How to Apply to Psychology at Boston College: Apply to the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences for a Psychology BA or BS, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Boston College (BC), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, which offers three majors: the Psychology BA, the Psychology BS and the Neuroscience BS. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on BC’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

• Apply to a school, not a major: applicants choose one of four undergraduate divisions: Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, or Connell School of Nursing, and are considered only for that division. Except for Engineering and Nursing, you do not declare a major when applying. For psychology, apply to Morrissey.
• Related option: the Lynch School offers Applied Psychology and Human Development (BA or BS); apply to Lynch for that.
• The department does not offer a minor in psychology or neuroscience.

2. Psychology major requirements

BC notes that Psychology BA and BS requirements change starting with the class of 2028; students entering in fall 2027 follow the new rules:

• Psychology BA: at least 33 credits: PSYC 1110 Brain, Mind, and Behavior; PSYC 1111 Self, Mind, and Society; PSYC 1120 Introduction to Behavioral Statistics and Research I; a research practicum; one course each from the biological/cognitive, social/cultural and developmental/individual differences clusters; and four more psychology courses, three at the 3000 level or above.
• Psychology BS: a research-focused track for students heading to PhD or MD programs. At least 54 credits, including 36 in the department plus computational and science corequisites (computer science, math, biology, chemistry, economics, linguistics and others).
• Neuroscience BS: a laboratory-focused degree with biology and chemistry corequisites; BC says it covers many premed requirements.
• AP Psychology: from the class of 2030, a 4 or 5 automatically counts as PSYC 1111, and Psychology BA and BS majors take an additional 2000-level psychology elective instead.
• Honors: students with a 3.7 GPA in the major and overall are invited at the start of junior year; they need a faculty supervisor and a preliminary application by 1 November of junior year, then two semesters of Senior Honors Thesis plus a 5000-level course.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November, decisions 15 December.
• Early Decision II (binding): 4 January, decisions 15 February.
• Regular Decision: 4 January, decisions 1 April. Most applicants apply Regular Decision.
• Scholarships: to be considered for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, apply by the 1 November priority deadline, under either ED or RD.
• Apply through the Common App; the application fee is $85. BC says it has no admission interviews and does not track demonstrated interest.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional, including for international students; applicants without scores get full consideration, though BC encourages students who took the SAT or ACT to submit. About two-thirds of enrolled members of the Class of 2030 submitted scores, with SATs from 1200 to 1600 and ACTs from 28 to 36. BC super-scores the SAT and ACT.
• English required: non-US citizens must submit TOEFL iBT (test center or Home Edition), IELTS or Duolingo. Recommended minimums are IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 and TOEFL 100 (5.0 on the new scale); admitted students average about 5.5 on the new TOEFL scale. English tests are not super-scored, and TOEFL MyBest is not considered.
• Waivers: English is your native language; at least three years at a high school in the US or another majority native-English-speaking country in a traditional curriculum without ESOL; or SAT EBRW 650+ or ACT English 29+. Students at Canadian high schools should check with admissions whether the second option applies.
• InitialView: BC encourages students at national schools in China to do an InitialView video interview (optional, and it does not replace the English test), submitted by 15 November for ED I or 15 January for ED II and RD.

5. Students at high schools in China and Canada

• BC publishes no Gaokao policy and no grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.
• BC says its most competitive applicants usually take four years of English, math, social science, natural science and a foreign language, and it considers differences between schools’ programs.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 (US$): tuition 75,075, mandatory fees 1,354, room and board 18,834, for a total of 95,978. First-years also pay a one-time $670 orientation charge and a $50 ID charge; books and incidentals are estimated at $3,250.
• No need-based aid for international students: BC does not provide need-based aid to students who are not US citizens or permanent residents, so international students should be prepared to pay the full cost. Admitted students complete the Certification of Finances, and I-20s are issued only after finances are verified.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry 15 March, with notification by 20 May; spring entry 1 November, with notification by 15 December. First-semester students are typically not eligible for January transfer.
• Eligibility: at least nine credits completed before the deadline. About 200 students transfer in each year, most in the fall. BC calls transfer admission highly selective; the most successful applicants were competitive out of high school and have strong college records.
• School: apply to one of the four divisions without declaring a major; Connell School of Nursing is not accepting transfers at present.
• Credit: courses must match BC courses in depth and breadth with a C- or better; at most 60 credits transfer, and you must spend at least four semesters at BC. BC recommends about 30 credits after one year and 60 after two; for Morrissey, recommended areas include math, English, natural science, history, fine arts, social science (which can be psychology), theology and philosophy.
• Transfer is test optional; international applicants still submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Morrissey by 1 November (ED I and the scholarship deadline) or 4 January (ED II, RD)
• TOEFL 5.0 new scale (100), IELTS 7.5 or Duolingo 130 or above; optional InitialView interview
• Decide whether to submit SAT or ACT
• Be ready to cover the full cost of about $95,978 a year

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

• Same deadlines; non-US citizens likewise receive no need-based aid
• Ask admissions whether high school in Canada waives the English test

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 March, with at least nine credits completed
• Up to 60 credits transfer at C- or better; at least four semesters at BC

Sources: Boston College, Application instructions and deadlines; International applicants; Test-optional policy; Transfer admission; FAQ; Majors and minors; Psychology and Neuroscience majors; University Catalog: Psychology and Neuroscience. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Boston College for the latest details.