How to Apply to Psychology at Northwestern University: Apply to Weinberg College, Declare Psychology by the End of Sophomore Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Northwestern University has six undergraduate schools, and psychology is in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Weinberg says prospective students apply to Northwestern as first-years (ED, RD or QuestBridge) or transfers, while current Northwestern students move in through inter-school transfer. Weinberg students must declare a major before the end of sophomore year, and the psychology major leads to a Bachelor of Arts. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Northwestern’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

• Three core courses: PSYCH 110 Introduction to Psychology, PSYCH 201 Statistical Methods in Psychology (or an approved substitute) and PSYCH 301 Research Methods in Psychology.
• Eight more psychology courses:
  • at least two in personality, clinical or social psychology;
  • at least two in cognitive psychology or neuroscience;
  • at least one cross-cutting or integrative course and one upper-level research course;
  • at least two at the 200 level and three at the 300 level.
• Five related courses: two quantitative courses (two 200-level math courses, or one plus STAT 232 or higher), and three more from a list including math, statistics, programming, cognitive science and natural sciences.
• Declaring: email a major declaration form to the department, which forwards it to Weinberg, then meet a department adviser to finalize.
• Honors: a yearlong senior research project and thesis with the fall Senior Thesis Seminar. Apply in spring of junior year with a 3.5 overall GPA and PSYCH 301 completed; a 3.4 GPA is needed to graduate with honors. The department advises honors candidates to study abroad in junior year.

2. Application plans and timeline

• Early Decision (ED): due November 1, 2026 (11:59 pm applicant’s local time), decisions in December 2026, binding. Financial aid materials are due December 1.
• Regular Decision (RD): due January 4, 2027, decisions in March 2027. Financial aid materials are due February 1.
• Northwestern says its ED acceptance rate is typically higher than RD, and aid offers are the same either way.
• Materials: the Common App or Coalition with Scoir, the Northwestern supplement (the Common App personal essay is no longer required), all high school transcripts and the school report with counselor recommendation, one academic teacher recommendation, and the activity chart.
• Interviews: applicants from international high schools may submit an InitialView interview; it is optional and there is no disadvantage without one.
• All applications are for fall (September) entry.

3. Testing

• Test-optional: Northwestern does not require the SAT or ACT from first-year or transfer applicants.
• Scores can be self-reported: highest SAT sections, or highest ACT sections plus the official ACT superscore. Enrolling students whose scores were used must send official scores.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Same process and deadlines as domestic applicants; transcripts in other languages need certified English translations.
• English: required if your first language is not English or your secondary schooling was not in English. Northwestern accepts Duolingo, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT, but not TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution. Scores must be sent officially by the testing agency.
• No minimum; competitive applicants typically score in the high range on all sections. English tests are not superscored and MyBest scores are not reviewed.
• Northwestern does not mention the Gaokao. It encourages students to finish a program that qualifies them for university in their home country; leaving school early is a disadvantage.
• AP and IB credit: eligible AP and IB Higher Level results earn credit; other international exam results are evaluated individually.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Apply ED or RD as usual; Northwestern publishes no requirement specific to Canadian or BC curricula.
• No English test is needed if English is your first language or your schooling is in English.
• Testing is optional, and an InitialView interview can be added.

6. Transfer students

• Eligibility: anyone who has earned college credit after high school graduation. Successful transfers typically have completed one year of full-time college coursework (24 semester or 36 quarter hours) and must be in good standing.
• Timeline: fall only. Transfer ED is due March 1, 2027, with decisions in early April; transfer RD is due April 1, with decisions in mid- to late May.
• Materials: the Common App or Coalition with the transfer writing supplements (a personal statement is recommended), high school transcript or proof of graduation, college transcripts, one academic evaluation and the College Report. Testing is optional.
• English: international transfers must submit an English score; those currently at a US institution generally need not.
• Credit: evaluated by the Registrar after admission, with a preliminary evaluation first. No credit is given for courses at unaccredited institutions, credit by examination, courses under three quarter or two semester hours, P or S grades, and similar. Transfer credit is converted by formula, recorded as “T” and not counted in the GPA.
• Aid: not available to international transfer applicants.

7. Costs and financial aid

• 2026-27 costs (US$): tuition 23,934 per quarter, 71,802 a year; fees 1,260, on-campus housing and meals about 22,941, books 1,239 and personal expenses 2,079, for an on-campus total of about 99,375 (excluding transportation). 2027-28 figures are not yet published.
• International aid: need-based aid is available to international first-years, and Northwestern guarantees to meet 100% of admitted first-years’ demonstrated need for four years.
• Need-aware: Northwestern is need-aware for international students, so a request for aid and the amount may affect your admission decision. Indicate on the application that you are applying for aid; to change this, email before the aid deadline.
• Materials: the CSS Profile (code 1565) and parents’ latest tax forms or earnings statements; families who cannot file the Profile can use the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the application and Northwestern supplement by November 1 (ED) or January 4 (RD)
• TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo sent officially; testing optional
• For aid: CSS Profile and tax documents by December 1 (ED) or February 1 (RD); remember aid is need-aware for international students
• Optional InitialView interview

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

• Apply by November 1 (ED) or January 4 (RD); no English test if schooled in English

Transfer students:

• ED March 1, 2027 or RD April 1; usually one year of college completed first
• No aid for international transfers; credit evaluated after admission

Sources: Northwestern University, Application dates and deadlines; Application materials; International applicants; International applicant FAQs; Standardized testing policy; Transferring to Northwestern; Weinberg College admission; Weinberg major and minor FAQs; Psychology major and minor requirements; Declaring a psychology major; Psychology honors program; Catalog: psychology major; Cost of attendance; 2026-27 undergraduate tuition; Financial aid for international applicants. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Northwestern for the latest details.