Application Information

Everything you need to know to apply. 

The University of Notre Dame accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. You may apply at www.commonapp.org or apply Coalition on Scoir at app.scoir.com/app/signup/2800092.

Please note that the application deadline is November 1 for Restrictive Early Action or January 4 for Regular Decision. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions must have all of the following items before beginning the application review:

• The Notre Dame Writing Supplement via the Common Application or Coalition Application. 
• Optional: Results of your ACT or SAT assessment scores - Notre Dame is test-optional through at least 2026-27, meaning you are not required to submit scores from ACT and/or SAT exams when you apply. This policy applies to both first-year and transfer students. Current high school seniors (grade 12) and all transfer applicants will not be required to submit scores from either of these exams when applying to Notre Dame through at least the 2026-27 academic year.
• Official results of the TOEFL, IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic, if applicable*
• Official high school transcripts or record of academic achievement in secondary school, including any national examinations results
• A letter of evaluation from a high school teacher in a core academic subject area who knows you well
• Counselor evaluation (recommended, not required)
• A non-refundable application fee of $85
• If applying for need-based financial aid as a non-U.S. citizen,  a completed CSS Profile

Test Scores  

Notre Dame is test-optional through at least 2026-27, meaning you are not required to submit scores from ACT and/or SAT exams when you apply. This policy applies to both first-year and transfer students. Current high school seniors (grade 12), and all transfer applicants will not be required to submit scores from either of these exams when applying to Notre Dame through at least the 2026-27 academic year. You may self-report your SAT and/or ACT scores directly in your application. If admitted, you will be required to submit official score reports from the testing agency. 

Applicants will still be considered for Notre Dame’s merit scholarships. This applies to international students and U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.

Students whose native language is not English must also take the TOEFL, IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic unless you qualify for a waiver. Our TOEFL and College Board code is 1841.

Please note that Notre Dame does not accept the "TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition." If access to a testing site for TOEFL or IELTS is not available, applicants are asked to submit the Duolingo English Test instead.  

The SAT and ACT—both standardized university entrance examinations—measure verbal and mathematical skills. Because of our admission schedule, the SAT or ACT should be taken prior to January of the year you intend to enroll. To receive the SAT registration bulletin, visit sat.org; ACT registration materials are available at act.org. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or EducationUSA office for a list of testing centers, their locations, and exam schedules.  If at all possible, we encourage students to take the SAT or ACT exam at least twice.

English Proficiency 

English proficiency testing will be REQUIRED if either the applicant's primary first language is not English or the secondary education has not been primarily in English.

The TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, and Duolingo English Test (DET) exams are used to determine an applicant's English language proficiency. We recognize that the SAT and the ACT are written for students within the United States, so a strong TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/DET Academic score can balance a student's testing profile, especially with respect to the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. If no sittings of the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academics, and DET are offered in your country, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@nd.edu to review other options.  

We strongly recommend the following scores:

We will waive the English proficiency exams if:

An applicant scores 650 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT
and/or
An applicant scores 26 or above on the English or Reading sections of the ACT.

To learn more, please visit: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test (DET)

School Documents

Secondary School Report

We require all applicants to submit an official transcript or record of academic achievement in secondary school. Your school counselor, headmaster, director, etc. can complete the Secondary School Report through the Common App or Coalition Application and submit it with your transcript. Generally, counselors include the results or predicted results of any examinations, such as the GCSE A Levels or the International Baccalaureate, with this as well. Your school counselor, headmaster, or school director also has the option of sending a letter of recommendation, called a Counselor Evaluation, along with the Secondary School Report. High School Counselors should follow the instructions on the Common App or Coalition Application for submitting these documents. 

Cambridge Curriculum

Students enrolled in the British curriculum are asked to submit the results of their GCSEs or IGCSEs and predicted A levels.  A student who has completed the GCSEs has already met the course requirement outlined above.  After completing their GCSEs, typical students applying to Notre Dame must be enrolled in at least THREE A-Level subjects.  

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of Mathematics - Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry (4 units preferred)*
• 2 units of Foreign Language (3-4 units preferred)
• 2 units of Science (4 units preferred)**
• 2 units of History/Social Science (3-4 units preferred)

Teacher Evaluation

We ask for a letter of recommendation, known as the Teacher Evaluation, from any high school teacher, headmaster, or counselor. Preferably, the high school teacher would have taught you in a core academic subject area, such as Math, Science, English, Social Science, or Foreign Language. In thinking about which teacher to ask, choose the person who is most familiar with your work ethic, classroom performance, and character. Your teacher should follow the application instructions to submit the letter of recommendation. 

We use the teacher and/or counselor letters of recommendation to see how you achieved academic success and how you are regarded in your high school community. When writing these letters of recommendation, your teacher and/or counselor can focus on a few questions:

• What type of student are you in the classroom?
• What have you contributed to the school community?
• What is your potential for success in a college environment?
• What else should we know about you?

We must receive an official transcript and a teacher’s evaluation for your application to be complete.

Interviews

We do not offer alumni or on-campus interviews in the application process. Students wishing to further demonstrate their English proficiency are encouraged to do an interview with InitialView or Vericant. Notre Dame will also accept the Duolingo English Test (which features spontaneous speaking and writing sections) as a supplement to your TOEFL, IELTS, or PET.

Please visit the websites of InitialView and Vericant to schedule an interview and learn more information.

Deadlines

Restrictive Early Action: November 1

Notre Dame has a Restrictive Early Action program. 

• A student applying Restrictive Early Action to Notre Dame may apply to other Early Action programs, but not to any college or university that has a binding Early Decision program. 
• Students do not indicate a first-choice preference by applying early, and still may wait until May 1 to indicate their decision to attend.

Students who apply in the Restrictive Early Action process receive an admissions decision before Christmas. Three decisions are possible:

• Admission to the University
• Denial of Admission to the University
• Deferral of Decision until Regular Action

Students admitted to Notre Dame have until the May 1 deadline to decide whether they would like to confirm their attendance at the University. If you’re denied admissions in Restrictive Early Action, then the process ends and you cannot apply during the Regular Decision process. If you’re deferred, the Admissions Committee has decided to review the application further in the Regular Decision process, “rolling over” the application to Regular Decision.

The Admissions Committee is highly conservative when making Restrictive Early Action admission decisions. Apply in the Early Action process only if you are in the very top ranges of our applicant pool. Talk with the Admissions Counselor traveling in your area this fall or contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@nd.edu for further clarification.

Regular Decision: January 4

The Regular Decision process at Notre Dame is also non-binding and can result in one of three decisions:

• Admission to the University
• Denial of Admission to the University
• Waiting list

Students will receive one of these decisions by late March and, if admitted, are required to send in a confirmation card and deposit by May 1. Students who are denied admission to the University may choose to attend another four-year institution for one or two years and then apply to Notre Dame as a transfer student. 

All international students, including American citizens residing abroad, will also receive an email notification regarding their decision on the day their physical decision letter is mailed.

Official Documents to Enter the United States

International students who are admitted and enroll at Notre Dame will be sent the Form I-20, the official application for student visa (F-1) status. Find visa information here.