How Do I Prepare?

To apply for the Morehead-Cain, you must be:

On track to graduate high school in the spring

A competitive applicant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Be nominated by your high school or an affiliate program.

Things you should know:

Admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a separate process from the Morehead-Cain application. All forms and correspondence dealing with admission to Carolina should go directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students participating in the Morehead-Cain process must submit a completed application to Carolina by:

  • October 15, 2024, if applying Early Action; or
  • January 1, 2025, if applying Regular Decision*


*Please note, this deadline is two weeks prior to UNC’s Regular Decision application deadline.

You must have your TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS exam scores when you apply to UNC. It is strongly recommended that you have your exam scores and apply to UNC before the January 1 deadline.

If you do not attend a Morehead-Cain nominating school or affiliate program, we encourage you to apply to UNC-Chapel Hill by the Early Action deadline of October 15, 2024. Students attending schools outside of North Carolina who are not residents of North Carolina and apply Early Action to UNC-Chapel Hill may be considered for nomination for the Morehead-Cain through the Admissions Referral Program (ARP).

Morehead-Cain applicants may apply Early Decision (ED) to other colleges and universities and still apply for the Morehead-Cain. We only ask that candidates notify us as soon as possible if they’re admitted Early Decision to another institution and, if they’re not admitted ED and would like to remain in our process, that they not apply binding ED II.

Morehead-Cain is following the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s guidance and will therefore be test-optional for scholarship selection in the 2024–2025 cycle.

SPECIAL NOTE: Morehead-Cain is an equal opportunity organization. It is the policy of the Morehead-Cain Foundation not to discriminate against any nominee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.

Important Dates

The application window to join the Morehead-Cain Class of 2029 will open on August 15, 2024.

Mid December

Semifinalist notification to international students

Mid December

Video interviews for international semifinalists

Mid January

Finalist notification to international students

January–February 2025

Finalist and Alumni Connection Experience

March 2025

Morehead-Cain Discovery Weekend

April 2025

Deadline for recipients to accept the Morehead-Cain Scholarship