How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Admission by Major, Test-Optional, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS), leading to the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Psychology. The department also offers a Brain and Cognitive Science major and a psychology minor. Illinois admits by major, so you apply directly to psychology. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Illinois’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Admission by major

• Two choices: you choose a first-choice major and an optional second choice. Illinois advises choosing majors you are genuinely interested in, since this can affect your review, and considers how your background, interests and goals fit the major.
• Admitted to your second choice: this means space was limited in your first choice, and you are automatically wait-listed for it.
• Concentrations: new psychology majors enter as “Psychology-None”; most declare a concentration in junior or senior year through their advisor. Options include Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical/Community, Cognitive, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Diversity Science, Organizational, Social and Personality, and Intradisciplinary Psychology.
• Switching in later: current Illinois students must complete introductory psychology (PSYC 100 or equivalent) and one course from each of two breadth groups (Group 1 taken at Illinois) before declaring the major.

2. Degree requirements

• At least 120 hours, including at least 40 upper-division (300- or 400-level) hours.
• The major includes introductory psychology, statistics, core courses across areas, a research methods course (concentration-specific except for Intradisciplinary) and electives, with opportunities to work in research labs.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Application: apply on the Common App and then complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Do not send official transcripts when you apply; they are needed only if you enroll.
• Reporting Chinese coursework: for grades 9–11, report each grade and the course’s maximum mark (Illinois shows examples for 100-point, 150-point and descriptor scales); for grade 12, report final grades if complete or mark courses In Progress (IP). Illinois does not say how Gaokao results are used.
• Coursework: 4 years of English; 3 to 3.5 years of math (4 recommended); 2 years each of social science, lab science and one language other than English (more recommended); and 2 flexible years from these areas. Psychology is not on the list of majors requiring 3.5 years of math.
• SAT/ACT optional: Illinois is test-optional. If you submit, report your highest ACT composite or SAT total; there is no superscoring and ACT Writing is not used.
• English: if you did not complete grades 10–12 in an approved English-speaking country, you must submit TOEFL, IELTS (Academic or Indicator), Duolingo or SAT/ACT, taken within two years of entry; this cannot be waived. Illinois publishes no first-year minimum and considers subscores. If you use SAT/ACT for English, it is used for your whole review.
• No agents: Illinois does not partner with agents or private organisations; work directly with the admissions office.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• English: Illinois’s approved countries include Canada (excluding Quebec), so students who completed grades 10–12 there do not need an English test.
• Reporting courses: in the SRAR, choose “Other” as your grading scale and enter the ranges (for example, A = 90–100); report all grade 9–11 courses, final grade 12 marks if complete or IP if in progress. Enter Ontario U courses as College Prep.
• Quebec CEGEP: students who complete two years of CEGEP apply as first-year applicants, not transfers.

5. Timeline for fall 2027

• Applications open 1 September;
• Early Action deadline 1 November (non-binding), with all materials by 7 November;
• Regular deadline 5 January, with materials by 11 January;
• Early Action decisions on 29 January and regular decisions on 26 February; honors and scholarship notifications by 1 April; commit by 1 May.
• Outcomes may be admit, defer (reviewed again with the full pool), wait-list or deny.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 international estimates (full-time, before aid):
  • tuition and fees US$42,248 to 53,078, depending on major;
  • food and housing US$15,858, books and supplies US$1,200, other expenses US$2,840;
  • total US$62,146 to 72,976.
• Aid for international students: Illinois states that need-based aid is not available to international undergraduates, who must have funds for the entire period of study; limited scholarships and loans are available through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
• Tuition guarantee: Illinois runs a tuition guarantee program that keeps tuition the same each year for eligible students; check eligibility on its site.

7. Transfer students

• Timeline: for fall, applications open 15 January; the priority deadline is 1 February (materials by 15 February) and the regular deadline 1 April (materials by 5 April), with decisions by 15 April and 1 June. Spring applications close on 1 October, but not all programs admit in spring.
• GPA guideline: Illinois lists 3.0 as the minimum competitive transfer GPA for Psychology (also 3.0 for Brain and Cognitive Science).
• Department prerequisites:
  • sophomore transfer: courses comparable to PSYC 100 (Introductory Psychology) and STAT 100 (Statistics); one more psychology course is highly recommended;
  • junior transfer: PSYC 100, STAT 100 and two more psychology courses;
  • sophomore transfers should complete at least two and junior transfers at least three psychology courses with a 3.0 GPA, one equivalent to PSYC 100 and the rest from 200-level psychology.
• Review: the focus is on college coursework and required classes for the major, and missing prerequisites is the most common reason for denial; with fewer than 36 graded transferable hours after high school, your high school record is also considered. Admission may depend on space in the major.
• Materials: transfer applicants must send official transcripts with the application (not emailed by students or sent from international institutions; approved electronic vendors are accepted). Applicants from China also submit a high school transcript showing graduation date, or a graduation certificate.
• Transfer English minimums: TOEFL (from 21 January 2026) 5.0 total with all subscores 4.5+, or 100 with all subscores 20+ for earlier tests; IELTS 7.5 with all subscores 6.5+; Duolingo 130 with subscores 125+. Illinois notes these are minimums and admission usually requires more.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose Psychology as your first-choice major on the Common App; apply by 1 November (EA) or 5 January
• Complete the SRAR accurately with grades and maximum marks for grades 9–12
• TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo required; SAT/ACT optional
• Plan to self-fund about US$62,146 to 72,976 a year

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

• No English test if you completed grades 10–12 in Canada outside Quebec
• Set up your grading scale in the SRAR and mark grade 12 courses IP

Transfer students:

• Priority deadline 1 February; GPA 3.0 or higher
• Complete equivalents of PSYC 100 and STAT 100 plus the required number of psychology courses

Sources: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, First-year dates; How to apply: first-year; First-year requirements; How admission works; International requirements; Admission policies (English competence); China application help; Canada application help; Tuition and costs; Financial aid; Transfer dates; Transfer requirements; Psychology undergraduate programs; Psychology major; How to declare the majors; Psychology transfer requirements; Psychology BSLAS catalog. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates). Check Illinois for the latest details.