Introduction:

The Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame is home to more than 2,200 students pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees in engineering, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. We invite you to explore all that the Notre Dame Graduate School has to offer.97%+ of students in the Graduate School receive full-tuition scholarships. Among doctoral students, 94% receive multi-year assistantships and fellowships, starting from $23,000 over twelve months, depending on the academic program. Additional funding, including select fellowships offering up to $40,000, health insurance subsidies, and additional grants, combined with a low cost of living index enable you to live your life while you focus your efforts on your academic program. Notre Dame’s vibrant academic community, led by its world-class faculty, fosters a strong environment in which your research matters. Over the last 14 years, our faculty have won more National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships (49) than any other school in the country. Our research expenditures have grown rapidly over the past few years, and our science and engineering programs enjoy state-of-the-art facilities for conducting research. Recent graduates have gone on to become faculty at leading universities around the world, while others have gone into the professional world with companies such as Boeing, IBM, ExxonMobil, Eli Lilly & Company and DuPont.

Types of Scholarships:

university of Notre Dame is offering following types of Scholarship:

Tuition Scholarship:

Almost 100% of doctoral students in the Graduate School receive full-tuition scholarships that include all fees except for a small student activity fee. For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition is $62,430, including Health and Technology fees. Refer to the Student Accounts website for the breakdown of tuition and fees for Graduate School programs. Master’s programs offer varying levels of support, ranging from tuition assistantship to full tuition plus a stipend. Students should check with their individual program to learn what level of funding is available. Professional master’s programs normally do not cover tuition, meaning that the student is responsible for payment. (Merit-based scholarships are occasionally available.)

University Fellowships and Assistantships:

Of our doctoral students, 94% receive multi-year fellowships or assistantships that provide stipends. For the 2023-2024 academic year, Notre Dame’s standard stipend for doctoral students on a twelve-month basis is $30,500 for humanities and social science students (up to $39,875 for select fellows); for science and engineering students: $33,475 to $36,000 (up to $45,000 for select fellows); and, $40,000 for Mendoza PhDs (up to $45,000 for select fellows). The Notre Dame/South Bend community has a very low cost-of-living index. The Graduate School also offers a number of select fellowships that provide support up to $42,000/year as well as other advantages.

PROJECT ASSISTANTSHIPS:

Project assistantships are awarded to students who engage in research or other activities not directly thesis- or dissertation-related but that are part of the student’s professional development. Examples are: assistance with computations for a faculty member’s research when that faculty member is in a department other than the student’s own, development of conference materials, editing a journal, or assisting a faculty member with
developing or coordinating a conference. The expected time commitment for project assistantship duties may vary from week to week, but the typical maximum is 18 hours per week and may not exceed 20 hours per week

Paid Employment:

If a student’s duties in a position do not fall primarily into the assistantship definitions above, he or she should be treated as a paid employee. Examples of positions of paid employment include a clerical or administrative assistant assignment in a department office, working at the circulation desk in a library, or preparing a bibliography for a faculty member. Students who have been awarded a full assistantship or fellowship may not undertake paid employment with either the University or an outside employer while enrolled. Exceptions may be granted in cases of unique academic or professional benefit, personal benefit, or extreme financial hardship and must have the prior written approval of the graduate student’s adviser, director of graduate studies, and the Graduate School. Generally, any exceptions will not exceed 2 hours per week.
Full-time degree-seeking students who are not fully supported may undertake paid employment with either the University or an outside employer while enrolled if they have the prior written approval of the student’s adviser, director of graduate studies, and the Graduate School. Generally, for these students as well, the total
assistantship, if any, and employment obligations may not exceed 20 hours per week.
Note that under current United States immigration regulations, any international student—whether fully
supported or not—who is studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa and seeks employment off-campus for any amount of
hours, must obtain written authorization through the appropriate staff member within Notre Dame International.

Programs:

The University of Notre Dame offers master’s and doctoral degrees in the College of Arts and Letters, College of Engineering, College of Science, and the Keough School of Global Affairs, and doctoral degrees in the Mendoza College of Business. Most doctoral programs admit students primarily to the PhD program, although a master’s degree may be earned on the way to the PhD in some fields. Detailed list of programs are given in below link

List of Courses Offered

Eligibility:

The requirements for admission for international students are exactly the same as those for United States citizens. Please note one important additional requirement: students whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test scores to demonstrate language proficiency. Both TOEFL and IELTS are offered several times each year at sites in the United States and abroad; for those taking the TOEFL, the University’s institution code is: 1841. Applicants from Mainland China who are unable to take the standard TOEFL iBT test due to testing suspensions may submit TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution scores. This solution combines the existing paper-delivered TOEFL ITP Level 1 test with a short, unscored video interview provided by Vesicant.

Minimum TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores depend on the type of test you’re taking.

If you are taking the TOEFL IBT, then the minimum score is a total of 80 points, with a minimum of 23 on the Speaking section.
If you are taking the TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution, the minimum score is a total of 550.
If you are taking the IELTS, the minimum score is 7.0.
If you are taking the Duolingo English Test, the minimum score is 120.

How to Apply:

The application process requires an investment of time and resources, but careful planning can help you create an application that stands apart from the competition. The following sections provide tips to help you prepare your application.

Before You Apply:

Perform a self-assessment, particularly with the goal of identifying your major interests, and work on achieving focus without being overly narrow.
Ask for advice from faculty members about schools that have programs compatible with your interests.
Use the Web or other materials to research program offerings, faculty, program rank, selectivity, funding practices, and demographics (size, location, etc.).
Compile a list of programs to which you intend to apply, then contact the programs for additional information.

Tips for Acquiring the Best Possible Letters of Recommendation:

Select and contact potential recommenders early.
Ascertain whether the person you selected would be able to write you a strong letter of recommendation (this implies that they have time and can comment favorably about your potential for graduate work).
Prompt your letter writers with points you would like them to address.
Provide letter writers with all necessary forms and instructions.
Provide your C.V. and a draft of your statement of intent.
Provide deadlines for each program.
Follow up to ensure that letters were mailed or submitted electronically.

Statement of Intent:

The statement of intent should capture your intellectual development and interests. It should generally be 1–3 double-spaced pages in length. Once you have drafted your statement, ask a few faculty members to review it. A trip to your institution’s writing center is also beneficial as you work to polish the finished product. This is your opportunity to present a strong argument about why you would be an excellent student in the program, so be sure that you are completely satisfied with the document you submit.

Establish your desire for the degree and how you envision using your training and knowledge in the future.
Articulate why you have selected your specific program, i.e.. how your interest coincides with those of the faculty.
Identify the strengths that you would bring to the program (e.g., credentials, experience).
Explain any unusual situations but refrain from providing excuses.
Be sure to include your name and prospective program on each page of the statement—even though you submit the document electronically.

Timeline:

Summer: Draft statement and conduct Web research to identify programs and faculty members of interest.
Early Fall: Consult with faculty at your current institution, solicit letters, and schedule and take GREs and/or English proficiency test (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo).
Mid-Fall: Finalize list of target programs, customize statement of intent, order unofficial transcripts to upload after deciding whether you should include grades for the fall term.
November: Complete applications, give recommenders final information for each program, retake GREs and/or English proficiency test (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) if advisable.
December/January: Submit application; follow up to ensure that letters of recommendation and test scores were sent.
January–March: At Notre Dame, admissions for top candidates are usually decided during this period. Some candidates who did not receive a first-round offer but who are still being considered for admission may not receive any news until April 15 or shortly thereafter.
April: Due to a resolution adopted by the Council of Graduate Schools (PDF), most programs expect a response to an offer by April 15. Assess any offers you receive and make a decision.

Application Process:

Admissions Decision: Once you have decided what graduate school you are going to attend, submit the “Reply to Offer of Admissions” form (by April 15) and please answer as many questions as possible as we use this data for our future recruitment efforts.
Welcome to the University of Notre Dame!: Once you receive the confirmation of your acceptance email “Welcome to the University of Notre Dame”, please complete the following tasks:
1. ND ID and email account: You will receive the first of two University IDs — the ND ID (also called a “900#”) — in your confirmation email. Once you receive this email, you may also activate your Notre Dame Net ID. If you live in a region that restricts access to Google services, you may need to use the NoSplit VPN to access your @nd.edu account.
2. Housing:—on- or off-campus. Fischer Grad apartments are on campus and specifically for graduate students. In addition, the Landings (new housing Fall 2020) is available for married grad students. The Overlook, next door to campus, is also available for grad students and faculty.
3. Irish Compass: Register and be active in Irish Compass, Notre Dame’s official online community for networking, mentoring, and job opportunities for alumni and students. Register at irishcompass.nd.edu. You can use your LinkedIn account to register.
4. Health Insurance: Complete the medical history and physical report and any other health-related pre-registration requirements set by University Health Services. Graduate students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the student health insurance plan. Please note: Students who do not wish to enroll in the plan, and have other comparable health insurance coverage, may submit a request to waive the health insurance on Aetna’s website. Instructional emails are sent 5/15 for the summer plan (summer arrival) and 7/15 for the AY plan (August arrival). If you cannot find the information you need via Aetna or the University Health Services FAQs, email insurancequestions@nd.edu. Health insurance subsidy information can be found here.
International students: International students who accept an offer of admission from the Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame will be required to submit the form Request INITIAL Student Immigration Document. Please see the pre-arrival checklist on the Office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) website. Of particular interest to incoming students: the recorded Pre-Arrival Information Session and weekly Pre-Arrival question and answer sessions every Tuesday through the end of June.
Registration for classes: Contact your degree program and/or advisor for guidance. Information on registering for classes and completing ND Roll Call can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Transcripts: Make arrangements to have your official transcripts sent as soon as possible to the address below OR the Preferred: E-transcripts should be sent to gradsch@nd.edu. Transcripts must be in English and must show the conferral of your bachelor’s (and Masters if applicable) degree.
Orientation: Refer to the Graduate Student Orientation page on the Graduate Student Life website for the most up-to-date information on dates and the schedule of events.
Semester/Term Start Dates: Dates are set by the Office of the Registrar. To find the official start date for any future term, please refer to their calendar. If you are starting in the summer, please confirm your start date with your program.
Alumni Welcome Event: Be on the look out for the Alumni Association email invitation to their summer welcome/send off event information in your city.
Financial Support: If you would like to get started looking for additional external funding through grants and fellowships, please contact us for more information