Transferring to Notre Dame: your chances, deadlines and credits

Every transfer applicant applies to a specific college and major. Notre Dame names Neuroscience and Behavior, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics and Finance as having very limited space. The College of Science says it does not have seats available for Neuroscience and Behavior.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027; Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Science, undated page

Syllabi are required, and course descriptions cannot stand in for them. Send one for every college-level course since high school graduation, saved as a PDF named with the course number. If the file name does not match the course number exactly, it will not satisfy the requirement.

Source: Notre Dame transfer application instructions, 2026-2027

You also need the Mid-Term Grade Report for your current semester, which each instructor completes, and a College Student Record Form completed by a college official. Your transcript should include grades from your most recent semester and list courses now in progress.

Source: Notre Dame transfer application instructions, 2026-2027

The $85 fee is nonrefundable. You also send your final high school transcript and, when it is ready, your final college transcript.

Source: Notre Dame transfer application instructions, 2026-2027

A letter of recommendation is optional but encouraged. The page does not say who should write it.

Source: Notre Dame transfer application instructions, 2026-2027

Engineering needs Calculus I and II, Chemistry I with lab, calculus-based Physics I with lab, and writing. The college's page says Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering are traditionally closed to transfers. Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Environmental Earth Sciences also need Chemistry II.

Source: Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Engineering, undated page

Mendoza needs Calculus and Principles of Microeconomics. Junior applicants need at least nine credits of foundational business courses, including one in their intended major.

Source: Notre Dame transfer requirements, Mendoza College of Business, undated page

Arts and Letters wants a writing course, a quantitative course and a natural science course, plus one more of either. Economics needs two calculus courses plus Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and "Survey of Economics" does not count. Pre-Health must be declared on the application.

Source: Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Arts and Letters, undated page

Science needs Calculus I and II, General Chemistry I with lab, General Chemistry II or Organic Chemistry I with lab, and writing. It admits transfers only as sophomores. For life sciences, not finishing Organic Chemistry 1 before you enroll will put you off track.

Source: Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Science, undated page

The College of Arts and Letters accepts a limited number of first-semester junior transfers. The other colleges and the School of Architecture generally do not accept transfers after the first semester of sophomore year.

Source: Notre Dame transfer FAQ, 2026-2027

You cannot submit a fall 2027 application before January 15, 2027. The fall deadline is March 15, 2027. Fall decisions arrive between May 20 and June 14, 2027.

Source: Notre Dame, apply as a transfer, 2026-2027; Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027

Spring enrollment is also open. The deadline was October 1, 2026, with decisions between December 1, 2026 and January 5, 2027.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027; Notre Dame, apply as a transfer, 2026-2027

Notre Dame says admitted transfer students recently averaged a college GPA of 3.75 or higher, and that required courses for your major need a B or higher. Its fall and spring pages say applicants need at least a B average, equal to 3.000.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027; Notre Dame, apply as a transfer, 2026-2027

Notre Dame also lists an impressive high school academic record, and says its most competitive applicants typically complete 15-18 credit hours each semester.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027; Notre Dame, apply as a transfer, 2026-2027

Your first-year courses should closely match Notre Dame's first-year curriculum for your intended major. Admission to a college and major depends on finishing that curriculum before you enroll, and the colleges do not favor sophomore courses in place of first-year requirements.

Source: Notre Dame courses required for transfers, undated page; Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Engineering, undated page; Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Arts and Letters, undated page; Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Science, undated page

There are no interviews. U.S. applicants may submit an optional 60-90 second Glimpse video, and international applicants may use InitialView. Fee waivers are available from Glimpse.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027

Notre Dame says the personal statement should explain your interest in Notre Dame, your academic and professional goals, and how transferring will help you reach them. The pages we opened print no word limit.

Source: Notre Dame transfer applicants, 2026-2027

If you apply again, Notre Dame generally asks for an original personal statement, an updated College Student Record Form, new syllabi, grades since you last applied and the $85 fee.

Source: Notre Dame transfer FAQ, 2026-2027

The College of Science and Engineering pages say changes of major are typically not granted after admission.

Source: Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Science, undated page; Notre Dame transfer requirements, College of Engineering, undated page

Your intended college makes the final decision on which credits it accepts, and you should expect to hear from it after you reply to your offer. Admissions does not pre-approve coursework.

Source: Notre Dame transfer FAQ, 2026-2027; Notre Dame courses required for transfers, undated page

Only courses from an accredited school with a C or better are considered, and they must not duplicate or significantly overlap other coursework. Live online courses are reviewed case by case. Asynchronous, self-paced online courses are not accepted.

Source: Notre Dame transfer FAQ, 2026-2027; Notre Dame courses required for transfers, undated page

You must earn at least 60 credits at Notre Dame to graduate, even if you arrive with more. Quarter credits convert at roughly 3 quarter to 2.67 semester, 4 to 3, and 5 to 4.

Source: Notre Dame transfer FAQ, 2026-2027

If you are admitted without a required course, the offer depends on finishing it before you enroll, usually over the summer. Summer courses cannot be online. If you take them elsewhere, send the syllabus to your Notre Dame advising dean for approval first. If you do not finish what your decision letter lists, the offer is rescinded.

Source: Notre Dame courses required for transfers, undated page

AP and IB credit is generally used for placement only and cannot satisfy Core Curriculum requirements. Life sciences and pre-health majors cannot use it for biology, chemistry or physics.

Source: Notre Dame courses required for transfers, undated page

On-campus housing is not promised to every transfer, and only a limited number of rooms are set aside. You apply for housing after you confirm enrollment, and Notre Dame says to prepare for off-campus options in case you do not get an assignment.

Source: Notre Dame housing for transfers, undated page