International Student Applicants

Graduate students at the School of Divinity make their own arrangements for housing. Assistance in locating housing is available through the Office of Admissions and Student Services.   There are several affordable options available to divinity students in the city of Winston-Salem.

Housing Guide

The Office of Admissions and Student Services has put together a a quick resource listing information about apartment complexes current students suggest for housing, several of which are located on the University’s shuttle lines. Housing Resource and Guide »

Wake Forest Properties

The Office of Wake Forest Properties offers services and rental properties supporting the mission, vision and values of Wake Forest University, which serves as a community amongst many communities. We strive to ensure high quality rental properties, responsive customer service and professionalism while maintaining the long-term integrity of Wake Forest University in both academia and real estate.

Mailing Address:
PO Box 7477, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109
Phone: 336.758.7161
Office Hours: 8:30am — 5:00pm
Hope Jordan, Portfolio Manager, jordanha@wfu.edu

• Available Properties
• An Inside View
• Rental Policies and Leasing Process

Communities and Apartments Near Campus

Rental rates may vary from information below. We are not promoting any of the complexes; please take care to inquire into each location for yourself. All addresses are Winston-Salem, NC unless otherwise noted.

Additional Resources:

• Rent.com: Rent.com is the only free rental site that helps you find an affordable apartment and gives you tips on how to move. View Rent.com’s Winston-Salem listings.
• apartmentlist.com: With over 1.8 million listings nationwide, apartmentlist.com is a free resource to help you find housing. View apartmentlist.com’s Winston-Salem resource.

Graduates of the School of Divinity serve in various religious leadership positions and in other fields:

• 37% in congregational ministry
• 13% in chaplaincy
• 10% in non-profit work
• 7% in education
• 3% in counseling
• 7% are completing additional education (PhD, second Masters, etc.)
• 23% in other fields, including law, physical therapy, spirituality (spiritual direction, healing touch), education (teaching, librarian), career and personal coaching, healthcare and patient relations, small business (locally-owned and operated tea shop, photography), government (patent and licensing division), communications and marketing, banking and investments, publishing, and personal fitness and well-being

Wake Forest’s hometown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a culturally rich mid-size city in the Piedmont Triad area.  With a population of 225,000, Living in Winston-Salem is a thriving area that includes a number of diverse church communities, galleries and shops; indoor and outdoor performance spaces and museums; a greenway that traverses the Old Salem district; hotels, restaurants and sidewalk cafes. You can catch a baseball game with the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Students at Wake Forest University have access to all that the city has to offer, from a burgeoning arts scene, to small local coffee shops and music. Residents also enjoy a moderate climate, with high temperatures around 10°C (50°F) during the winter months and reaching into the 31°C (86°F) during the summer months. Housing on campus is not available to graduate students, although university-owned housing is offered through Wake Forest Properties. More information on housing for Divinity students can be found here.

From the campus, access to the ski areas of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains is a two-hour drive, and travel to the North Carolina and South Carolina beaches takes about four hours. A number of county and state parks are short distances from campus.

To assist you with the transition process, the University’s Center for Global Programs and Studies has created resources to help international students transition to life in Winston-Salem and at Wake Forest.  These resources include:

• Nonimmigrant Visa Issues
• Arriving in the U.S. and North Carolina
• Housing Information for International Students
• Checking in with the Center for Global Programs and Studies
• Getting Settled In (shopping, banking, postal services, etc.)
• Health Insurance
• Social Security & Driver’s License
• Student Employment
• Library Resources for International Students

Most international students who study at WFU in a full-time academic program do so with an F-1 visa. However, if you will be coming to study in the U.S. for only one semester as part of an exchange program, you will be need to obtain a J-1 visa.  Once you have been accepted to the University and have proven that you have the available financial means necessary to fund your studies, you will be issued a Form I-20. This form will allow you to apply for an F-1 student visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate.  You must apply for your visa 120 days prior to the date listed on the Form I-20. Bring your Form I-20 when entering the United States and present to an officer at the port of entry. You may arrive up to 30 days before the date listed on your Form I-20.

If you are currently residing in the U.S. in another nonimmigrant status and you wish to change your status to the F-1 category, you will need to file form I-539 “Change of Nonimmigrant Status” with USCIS Service Center that has jurisdiction over your current place of residence. The Center for International studies will assist you with your application for a change of status.

If you are currently residing in the U.S. in F-2, B-1, or B-2 status, you are not allowed to attend classes as a regular, degree-seeking student until the I-539 has been approved by the USCIS.

Campus shuttles transport students around campus and to major destinations around Winston-Salem, including downtown and several nearby shopping centers. The city of Winston-Salem also has a bus system that can be helpful in navigating the area.

Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro is the closest major airport to Winston-Salem, and is approximately a 30-minute drive from campus.  Those flying from abroad will have connections elsewhere before arriving in Greensboro.

Cell phones in the United States may be purchased through a contract or on a pre-paid basis. Contracts generally run from 1-2 years and may require a SSN, while pre-paid phones generally do not require a deposit or a SSN. Nearly all providers offer pre-paid plans for international text or calling.