International Transfers

All of the paperwork will be worth it. 

As both an international and a transfer student, you’ll be required to provide us with a number of
forms and applications. Rest assured, once you set foot on Notre Dame’s campus for your first day
of classes, you’ll realize your hard work was well worth it.

In addition to submitting the required materials outlined in the Application Instructions, international students must submit the following:

• An English Proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic), which must be taken if your native language is not English. An English Proficiency test is not required if you have a 650 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of the SAT or an ACT English subscore of 26 or higher (more on English Proficiency test scores below)
• A copy of the biographical and validity pages of your passport
  • May be uploaded via your applicant status portal upon application submission
• A completed Certification of Finances plus financial documentation verifying the totals on the Certification of Finance
  • The Certification of Finances form will be available in your applicant status portal upon application submission.

Financial Documents Required with Application for Admission

University of Notre Dame admissions decisions for international transfer applicants are need-aware. This means that they will be evaluated for admission with consideration of the ability of students or parents to pay educational costs. Please note that all international students except U.S. citizens and permanent residents must submit a Certification of Finances with supporting financial documentation for all amounts stated via their applicant status portal. Supporting documents should be provided in English in order to expedite the evaluation process.

Once you complete the Certification of Finances, upload your supporting financial documents to your applicant status portal. Financial documents are outlined within the Certification of Finances, and should verify all sources of intended funding. Please do not submit through mail, fax, and email. If further information is needed regarding your financial documents, you will be contacted by a member of the International Admissions staff.

The International Student Certification of Finances is kept on file for continuing international students outlining the family's annual responsibility to meet educational expenses as a condition of continued enrollment at the University of Notre Dame. It also satisfies the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service's regulations required for maintaining an officially authorized U.S. Student Visa Status.

Samples of completed supporting financial documentation are shown below.

• Full Ability To Pay From Income
• Full Ability To Pay From Income and Assets
• Full Ability to Pay From Assets
• Full Ability to Pay with Sponsor

Please visit our financial aid website for more information about financial aid for international students

English Proficiency Test Scores

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. 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:

• TOEFL: 100 or higher on the iBT TOEFL Exam
• IELTS: 7.5 or higher
• Duolingo English Test (DET): 120 or higher
• PTE Academic: 70

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)

Official Documents to Enter the United States

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

Before the I-20 can be sent, you must demonstrate sufficient financial support covering all four years of the cost of attending Notre Dame or present the financial aid award earned. Therefore, it is necessary that proper financial documentation be on file. You must submit the Certification of Finances with your application for admission.