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Welcome! Velkomen! Aybowan! ¡Bienvenidos! Yo Koso! Dobre Doshli! Shagatom! Mirë Se Erdhët!

One Gardner-Webb community built from many languages, cultures, and experiences.

Welcome to the Gardner-Webb community. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students, the Campus Community & Connection is excited to support, enrich, and encourage our diverse student and faculty population, no matter where they call home. 

As a SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certified school, our over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students represent over 40 U.S. states and over 40 countries. We offer institutional support to F-1 Visa status students, advise the student-led International Club, and connect students and faculty to meaningful experiences across every facet of campus life.

Created to internationalize our community, the Office of Campus Unity & Connection fosters and celebrates a vibrant cross-cultural fabric across the entire Gardner-Webb experience.  Just as we make our campus a home-away-from-home for our international students, scholars, and faculty, we also encourage our local population to explore the world through exchange opportunities, faculty-led trips, and mission trips. Come visit us on the 3rd floor of Tucker Student Center anytime!

Enrollment by Country Map

Over 90 students from 41 Countries in Spring 2025. Reported data as of May 1, 2025.

International Student Services

International Student Services, a part of the Office of Campus Unity & Connection, plays a key role in providing immigration-related services to international students, faculty, researchers, staff, and visitors who study, teach, conduct research, and support GWU’s academic mission.

Exchange Partnerships

An exchange student is any student from our GWU overseas partner institutions, who is interested in studying for one semester or two at Gardner-Webb University. This student should have been approved by his or her home institution to study in the United States for a specific period and this approval should have been communicated to the Office of Campus Community & Connection at least a semester before the student’s arrival on our campus.

Partner Institutions

  • Umbra Institute – Perugia, Italy
  • ISI (International Studies Institute) – Florence, Italy
  • University of Malta – Malta
  • Vaxjo  University – Sweden
  • University of Quebec (Trois Rivieres) – Canada
  • Universidad de Leon – Spain
  • American College of Greece – Athens
  • Trier University, Trier, Germany

Summer Programs

  • Germany (University of Trier)
  • Quebec, Canada (University of Quebec, Trois Rivieres)
  • Costa Rica (ICLC, Alajuela)

International Student Orientation

As a student not local to the Western North Carolina region, it can be intimidating to learn the culture, understand your new context, and find what you need. Our orientation program will help acclimate you not just to campus but to the Charlotte area in general! 

During New Student Orientation, you will obtain important information about academic advising, student activities, residence life, health issues, and campus safety. The International Student Session will introduce you to the Office of Campus Unity & Connection and staff.  Special events happen throughout the year to ensure you continue to get more comfortable with us and with your peers throughout your time here.

The International Club

The student-led International Club accomplishes much through their promotion of campus activities. By participating in key educational and cultural opportunities, international students can gain much during their studies at GWU.

Contact

Selected
I fell in love with the atmosphere, the campus and most importantly, the people. I really love the faculty, because they are invested in the lives of their students.
— Savannah Ward, of Hong Kong, biology major, biomedical science concentration
Selected
I did my research about Gardner-Webb and the business program and found it interesting. The professors are really nice, especially with internationals. They really help you.
— Luis Ramirez, of Venezuela, economics/finance major