How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Chicago: Apply to the College, Declare Psychology Without a Separate Application, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Chicago (UChicago), all undergraduates apply to the College, not to a major. The psychology department says all high school students interested in UChicago must apply to the College, and declaring psychology after entry needs no separate application. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UChicago’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. The psychology major

• Course load: twelve courses in the major.
• Methods and statistics: by the end of third year, complete PSYC 20200 Psychological Research Methods and either PSYC 20250 Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods or STAT 22000; the department advises taking them early. From the Class of 2019, AP credit for STAT 22000 cannot count toward the major and must be replaced with a higher-level statistics course or another psychology elective.
• Core areas: four of five: biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology, and sensation and perception.
• Electives: at least six more psychology courses, with no more than one independent study.
• Math: two quarters of calculus (MATH 13100–13200 or higher) as part of general education.
• Honors: a 3.0 College GPA and 3.5 in the major, a faculty-supervised research project and thesis, the Honors Seminar in winter of junior or senior year, and a poster at Honors Day in spring. Find an adviser by the end of third year at the latest.

2. Application plans and timeline

• Early Action (EA): due November 2, 2026; decisions mid-December; non-binding, reply by May 1.
• Early Decision I: due November 2, 2026; decisions mid-December; binding, reply mid-January.
• Early Decision II: due January 4, 2027; decisions mid-February; binding, reply mid-March.
• Regular Decision (RD): due January 4, 2027; decisions late March; reply by May 1.
• Switching plans: EA to ED I by December 1; deferred EA or RD to ED II by January 15.
• Materials: the Common App, Coalition (Scoir) or QuestBridge application plus the UChicago Supplement, your high school transcript and two academic teacher recommendations; the Mid-Year Report is due by February 1 or as soon as possible.

3. Testing

• Test-optional: the SAT or ACT is not required. Under the “No Harm” policy, scores are used only if they help your chances, and scores that might hurt are not considered, for domestic, international and transfer applicants alike.
• Official or self-reported scores are accepted; self-reporters submit official scores only if they enroll.
• Latest sittings: October ACT and November SAT for EA and ED I; December SAT and ACT for ED II; January SAT and February ACT for RD.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Same process: international applicants use the same forms, materials and deadlines, and are read in the context of their school and country.
• Transcripts: do not convert grades to a 4.0 scale; UChicago evaluates them in your school’s system. Leave rank or GPA blank if your school does not report them. Non-English documents need official English translations.
• English: UChicago admits only students with superior English, but a proficiency test is not required. If your application already shows your English, you need not submit one; if you do, any exam is accepted and can be self-reported. InitialView materials are also welcome.
• UChicago does not mention the Gaokao or publish minimum scores. It has no ESL program and no conditional admission.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Apply with the same plans and deadlines. UChicago publishes no requirement specific to Canadian or BC curricula and evaluates transcripts in your school’s system.
• Testing and English exams are optional; SAT or ACT scores fall under the No Harm policy.

6. Transfer students

• Eligibility: at least one full-time term in a bachelor’s program at another college; high school students with college courses apply as first-years.
• Two plans:
  • Transfer Early Decision (TED), due March 1, 2027, decisions late March, binding;
  • Transfer Rolling Decision (TR), priority deadline March 1, open until June 1, with rolling decisions from early May.
  The deadline to switch from TR to TED is the second Friday in March.
• Materials: a Mid-Term Report if enrolled, the College Transfer Report from a dean, registrar or adviser, two college instructor recommendations and the UChicago Supplement. Testing is optional; February ACT and March SAT scores are accepted.
• Residency: transfers must attend for at least two academic years (six quarters), complete the Core, and take more than half of their major at UChicago. Transfer credit cannot meet the Humanities, Civilization Studies or Social Sciences Core. Most transfers finish with no more than one extra quarter.
• Credit: admitted students get a tentative evaluation, then an official one the summer before entry. Two semester courses usually equal three UChicago quarter courses; some categories of courses get no credit (see the transfer credit page).
• Major: transfers can pursue any major and declare as early as their first autumn quarter.

7. Costs, aid and scholarships

• 2026-2027 cost of attendance (US$): tuition 75,960, student services fee 1,677, UPASS 318, housing and food 21,414, books 1,800 and personal expenses 1,950, for an on-campus total of about 103,821. 2027-2028 figures are not yet published.
• International first-years: eligible for need-based aid and merit scholarships. UChicago commits to meeting 100% of admitted students’ demonstrated need with grants rather than loans. If you might need aid at any point in four years, you must apply when you apply for admission; funds are not available afterwards.
• Scholarships: all applicants are automatically considered, with no separate application, including international students.
• International transfers: not eligible for need-based aid, but considered for institutional scholarships, up to the full cost of attendance.
• UChicago does not say whether it is need-blind for international first-years, only that they go through the same review as domestic applicants.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose EA or ED I (November 2) or ED II or RD (January 4) and submit with the UChicago Supplement
• SAT/ACT and English tests are optional; submit only if they help
• Apply for aid at the same time as admission if you may need it
• Send first-semester senior grades around February 1

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same plans and deadlines; submit your transcript in its original system

Transfer students:

• March 1, 2027 for TED or the TR priority deadline; prepare the Mid-Term Report, College Transfer Report and two recommendations
• At least two years at UChicago; international transfers cannot get need-based aid

Sources: University of Chicago, Application plans and deadlines; Required materials and testing policy; International applicants; International financial aid; Transfer applicants; Transfer credit; Undergraduate costs 2026-2027; Psychology undergraduate major; Psychology major requirements; Psychology honors. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-2027 figures). Check UChicago for the latest details.