University of Notre Dame Graduate Scholarships 2027

The University of Notre Dame Graduate School offers graduate programmes across engineering, humanities, sciences, social sciences and global affairs. Graduate funding is provided primarily through tuition scholarships, assistantships and fellowships, with different funding structures for doctoral, traditional Master’s and professional Master’s programmes.

Funding is particularly strong for doctoral students. Notre Dame states that almost 100% of doctoral students receive full-tuition scholarships, while 94% receive multi-year fellowships or assistantships providing stipends. For the 2026–27 academic year, the standard doctoral stipend ranges from US$39,000 to US$44,000 annually, depending on academic division, with selected fellows receiving as much as US$50,000.

These amounts are the latest officially published rates and should not automatically be presented as the final 2027–28 stipend rates, because Notre Dame may update them for the next academic year.

Master’s funding operates differently. Individual Master’s programmes may provide anything from tuition assistance to full tuition plus a stipend. Professional Master’s programmes generally require students to pay tuition themselves, although occasional merit scholarships may be available.

General Graduate School requirements include:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent before beginning the graduate programme.
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, unless the individual programme publishes additional requirements.
• Meet the academic prerequisites of the chosen Master’s or PhD programme.
• Submit all programme-specific application materials.
• International applicants are eligible to apply under the same general admission framework as U.S. applicants.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must provide approved English-language proficiency evidence unless they qualify for an official exemption.
• Some graduate programmes may require additional materials, writing samples, portfolios, GRE scores or programme-specific prerequisites.

English-Language Requirements

For applicants required to demonstrate English proficiency, the Graduate School currently lists:

• IELTS: 7.0 composite
• TOEFL iBT under the pre-February 2026 scoring system: 80 overall, including at least 23 Speaking
• Updated TOEFL scoring system: 4.5 average, with no section below 4.0
• Duolingo English Test: 120 minimum overall

Some programmes may require higher scores.

English Test Exemptions

English testing is waived for:

• Native English speakers.
• Applicants who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or completed at least two years of post-secondary education, at an institution where the medium of instruction was English.

Doctoral Funding

Depending on the programme and funding award, doctoral students may receive:

• Full tuition scholarship.
• Multi-year fellowship or assistantship.
• Annual living stipend.
• Health-insurance premium subsidy for eligible fully funded students.
• Research and professional-development opportunities.
• Access to internal and external grants and fellowships.
• Potential consideration for competitive select fellowships.

For the 2026–27 academic year, standard 12-month doctoral stipends are:

• Humanities & Social Sciences: US$39,000
• Kroc/Keough PhD: US$39,000
• Engineering: US$42,435
• Sciences: US$40,590
• Mendoza College of Business PhD: US$44,000

Select fellowship packages may reach US$50,000 annually, depending on programme and fellowship.

Master’s Funding

Master’s support varies significantly by programme and may include:

• Partial tuition assistance.
• Full tuition scholarship.
• Assistantship.
• Fellowship.
• Stipend in selected programmes.
• Merit-based awards.

Select Fellowships

Approximately 60–70 incoming students receive one of Notre Dame’s competitive Graduate School select fellowships each year. All full-time admitted graduate students are automatically considered, although individual fellowship eligibility requirements vary.

General degree-seeking applicants normally submit:

• Online graduate application.
• Statement of Intent.
• CV or résumé.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
• US$75 application fee or approved fee waiver.
• English-language test scores where required.
• Programme-specific additional materials where applicable.

Additional programme-specific documents may include:

• Writing sample.
• Portfolio.
• GRE or other standardised test results.
• Additional recommendation letters.
• Academic prerequisites or supplemental forms.

International applicants whose academic documents are not in English must also upload a certified English translation alongside the original-language documents.

Graduate admission criteria vary by individual programme.

For Notre Dame Graduate School select fellowships, official selection information highlights:

• Outstanding undergraduate academic performance.
• Strong promise for graduate study.
• Potential for professional achievement.
• Admission as a full-time graduate student.
• Nomination by the admitting academic department.

Individual programmes may additionally consider:

• Academic preparation.
• Research fit.
• Statement of Intent.
• Recommendation letters.
• Writing samples or portfolios.
• Programme-specific prerequisites

• Access extensive graduate funding at a major U.S. research university.
• Benefit from particularly strong doctoral funding.
• Receive potential full-tuition support and a competitive stipend.
• Work with faculty across engineering, humanities, sciences, social sciences and global affairs.
• Access research and professional-development resources.
• Compete for additional prestigious Graduate School fellowships.
• Join an international graduate community.
• Gain research and academic experience in the United States.