How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Virginia: Apply to the College of Arts and Sciences, Declare Psychology at the End of First or Second Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Virginia (UVA), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, which offers two undergraduate degrees: the BA in Psychology and the BS in Behavioral Neuroscience. You apply to the College, not directly to psychology. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UVA’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Which school to apply to, and when you choose psychology

• Apply to the College of Arts and Sciences: first-year applicants can apply to the College, Architecture, Engineering, Nursing or Kinesiology. For psychology, choose the College; you may also list two academic interests.
• Declare after entry: except in Nursing and Kinesiology, students declare a major at the end of their first or second year.
• Changing your school: ED and EA applicants can email to change their school of entry by 5 PM on 22 November, and RD applicants by 15 January. Admitted students should enrol in the school they applied to.

2. Psychology major requirements

• Prerequisites to declare:
  • PSYC 2005 Research Methods & Data Analysis I;
  • STAT 1601 or PSYC 3310;
  • one of the introductory courses in cognition, the neural basis of behavior, abnormal, social or child psychology;
  • each above a C-, with a GPA of at least 2.00 in psychology courses taken at UVA. Equivalent transfer credit may satisfy these prerequisites.
• BA major: 34 credits, all PSYC courses, each above a C- and letter-graded. The Fundamentals of Psychology require one course in each of four pillars: cognitive; systems and behavioral neuroscience; developmental; and clinical and social. You must keep a 2.0 psychology GPA; two consecutive semesters below 2.0 end your place in the major.
• BS in Behavioral Neuroscience: the department’s other degree; see its page for requirements.
• Distinguished Majors Program (honors): at application you need a psychology GPA of at least 3.40, at least a B+ in PSYC 2005, and a faculty member who agrees to mentor your thesis. To graduate with distinction, the College requires an overall GPA of at least 3.40.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision (binding): 1 November (teacher and counselor materials 8 November), decisions by 15 December; admitted students withdraw other applications and pay a deposit by 15 January.
• Early Action (non-binding, unrestrictive): 1 November, with decisions aimed by 15 February and a reply date of 1 May.
• Regular Decision: 5 January (teacher and counselor materials 10 January), decisions by 1 April; first-term senior grades are considered.
• UVA says review is consistent across plans, with no advantage to any one. To switch between ED and EA, email by 5 PM on 6 November.
• Apply through the Common App; there is no separate international application. UVA does not accept resumes, research papers or other extra items beyond arts supplements.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: for fall 2027 first-year entry you can choose whether to share scores, and UVA says you will not be disadvantaged either way. To have SAT, ACT, AP or IB scores considered, opt in and self-report them; enrolling students then send official reports. You can change your testing choice by 22 November (ED/EA) or 15 January (RD).
• English: UVA strongly encourages every applicant whose first language is not English to submit an English assessment, wherever they went to school. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency and Duolingo are accepted; no minimum scores are published.
• Interviews: you may submit an InitialView or Vericant evaluation by your plan’s deadline (1 November or 5 January). No other interviews are offered.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: UVA publishes no Gaokao policy and no grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.

5. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 estimates for non-Virginians in the College (US$):
  • first and second year: tuition 57,432, fees 4,622, subtotal 62,054;
  • third and fourth year: tuition rises to 60,656, subtotal 65,278;
  • with housing, food, books, personal costs and travel, first-year total cost is about 83,286 to 84,976, and third- and fourth-year about 87,674 to 89,364.
  2027-28 costs have not been published.
• No aid for foreign nationals: UVA has no scholarships or loans for international students who are foreign nationals and advises those unable to finance their education not to apply. United World College students who are admitted qualify for need-based Davis Foundation scholarship support.
• Financial guarantee: admitted foreign nationals must submit the Financial Guarantee to accept their offer.
• Agents: UVA does not support paid agents and works with no agency.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry closes 1 March, with decisions by 1 May; spring entry closes 1 October, with decisions by 1 December, and only the College admits a very limited number of spring transfers.
• Minimum eligibility: at least 24 transferable semester hours completed or in progress, and at least one full year since high school graduation by entry. For spring, the 24 credits must be completed by the end of the preceding fall.
• Admission criteria: successful applicants usually have a cumulative college GPA of B or better and have completed, or nearly completed, their school’s transfer course requirements; for the College, third-year applicants should show most of them and second-year applicants at least half.
• Majors and credit: the College does not admit directly to a major. UVA says most admitted transfers can enter their chosen major, but your first choice is not guaranteed, only majors you qualify to declare. All College students must earn at least 60 credits at UVA and complete at least four full-time semesters in residence.
• Other: transfer is test optional; English testing is strongly encouraged for international applicants whose first language is not English; holders of a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for a second undergraduate degree outside Engineering.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to the College through the Common App by 1 November (ED or EA) or 5 January (RD)
• Submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo (strongly encouraged); optional InitialView or Vericant evaluation
• Decide whether to submit SAT, ACT, AP or IB
• Make sure your family can cover the full cost; UVA offers no scholarships or loans to foreign nationals

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

• Same deadlines; UVA publishes no Canada-specific grade requirements
• Foreign nationals likewise receive no scholarships or loans and submit a financial guarantee to accept

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 March; at least 24 transferable credits and usually a B average or better
• Complete as much of the College’s transfer course requirements and the psychology prerequisites (such as an equivalent of PSYC 2005) as you can
• Plan to earn at least 60 credits at UVA

Sources: University of Virginia, International students; Deadlines and instructions; About transfer; Transfer course requirements; Psychology bachelor’s degrees; BA in Psychology requirements; BS in Behavioral Neuroscience; Distinguished Majors Program; Estimated undergraduate cost of attendance 2026-27. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check UVA for the latest details.