How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park: A Limited Enrollment Program With Gateway Courses, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), psychology is offered by the Department of Psychology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, with a BA and a BS. Psychology is one of UMD’s Limited Enrollment Programs (LEP): space is limited and admission to the major is more competitive than the university’s general requirements. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UMD’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. How LEP admission works

• Choose a preferred major: UMD says your preferred major does not affect whether you are admissible to the university; if you choose an LEP, the program then reviews you for direct admission to the major.
• Most get in: most students are admitted to their preferred major, but some LEP applicants are not. Those admitted to UMD but not to psychology join Letters & Sciences and work with advisors on the gateway requirements. Major decisions are in the admission letter.
• Department advice: if you know you want psychology, choose it on your application; the department says it is easier to be accepted as a psychology major than to switch in later.

2. Gateway courses and the 45-credit review

• Gateway courses:
  • PSYC 100 with at least a B- (or PSYC 221 if PSYC 100 is covered by AP);
  • BSCI 170 with at least a C-;
  • MATH 120 or MATH 140 with at least a C-.
• Direct freshman admits: students admitted directly to psychology (or who declare by the last day of classes in their first semester) undergo an academic review at 45 credits earned at UMD and must have completed the gateway courses with a cumulative UMD GPA of at least 2.00 to stay in the major.
• Switching in or transferring from another school: you must already have completed the gateway courses and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.70.
• AP credit: a 4 or 5 on AP Psychology, AP Biology or AP Calculus counts as the matching gateway course (PSYC 100, BSCI 170/171 or MATH 140).

3. Major requirements

• BA: beyond the gateways, 11 courses (35 credits), each with at least a C- except PSYC 100. These include statistics (PSYC 200) and research methods (PSYC 300, a 4-credit lab); two courses in each of three themes (Mind, Brain and Behavior; Mental Health and Interventions; Social, Developmental and Organizational Studies), one meeting the multicultural requirement; and two 400-level non-lab courses plus one 400-level lab.
• BS: all BA requirements plus three additional advanced mathematics or science courses, one of them a lab.
• Honors: the department’s course list includes honors thesis preparation and research courses; these pages do not state entry criteria, so ask the psychology advising office (psycadvising@umd.edu).

4. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November 2026, decisions by 1 February. UMD strongly encourages international students to apply early for priority consideration and time for the visa process.
• Regular: 20 January 2027, decisions by 1 April; later applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis.
• Enrollment confirmation: 1 May. Fall freshman applicants are automatically considered for spring.
• Platforms: Common App or ApplyWeb, reviewed the same way; the application fee is $80, non-refundable.
• Materials: essay, activities list, two recommendations (counselor and teacher) and high school transcripts for grades 9–12 or equivalent, with certified English translations. UMD says the most competitive freshmen typically earn an A-/B+ or better average with several honors, AP or IB courses.

5. Testing and English

• Test optional: UMD is test optional through the spring and fall 2027 cycles. AP, IB or A-Level results for credit are submitted after admission.
• English: required for international applicants, under two years old and sent by the testing agency:
  • TOEFL 5 on the 1–6 scale (95 on the 0–120 scale), no MyBest scores;
  • IELTS 7;
  • Duolingo 120.
  Scores at or below TOEFL 4.5 (94), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115 may lead to required coursework at the Maryland English Institute, as stated in the admission letter.
• Waivers: may be considered if English is your first language and you hold citizenship of, or completed a high school or university credential in, countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia or Singapore; students in Canada’s French system still need a test. Other waivers include four years at a U.S. high school without ESL coursework.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: UMD publishes no Gaokao policy and no grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.

6. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 nonresident tuition and mandatory fees: $22,043 per semester, about $44,086 a year, plus $125 per semester for students on a UMD-issued I-20.
• Total cost reference: UMD’s published estimate is still for 2025-26: nonresident tuition and fees 41,974 and housing and food 16,436, about 62,374 in total with books, transport and personal costs. UMD notes international students may have higher living expenses.
• Scholarships: freshman merit scholarships consider U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens who apply by 1 November; international students are not included.
• Financial certification: required only after admission.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall early action 1 March (decisions by late April) and regular 1 June (by mid-July); international spring entry closes 1 August. Apply through ApplyWeb only; the fee is $80.
• Minimum eligibility: at least 12 semester credits at an accredited college after high school (AP/IB do not count), including English composition and college-level math. With fewer than 30 credits you also send high school transcripts.
• Non-U.S. college records: a course-by-course evaluation with GPA from ECE or JS&A is required.
• Psychology: transfers who want psychology must already have completed the gateway courses with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.70. Transfer Credit Services makes final credit decisions after admission.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November (Early Action) with psychology as your preferred major
• TOEFL 5 (95), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120; SAT or ACT optional
• Take PSYC 100 (B- or better), BSCI 170 and MATH 120/140 early to prepare for the 45-credit review
• Budget about $44,000 a year in tuition and fees plus living costs; no merit scholarships for international students

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

• Same deadlines; native English speakers with Canadian citizenship or a Canadian high school credential may be waived from English testing (not the French system)
• AP Psychology, Biology or Calculus at 4+ can count toward gateways

Transfer students:

• Fall deadlines 1 March (early) or 1 June
• Complete equivalents of PSYC 100, BSCI 170 and MATH 120/140 with a 2.70+ GPA before transferring
• Arrange an ECE or JS&A course-by-course evaluation for non-U.S. college work

Sources: University of Maryland, College Park, Limited Enrollment Programs; Application deadlines; English language proficiency; Freshman applicants; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Cost of attendance; Undergraduate tuition 2026-27; Freshman merit scholarships; Becoming a PSYC Terp; Psychology BA/BS requirements. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check UMD for the latest details.