How to Apply to Psychology at Villanova University: Apply to Exploratory Arts, Declare a Psychology BA or BS by the End of Second Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Villanova University, psychology is taught by the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The psychology major is offered as a BA or a BS, and the department also offers a BS in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and a psychology minor. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Villanova’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. What to apply to

• Exploratory Arts: you must apply to a college or a specific major; there is no undecided option. For liberal arts majors, including psychology, the only option is Exploratory Arts, and enrolled students declare their major by the end of their second year.
• Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience is direct entry: it is a science major in the College, and science applicants apply to a specific major, with Exploratory Science available as a second choice.
• BA or BS: the department describes the BA as compatible with a wide range of careers and graduate programs, and the BS as more scientifically intense, preparing students for graduate study in psychology or related sciences. Both include many electives and opportunities for research and internships. Course requirements are in the catalog linked from the department’s page.
• High school preparation: the College values a rigorous curriculum; students interested in the sciences should take the most rigorous math and science available.
• Honors: all first-year applicants are considered for the Honors Program, with selections announced by the end of March.

2. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November, which is also the priority date for financial assistance; decisions by 20 January; deposit by 1 May.
• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November; decisions by 1 December; deposit within two weeks of admission.
• Early Decision II (binding): 15 January; decisions by 15 February.
• Regular Decision: 15 January; decisions by 1 April; deposit by 1 May.
• Switching to ED: the deadline to move from EA to ED I is 10 November; deferred EA or RD applicants can switch to ED II until 31 January.
• How to apply: Common App or Coalition App, with an $80 non-refundable fee. One teacher recommendation is required and a counselor letter is optional; additional letters are not considered. Villanova does not conduct admission interviews or consider demonstrated interest.

3. Testing

• Villanova remains test optional through the 2026-27 admission campaign (Class of 2031, entering fall 2027); you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores.
• Scores can be self-reported, with official scores needed only if you enrol; Villanova superscores across test dates.
• Scores reported by 10 November (ED I and EA) or 31 January (ED II and RD) are considered.

4. International applicants (including students at high schools in China and Canada)

• English proof is required: all international students must submit official results sent by Cambridge English, Duolingo, IELTS, Pearson PTE or TOEFL iBT. No minimum scores are published.
• Waivers: the requirement may be waived if English is your native language spoken at home, or if you have been enrolled for more than three consecutive years at a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction.
• Academic records: transcripts listing subjects and marks each year, with a key to the marking system. Students in countries with a national secondary school leaving examination must provide official results, or predicted marks if the exams have not yet taken place. Villanova does not describe how Gaokao results are used or give requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.
• Financial documents: every international applicant submits the Certification of Finances Form and a bank statement or letter from the last three months through the Applicant Status Page; the application is not complete without them.
• Need-aware: admission for international students (non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents) is need-aware; finances are considered at the end of the holistic review.

5. Costs, aid and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimated undergraduate cost (US$): tuition 72,990, student services fee 1,024, housing 10,314, meals 9,040, plus books, supplies, personal and transportation costs, for a total of about 96,886 on campus. New students pay a $300 orientation fee, and university health insurance, if needed, is about $3,165 a year and not included. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
• Need-based aid for international students: available but limited. Apply alongside your admission application with the CSS Profile (code 2959), the Certification of Finances with a bank letter, parents’ employer income letters and other documents; priority dates are 1 November for ED I and EA and 15 January for ED II and RD.
• Scholarships: international applicants may be nominated for the Presidential Scholarship, 25 awards a year covering tuition, on-campus housing, meals, the general fee and the textbook fee for up to eight semesters.
• International transfers: Villanova offers no merit or need-based aid to international transfer students.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry closes 15 March, with decisions by 1 June; spring entry closes 15 October, with decisions by 15 November, and is extremely limited and available only in select programs.
• Eligibility: you must have enrolled in college as a degree-seeking or full-time student after high school. Applicants typically complete at least one full semester first, and most admitted students complete a full year. A cumulative college GPA of at least 3.00 is strongly recommended.
• Direct entry to a major: transfers apply directly to their program and cannot transfer internally to another college or major after enrolling. Psychology appears among the College’s science-side majors accepting transfer applications.
• Credit: credit is reviewed after admission; Villanova typically accepts up to 60 transfer credits for courses with a C or better. At least half of all major courses and the final 30 credits must be taken at Villanova.
• Materials: one transfer application (Common App, Coalition App or Villanova’s own), official transcripts from every college, self-reported mid-term grades, a final high school transcript, course descriptions, a Transfer Conduct Form and a writing supplement; testing is optional. International credentials must be translated and evaluated by a NACES member.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Exploratory Arts in EA or ED I (1 November) or ED II or RD (15 January)
• Submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE or Cambridge English results
• Submit the Certification of Finances and bank documents; add the CSS Profile if applying for aid
• Decide whether to send SAT or ACT

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

• Same deadlines; more than three consecutive years at an English-medium secondary school can waive the English test
• Foreign nationals are reviewed as international applicants, need-aware

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 March; apply directly to psychology, with no internal transfer later
• College GPA of 3.00+ recommended; up to 60 credits transfer
• No scholarships or aid for international transfers

Sources: Villanova University, Application dates and deadlines; First-year applicants; Transfer applicants; Admission FAQs; International prospective students; Merit-based scholarships; International student financial aid process; Cost of attendance; Tuition and fees; Psychological and Brain Sciences undergraduate programs; BA or BS in Psychology. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Villanova for the latest details.