How to Apply to Psychology at Stony Brook University: Not a Restricted Major, a BA or BS, and Gaokao English of 125 Accepted as English Proof, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Stony Brook University (SBU), part of the State University of New York, offers psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences as a BA or BS in Psychology. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SBU’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Getting into psychology

• Not a restricted major: the admissions office lists restricted majors with extra requirements, such as the engineering and applied sciences majors and accounting; psychology is not on the list. Applicants who do not specify a major are admitted to the University rather than to a particular major.
• Declaring after entry: you declare through the major/minor form in SOLAR; the form closes at times during the year, so check the academic calendar. SBU publishes no GPA threshold for declaring psychology.
• BA or BS: both give a broad overview of psychology. The BS emphasizes natural sciences and mathematics and is often chosen by students heading for health professions such as medicine, dentistry, optometry or physical therapy; the BA is more interdisciplinary and leaves room for minors or double majors. The department says both are equally acceptable for graduate study in psychology.
• Course requirements: the official requirements are in the Undergraduate Catalog, and the department provides BA and BS major checklists and sample course sequences. The catalog site could not be read for this guide; after entry, book a psychology advisor through Navigate.
• Psychology Honors Program: apply by mid-April of your junior year and complete a senior thesis over two semesters (PSY 495 and PSY 496). You need PSY 103, PSY 201, at least two survey courses and one 300-level psychology course completed, a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher, a 3.50 GPA in major courses, and a faculty mentor.

2. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Action: 1 November (a completion deadline: all materials must arrive by then), with decisions on 11 December or 29 January; complete applications by 1 November are guaranteed a decision by 29 January.
• Regular Decision: 15 January, with decisions on 26 February or 26 March.
• Spring entry: 1 November for spring 2027.
• Honors programs (Honors College, WISE, University Scholars): fall entry only, with a priority deadline of 1 November and a final deadline of 15 January. General admission decisions come first; admitted students are then considered for honors, usually hearing in mid to late March.

3. Application materials and testing

• Application: international students use the Common App or the SUNY Application; the fee is $50. There is no separate international application.
• Essay and recommendation: one essay on a topic of your choice and one recommendation from a teacher or counselor (two teacher letters for honors programs).
• Transcripts: grades for your three most recently completed years (which may include middle school), in English, sent directly by your school; graduates send their last four years.
• Test optional: SBU is test optional and reviews applications holistically on grades, curriculum strength and personal factors.

4. English requirements

• Exemptions: applicants from native English-speaking countries and international applicants attending an English-medium school do not need to submit English scores.
• Otherwise, one of the following (minimums):
  • TOEFL 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4 on the new scale after;
  • IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 105; PTE Academic 53;
  • ACT English 19; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480;
  • IB English HL 5; AP English Language or Literature 3; A-Level English C;
  • Gaokao English 125 out of 150.
• Below the requirement: you may be considered for conditional admission.

5. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimates for out-of-state students (US$, estimated as of 20 February 2026): tuition 31,050, fees 3,860, housing 12,291 and meal plan 7,450, for direct on-campus costs of 54,651; with books, transportation and personal expenses the total is about 58,799. Full-time students are also billed for health insurance, which can be waived with proof of coverage. SUNY usually sets tuition around June.
• Financial documentation: admitted international students must show they can cover one year of educational and living expenses before SBU issues an I-20.
• Scholarships: all incoming first-year students are considered for merit scholarships, most with no separate application. SBU does not say whether international students can receive need-based aid.

6. Transfer students

• Deadlines: 1 May for fall 2027 and 1 November for spring 2027; fall decisions start in mid-February and spring decisions in mid-November.
• Requirements: typically at least 24 college credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher; with fewer than 24 credits, send your final high school transcript. Testing is optional. Transfers with more than 56 credits must indicate a major on the application to be eligible for financial aid.
• English: the same requirements apply; a college writing course at a US college with a C or better also waives the test.
• Credit: use SBU’s Transfer Equivalency Database to check course equivalents. For psychology courses marked as needing department evaluation, email the syllabus to both psychology undergraduate advisors.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App or SUNY Application by 1 November (EA) or 15 January (RD), with all materials in by the deadline
• English: TOEFL 4 (new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 105, or Gaokao English of 125 or higher
• Three most recent years of transcripts in English; testing optional
• For honors programs, submit the honors application and two teacher recommendations by 1 November

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

• Same deadlines; students at English-medium schools are exempt from English tests
• SBU publishes no BC-specific grade requirements

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 May; typically 24+ credits and a GPA of 2.8 or higher
• Keep syllabi for psychology courses for department evaluation after entry

Sources: Stony Brook University, First-year applicants; International first-year students; Transfer applicants; International transfer students; 2026-27 estimated costs; Scholarships; Psychology new students; Psychology requirements and registration; Psychology Honors Program; Psychology forms and FAQs. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 estimates). Check Stony Brook for the latest details.