How to Apply to Psychology at Wake Forest University: Declare the Psychology B.A. in Sophomore Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

2026-10-17 · Application guides

At Wake Forest University, psychology is a B.A.; applicants do not choose a major, students may declare after 40 hours, and most do so in the spring of sophomore year. Early Decision I closes on 15 November with rolling decisions, and Early Decision II and Regular Decision close on 1 January; testing is optional, and non-native English speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo with no published minimum. Wake Forest offers no need-based aid to foreign nationals but considers international students for most merit scholarships; the 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance is $98,730. This guide covers major requirements, deadlines, costs and transfer rules from Wake Forest’s official sites.

At Wake Forest University, psychology is offered by the Department of Psychology as a Psychology, B.A. You do not apply directly to psychology; you declare the major after entry. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Wake Forest’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. When you choose psychology

Declaring: students may declare a major after completing 40 hours; most declare in the spring of sophomore year.
Department advice: take PSY 151 Introductory Psychology (AP or IB Psychology may count) and a Perspectives course (PSY 220–299) in your first year, and plan PSY 211 Research Methods I for your sophomore year.
To declare: at least one Perspectives course, PSY 211 with a C or better, and a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all graded psychology courses.

2. Psychology major requirements

Total: at least 32 hours in psychology across three tiers; no more than 50 psychology hours count toward the 120 needed to graduate.
Tier 1, Foundations: PSY 151, PSY 211 with lab, and PSY 212 with lab. PSY 211 and PSY 212 must be taken at Wake Forest.
Tier 2, Perspectives: at least 3 credits from each Perspective group, such as Brain and Cognitive Science and The Individual in Context.
Tier 3, Skill-building: 3 credits of seminar and 6 credits of research (3 of which may be replaced by an “Experiences” course such as directed study or an internship), all taken at Wake Forest.
Outside credit: with 32–34 hours in the major, at most 6 hours may come from outside-department courses or transfer credit (no more than 3 online); with 35 or more, at most 9. A 2.0 psychology GPA is required to graduate with the major.
Honors: a three-semester original research project (junior spring to senior spring), admitted competitively. Apply shortly before the end of junior fall, with PSY 211 complete; honors students may not study abroad during the program.

3. Deadlines and decisions

Early Decision I (binding): 15 November, with decisions on a rolling basis.
Early Action: for first-generation college students only (parents without a four-year bachelor’s degree), 15 November, decisions by 15 January, non-binding; international students who qualify may apply.
Early Decision II (binding): 1 January, decisions on 15 February.
Regular Decision: 1 January, decisions around 1 April.
How to apply: the Common App (for international students), Coalition (Scoir) or the print application; the fee is $85, with waivers available. Required items include the high school transcript, school report, one recommendation (counselor or teacher) and, for international students, an English test.

4. Testing, English and interviews

Test optional: SAT or ACT scores are needed only if you ask for them to be considered; self-reported scores are accepted and superscored, and enrolling students send official scores in the summer before arrival.
English: international students whose first language is not English, or whose school does not teach in English, must submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; three or more years at an English-medium school waives it. No minimum scores are published. TOEFL scores from before the January 2026 change remain accepted; English tests are not superscored.
Interviews: not required, but strongly recommended for international applicants, through Wake Forest’s own platform or InitialView, the Duolingo English Test or Vericant.
Status: international status is based on citizenship: if you need a Wake Forest-sponsored visa, you are international. Foreign nationals at Canadian high schools apply as international students.
Chinese and Canadian curricula: Wake Forest needs a record of at least four years of schooling, with English translations where needed; it publishes no Gaokao policy and no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements.

5. Costs and scholarships

2026-27 estimated cost of attendance: $98,730, including tuition $71,894, housing $12,900, food $7,396, books $1,720, and fees and other expenses $4,820. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
No need-based aid: Wake Forest does not offer need-based aid to foreign national students. Unless offered a merit scholarship, a foreign national must show sufficient support on the Confidential Financial Information for International Applicants Form before being considered for admission.
Merit scholarships: international students are eligible for most merit scholarships, including the full-cost Carswell, Gordon, Reynolds and Stamps Scholarships. The admission application is also the scholarship application; finalists are notified by 1 March.

6. Transfer students

Who is a transfer: anyone who has taken college coursework after high school graduation. International students with post-secondary credit must apply as transfers, even to enter with first-year status or zero transfer credit.
Deadlines: spring 2027 entry closes 1 November 2026, with decisions by mid-December; fall 2027 entry closes 15 March 2027, with decisions by mid-May. More students are usually admitted for fall than spring.
Requirements: at least a C average on all college work; all college transcripts and a final high school transcript, with the Dean’s Statement due on enrollment; English tests for international students. No interviews for transfers.
Credit: there is no guarantee of credit transfer, and courses need a C or better. You must complete at least half of your degree and half of your major at Wake Forest; in psychology, PSY 211, PSY 212 and all Tier 3 work must be taken there.
Aid: Wake Forest cannot offer any financial or scholarship assistance to international transfer applicants.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

Apply via the Common App by 15 November (ED I) or 1 January (ED II or RD)
Submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; a video interview (Wake Forest platform, InitialView, Duolingo or Vericant) is strongly recommended
Decide whether to submit SAT or ACT
Prepare proof of funding, as there is no need-based aid; on-time applicants are considered for merit scholarships

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

Same deadlines; foreign nationals apply as international students
Three or more years at an English-medium school waives the English test

Transfer students:

Fall deadline 15 March; spring 1 November; at least a C average
Psychology research methods and advanced courses must be taken at Wake Forest; outside psychology credit is capped at 6 to 9 hours

Sources: Wake Forest University, How to apply and deadlines; International students; Transfer students; Affordability; Psychology: considering a major; Honors in Psychology; Psychology, B.A. (2026-27 Bulletin); Declaring a major; Transfer credit. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Wake Forest for the latest details.