How Admissions Decisions Are Made

The Graduate School processes all applications for graduate study at the University of Notre Dame. The application itself and supporting materials (as they arrive) are then distributed to the appropriate program for review.

Application Review:

Program committees review the application and supporting materials, and make a formal recommendation of acceptance or denial to the Graduate School.

Acceptance or Denial:

After the program's decision is approved by the Assistant Dean, the Graduate School informs the applicant of the decision. Official acceptance to the Graduate School in the academic year is granted only by the Assistant Dean.

Applicants will be informed officially of the results of their application by a letter from the associate dean for graduate admissions.

Applicants who intend to accept offers of admission are required to confirm their acceptance by completing and returning the form that is included with an offer of admission.

When to Expect Notification of Decision

Programs typically make their first round of offers by late February or early March. Wait-listed applicants may not receive admission offers until April 15 or later because a resolution that most graduate schools have signed with the Council of Graduate Schools prohibits pressuring admitted applicants to accept an offer before April 15. If you have not received an offer of admission by or shortly after that date, admission is unlikely.

Degree Candidacy:

It should also be understood that admission to a master’s program does not automatically mean admission to a doctoral program upon completion of the master’s program. A separate decision is required for continuation in a doctoral program.