How to Apply to Psychology at William & Mary: One Application, Declare a Psychology BA or BS in Spring of Sophomore Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At William & Mary (W&M), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychological Sciences in Arts & Sciences, which offers a B.A. and a B.S. in Psychology. Admission is not by major; you declare after entry. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on W&M’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. How to apply, and when you choose psychology

• Common App only: W&M currently accepts the Common App; international students use the same application, and the committee reviews holistically.
• Declare after entry: the department says students traditionally declare in the spring of sophomore year. Each spring there is a Psychology Majors Declaration Period around Spring Break; you choose a full-time faculty advisor, meet with them using the declaration checklist and form, then file the signed form with the department and the Registrar.
• St Andrews Joint Degree: W&M runs a joint programme with the University of St Andrews, with two years at each and a single BA (International Honours) diploma; see W&M’s page for details.

2. The psychology major

• BA versus BS: the BS requires the same courses as the BA plus three more in Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Geology, Kinesiology & Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics.
• What you study: the department teaches psychology as both a natural and a social science, with training in ethics, lab skills and applications; majors take courses across sub-disciplines, go deeper in chosen topics and can do research. About 150 students graduate with the major each year.
• Exact course lists: these are in the undergraduate catalog, which returned a verification page when we tried to read it, so the number of courses and credits was not checked. Check the catalog’s Psychology BA and BS pages before applying.
• Honors: a year-long independent research project with a faculty advisor, ending in a thesis and an oral exam. You need at least a 3.0 GPA by the end of junior year plus department approval, and should find an advisor in the spring of junior year; the Charles Center runs the process.
• Related major: W&M also offers an interdisciplinary Neuroscience major with biology, math, chemistry and psychology courses.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision I (binding): due 1 November, decisions in early December, deposit by 5 January.
• Early Decision II (binding): due 5 January, decisions in early February, deposit by 15 February.
• Regular Decision: due 5 January, decisions by 1 April, deposit by 1 May.
• Deadlines are midnight in your time zone; transcripts, scores and recommendations may follow after the deadline. The Common App opens on 1 August.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: any applicant may submit or withhold SAT or ACT scores, self-reported or official, and W&M superscores. Forty percent of the Class of 2029 applied test-optional. Scores are not required for merit consideration.
• International students: W&M strongly encourages an SAT or ACT if other external results (or predictions) such as IB, AP or A-Levels are not available.
• English: if English is not your native language and your schooling for the past four years or more was in another language, W&M strongly recommends TOEFL or IELTS. It generally looks for:
  • TOEFL 100 for tests on or before 20 January 2026, or 5 on the new scale from 21 January 2026, from a single date or MyBest;
  • IELTS Academic overall 7 or above;
  • Duolingo is accepted if TOEFL and IELTS are not available (no score is published).
  W&M notes these are not strict cut-offs in a holistic review.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit: typically AP 4 or 5 and IB HL 5, 6 or 7 earn credit or exemption, and A-Levels can earn credit. Students who completed a 13-year secondary programme and want credit for thirteenth-year courses submit translated syllabi for them with the application.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: W&M publishes no Gaokao policy and no grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula. It warns that 126.com and 163.com users may not receive its emails, so give an alternative address.

5. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 out-of-state estimates (US$): tuition 46,177, fees 8,072, housing 10,512, food 7,134, direct costs 71,895; with books, transportation, personal and loan costs of 3,757, the total is about 75,652.
• Aid for international students: W&M says it generally has no scholarship or loan funds for undergraduates who are citizens of other countries, so you must be prepared to fund your full education.
• Visas: students who need an F-1 or J-1 visa provide financial certification through iStart after admission and deposit.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall due 1 March, with high school and college transcripts and a mid-term report by 15 March and decisions on 1 May; spring due 1 October, with decisions in mid-November.
• International transfers: students at universities outside the US who need an F-1 visa are admitted for fall only; international students at US institutions can apply for fall or spring. Holders of a bachelor’s degree cannot earn a second undergraduate degree at W&M.
• Competitiveness: the most competitive transfer applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and rigorous transfer-oriented courses from the past year, such as math (statistics or calculus), lab sciences, social sciences including psychology, writing, and philosophical or religious thought. W&M receives about 900 fall transfer applications and enrols about 200.
• Credit: for courses taken outside the US, submit translated syllabi for each university course with your application; you may need an international evaluation for a preliminary credit decision, coordinated by the Registrar. Transfers must also meet W&M’s general education requirements.
• Documents: a high school transcript is required if you have fewer than 24 college credits.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App by 1 November (ED I) or 5 January (ED II or Regular)
• Aim for TOEFL 100 (5 on the new scale) or IELTS 7; submit SAT or ACT if you have no AP, IB or A-Level results
• Do not rely only on a 126.com or 163.com email address
• Plan to fund about $75,652 a year; W&M generally offers no aid to foreign citizens

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

• Same deadlines; W&M publishes no Canada-specific grade requirements
• Foreign nationals likewise generally receive no scholarships or loans

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 March, ideally with a 3.5+ GPA; international students at universities abroad can enter only in fall
• Prepare translated syllabi for every course to support credit evaluation

Sources: William & Mary, Dates and deadlines; First-year applicants; Standardized testing; International applicants: testing and English; International expenses and aid; International transfer credit; Transfer applicants; Recommended transfer courses; International transfer applicants; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Psychological Sciences undergraduate program; Major requirements; Advising and declaring a major; Departmental honors. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check W&M for the latest details.