence that satisfies UNT’s English-language requirement.
- Any additional material required by the intended major.
First Bachelor’s Degree — Transfer Requirements
- Undergraduate international transfer application and fee.
- Official records from every college or university attended.
- Native-language records and certified English translations when applicable.
- Eligibility to return to the last institution attended.
- The minimum transfer GPA associated with the evaluated transferable hours.
- English-language evidence or an approved alternative.
- Program-specific requirements for the intended major.
Graduate Degree Requirements
Graduate applicants need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, official academic credentials, English-language evidence and any materials required by the intended graduate program. These requirements establish admission but do not make the applicant eligible for the undergraduate Excellence award.
Application Steps
Step 1: Choose the Correct Entry Route
Use the freshman route if no college study followed high school, or the transfer route when post-secondary study was completed after graduation.
Step 2: Submit the UNT Application
Complete the international undergraduate application through ApplyTexas or the Common Application and select the intended major.
Step 3: Pay the Application Fee
Pay through an accepted method and keep the transaction record.
Step 4: Send Official Academic Credentials
Arrange electronic or sealed delivery of records from each institution and include certified translations when required.
Step 5: Demonstrate English Proficiency
Submit an accepted test result, qualifying education record or other approved evidence.
Step 6: Complete Department Requirements
Check whether the intended major requires a separate application, audition, portfolio, test or references.
Step 7: Monitor MyUNT
Activate the UNT account and resolve missing admission items so the academic record is complete for scholarship review.
Step 8: Review and Accept the Award
Read the scholarship agreement in full, accept the offer through the instructed system and retain a copy of the conditions.
Step 9: Search for Additional Awards
Use the Eagle Scholarship Portal guide to create a profile and apply for relevant university or departmental opportunities.
Required Documents
- International undergraduate application
- Application-fee receipt
- Official secondary-school transcripts
- Secondary-school diploma or graduation certificate
- Official college or university transcripts
- Native-language academic records
- Certified English translations
- English-language proficiency evidence
- Program-specific application
- Audition recording
- Portfolio
- Standardized test score report
- Passport identification page
Practical Tips
These points are application-management advice rather than official scholarship eligibility rules.
- Use the same legal name on every application and academic record.
- Choose the entry route that matches the complete education history.
- Ask institutions to send official records in UNT’s accepted format.
- Pair every translation with the matching original-language document.
- Review the transcript for class rank and GPA information before submission.
- Check MyUNT regularly for unresolved admission items.
- Confirm that the chosen major has no separate admission step.
- Read the award agreement before relying on renewal or tuition-waiver benefits.
- Budget for every cost the scholarship does not expressly cover.
- Keep copies of submissions, decisions and acceptance confirmations.
Conclusion
The University of North Texas Scholarship can provide substantial renewable merit support for qualified freshmen pursuing their first bachelor’s degree. International applicants should complete the admission record carefully, verify their exact award and waiver eligibility, and follow the renewal conditions throughout enrollment.
FAQ
Can international students receive a University of North Texas Scholarship?
Yes. International freshmen can be considered when they meet the published Excellence and admission requirements, and qualifying non-Texas recipients may also be eligible for a competitive scholarship tuition waiver.
How much can UNT Excellence provide?
The current published matrix ranges from $2,000 to $12,000 per academic year, based on class rank and unweighted high-school GPA.
Is a separate Excellence application required?
The general freshman Excellence review uses the completed admission record. Additional university and departmental awards in the Eagle Scholarship Portal may require separate applications.
How long can the award continue?
It can continue for up to eight semesters when the student meets continuous enrollment, GPA, annual credit and agreement conditions.
Are transfer students eligible?
Transfer students use the separate UNT Transfer Excellence route and must meet its transfer-hour, GPA and full-time enrollment requirements.
Does UNT Excellence fund graduate study?
No. The award supports a first bachelor’s degree. Graduate students should review graduate-school and department-specific funding.