How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Notre Dame: A Psychology Major in Arts and Letters With Need-Blind Admission for International Students, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Letters. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Notre Dame’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Admission and psychology requirements

• First-years are admitted to the University: you list an intended major, and the decision is admission to the University. Notre Dame does not state when first-years declare psychology; ask the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Credits: at least 30 credit hours of psychology; the department encourages more for students considering graduate school.
• Nine required credits: Psychology: Science, Practice & Policy Seminar (1), Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (4) and Methods for Behavioral Sciences (4).
• The other 21 credits:
  • 300-level content courses: at least two from Class A (social, developmental, clinical) and two from Class B (biological, cognitive, learning);
  • at least two 400-level senior seminars, usually in senior year;
  • one more 300-level course or a third 400-level seminar. Research labs and directed readings do not count.
• Introductory Psychology is not a direct requirement but is the prerequisite for 300-level content courses.
• The department also offers an honors track for advanced students.

2. Decision plans and deadlines

• Restrictive Early Action: 1 November, supporting documents by 15 November; decisions by mid-December (admit, deny or defer to RD). You may not apply to another school’s binding Early Decision I, but may apply to other Early Action and Early Decision II programs. Notre Dame says it is highly conservative in REA and recommends it only for applicants at the very top of the pool.
• Regular Decision: 4 January, supporting documents by 15 January; decisions mid- to late March.
• Confirmation: by 1 May with a $500 deposit.
• REA applicants receive priority consideration for merit scholarships.

3. Testing

• SAT/ACT are optional in the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry) for first-year and transfer applicants; you may self-report scores and send official ones if admitted.
• From the 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 entry), SAT or ACT will be required.
• Students outside the US completing the IB Diploma, three or more A-Levels or the French Baccalaureate may submit predicted results instead of SAT/ACT.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Materials: Common App or Coalition, an official transcript including any national exam results, one core-subject teacher letter, a counselor evaluation (recommended), an $85 fee, and the CSS Profile if requesting aid.
• Coursework: at least 16 units, including four of English, three of math (four preferred), two of foreign language, two of science and two of history or social science.
• Gaokao: Notre Dame does not say how Gaokao results are used, only that transcripts should include national exam results.
• Interviews: no alumni or campus interviews; Notre Dame encourages students from China to interview with InitialView or Vericant.
• There are no quotas by region, country or school and no minimum GPA; list your school’s own grading scale if it is not 4.0.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• There are no Canada- or BC-specific requirements; the general international rules apply, and Notre Dame groups Canada with Europe and the Middle East on its international student stories page.
• Students whose first language is English and whose schooling was primarily in English do not need an English test.

6. English requirements

• An English test (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE Academic) is required if English is not your first language or your secondary education was not primarily in English.
• Strongly recommended scores:
  • TOEFL iBT: 100 overall with at least 25 in speaking on the old scale, or a 5.5 average with no section below 5.0 on the new scale;
  • IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 125.
• Waivers: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 650 or above, or ACT English or Reading of 26 or above.
• TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition is not accepted; scores must come directly from the testing agency.

7. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 average cost: tuition US$69,280, mandatory fees 514, housing and food 18,992, books 1,250, personal 1,200 and transportation 750, about $91,986 in total.
• Need-blind for international students: Notre Dame says admission is need-blind for all students, including international applicants, and it meets full demonstrated need with grants and scholarships rather than loans.
• Applying for aid: international first-years submit the 2027-28 CSS Profile (code 1841, available 1 October) and upload documents through IDOC.
• Merit scholarships: all international students are considered, mostly without a separate application.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines:
  • spring 2027: 1 October 2026, decisions 1 December 2026 to 5 January 2027;
  • fall 2027: 15 March 2027, decisions 20 May to 14 June.
• Eligibility: at least 24 transferable credits and one full year at an accredited institution (dual enrollment does not count), with B or better in required courses for your college. Recent admitted transfers averaged a college GPA of 3.75 or higher.
• Space in the major: transfer decisions consider space in your intended major; Notre Dame names Neuroscience and Behavior among majors with very limited availability. Changing majors after admission needs your dean’s permission.
• Testing: SAT/ACT optional for transfers in 2026-27.
• Aid: Notre Dame says need-based aid is available to international transfer students.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply REA by 1 November or RD by 4 January, listing psychology as your intended major
• TOEFL 100 (5.5 new), IELTS 7.5 or Duolingo 125; SAT/ACT optional
• Consider an InitialView or Vericant interview
• For aid, submit the 2027-28 CSS Profile

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

• English-medium schooling with English as a first language waives the test; IB or A-Level students may use predicted results instead of SAT/ACT

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 March, spring 1 October; at least 24 credits and a full college year; aid available to international transfers

Sources: University of Notre Dame, Apply and important dates; Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision; International applicants; International application information; International FAQs; Admissions FAQs; Transfer applicants; 2026-2027 cost of attendance; Financial aid for international students; Psychology major; Psychology major requirements. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Notre Dame for the latest details.