Admission to the Kroc Institute's master's program is highly selective. Successful candidates have outstanding academic credentials as well as work experience (paid or volunteer) in areas related to peace and justice.
We welcome applications from men and women of all nationalities and diverse religious and philosophical traditions.
All application materials (except official transcripts) must be uploaded through the Graduate School Application and sent at the same time, by December 15. Applicants are notified of the decision of the admissions committee by April 1.
- University of Notre Dame Graduate School Application
- Kroc Institute Application
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Intent
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Letter of Verification of English Proficiency (for non-native speakers of English only); a writing sample is not required
- Transcripts with proof of B.A. equivalent degree (and English translations if necessary)
- TOEFL or IELTS (for non-native speakers of English only)
- Official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
- Application fee (online by credit card or check by mail)
- Submission procedure instructions
Important: Your name should be entered as it appears on your passport. Please capitalize your Last Name (family name or surname).
1) University of Notre Dame Graduate School Application
All applicants must complete the online application to the graduate school. Your Statement of Intent, CV and Kroc MA Program Application should be submitted in the “Uploads” section of the online application. Mailing a paper copy will delay the processing of your application. Please have all these items ready to submit before you complete your online application. Frequently asked questions »
When completing the online application, if a required field does not apply to you, enter the word “none” in the field. Required fields cannot be left empty, but any text you enter in the field will be accepted by the system.
The Graduate School’s online application can only be submitted once. However, you do not have to complete the application in one sitting. You may access your application and change your responses as many times as you like with your PIN and password from any computer with Internet access.
Once you have completed the application, click the “Submit” button at the top. This will take you through the steps to pay the application fee and submit your application electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Remember: Each online application can only be submitted once.
After you submit your application, you will not be able to go back and make changes or additions using the online application system. However, you will be able to access your online application in order to check which materials have been received. To update any portion of your online application contact Graduate Admissions at GradApp@nd.edu. Back to top
2) Kroc Institute Application Form
Type directly into this 6-page Kroc Application form and save it on your computer. It should be submitted in the "Uploads" area of the Graduate School's online application, under "Program Upload"; located directly after the Curriculum Vitae section. Mailing a paper copy of the Kroc Application form will delay the processing of your application.
Reminder: The Notre Dame Graduate School's online application and the 6-page Kroc Institute Application are both required to apply to the master's program. Back to top
3) Résumé or CV
Submit a document showing the chronological progression of your work and studies via the “Uploads” section of the Notre Dame Graduate School’s online application. Please do not fax or email your CV to the Kroc Institute unless instructed to do so. Back to top
4) Statement of Intent
The statement of intent (maximum 1000 words) must explain why you want to join the Kroc Institute's M.A. program in peace studies, what specific skills and related experiences you bring to the program, what peace-related work experience you have had, what values motivate you, and how your research and study interests related to your professional goals and future life plans. Please also identify which professional track you are applying for and why, and how this track will advance your peace-related professional goals. The statement of intent plays a critical part in the evaluation of applicants, and must be written by the applicant personally.
Submit your statement of intent in the “Uploads” section of the Graduate School’s online application. Please do not fax or email your statement to the Kroc Institute unless instructed to do so. Back to top
5) Three letters of recommendation
Recommendations play a critical role in evaluating applications. At least one of the three letters must be from your previous professors who can address your academic abilities; more than one is better. The letters should be written by people who can describe in detail your qualifications, motivation, and ability to succeed in the program.
Instructions for the recommender:
"Please write a separate letter evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the applicant, with particular reference to motivation, intellect, creativity, discipline, maturity, character, demonstrated ability to do academic work, and promise as a professional. Please address specifically the applicant’s particular experience with groups and/or organizations engaged in peacebuilding work. Specific instances in which these qualities were revealed would be most helpful, as would comparison of this student with others you have recommended. What do you feel the applicant can contribute to and gain from the peace studies master’s program, and what is your understanding of the applicant's future professional goals?"
Your recommenders should submit their letters to the Graduate School electronically through the online application system. Please enter the full name, email address and complete contact information for each provider in the “Recommendation” section of the online application.
- Once the recommendation provider information is saved, an e-mail will be sent to each recommender with instructions on how to proceed with the online recommendation.
- When the recommendation provider submits the form to the Graduate School, it will become a part of your application.
- You can view the status of your online recommendations each time you log into your application account.
6) Transcripts
Important: unofficial copies of all your (university level) transcripts should be uploaded to your online application in the "Academic History" section. (Please include a certified English translation, if necessary.) If your B.A. is currently in progress, upload transcripts for all coursework completed. If an undergraduate transcript does not show proof of degree and date earned, a diploma showing award of B.A. or equivalent should also be uploaded. Your unofficial transcript copies will suffice for the purposes of the Admissions Committee.
The university only requires official transcripts from accepted students. Back to top
7) Letter of Verification of English Proficiency
A letter of Verification of English Proficiency is required for all non-native speakers of English. This letter should be written by a person, preferably a native speaker of English, who is well-acquainted with your English language ability and experience, both written and spoken. Success in the graduate program of the Kroc Institute depends on communication and graduate study conducted in English. The letter should describe the applicant’s experience with the language, present level of proficiency, communicative ability in English, and ability to do graduate work in English, including extensive reading and writing.
The name of the person who will be writing your letter of Verification of English Proficiency should be entered in the appropriate place on the Kroc Application form. In addition, their full name, email address and complete contact information should be entered as a fourth recommender in the “Recommendation” section of the online application. Please instruct this recommender to write “Verification of English Proficiency” at the top of his or her letter. Back to top
8) TOEFL or IELTS score
All applicants who are not native speakers of English must take the TOEFL or the IELTS unless they have successfully studied for at least two years at a university in which English is the medium of instruction. (i.e. all classes are taught in English).
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) institution code for Notre Dame is 1841. A department code is not necessary, but you can use 5101 if needed. Any score below 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 80 (Internet-based) is questionable. TOEFL scores are valid for up to two years after the test date. You must have an official score report sent to Notre Dame by ETS. Please also write your self-reported TOEFL score on your Kroc application. More TOEFL information »
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) does not have or use institution codes. The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.0. You must have an official score report sent to Notre Dame. Please also write your self-reported IELTS score on your Kroc application. More IELTS information »
Remember: upload your personal copy of your TOEFL or IELTS score to your online application in the "International Applicants/English Proficiency Examination" section. If the test is taken after your application is submitted, please email your self-reported TOEFL or IELTS score to kroc-admissions.1@nd.edu as soon as it is available. Your score must reach the Kroc Institute by the end of January in order to be considered.
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9) Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
The institution code for the University of Notre Dame is 1841. A department code is not necessary. The GRE is a standardized exam used for admission to all graduate schools in the United States. The Notre Dame Graduate School requires the GRE General Test, which includes verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative examination sections. GRE scores are valid for five years. LSAT or GMAT scores cannot replace the GRE. Please write your self-reported GRE scores on your Kroc application.
Please upload your personal copy of your GRE score to your online application in the "Test Score Information" section. If the test is taken after your application is submitted, please email your self-reported GRE scores to kroc-admissions.1@nd.edu as soon as they are available. Your scores must reach the Kroc Institute by the end of January in order to be considered. The GRE test is offered by the Educational Testing Service at locations around the world. More GRE information »
The GRE is always considered in combination with other aspects of the application. In exceptional circumstances where reaching a site to take the GRE is truly difficult or even dangerous, the Kroc Institute may consider an application for admission if the applicant provides an acceptable explanation of the circumstances on the Kroc application form. In such cases, an applicant who is admitted without the GRE will be required to take the exam by November 1 of the first semester of enrollment as a condition of continued enrollment. Back to top
10) Application fee of $50
Applicants may pay the fee online by credit card after completing the online application, or by sending a check to: Office of Graduate Admissions, Attention: Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, 502 Main Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. Checks should be made payable to the University of Notre Dame. If the check is not written by the applicant, or is mailed separately, the name of the applicant must be included with the check. International applicants who do not have access to a credit card or a U.S. checking account may pay using an International Postal Money Order or a bank draft on a U.S. bank. It is not possible to pay by bank transfer.
Students applying to more than one graduate program at Notre Dame are only required to pay one application fee per year. Students reapplying for the first time are not required to pay a fee if they paid the fee the first time. Back to top
Submission Procedure
Your statement of intent, CV, Kroc Application, unofficial copies of your transcripts, TOEFL and GRE scores must be submitted electronically as part of the Graduate School‚s online application. The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is December 15. Applications missing materials after the December 15 deadline may not receive full consideration. To ensure that all your materials, including the recommendation letters, are received by the deadline, we suggest that you submit your online application as early as possible.
Please do not fax or e-mail your application materials to us unless we instruct you to do so.
Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive a confirmation email listing the materials received. After the initial notice, you will need to log back into your online application to check the status of recommendations received, etc.
If your application materials require correction or update after you have submitted, please email the new items with an explanation to gradapp@nd.edu, and request that the old materials be replaced by the new.
Acceptances will normally be sent out by April 1. When a decision is ready, the Graduate School will send you an email with instructions to log back into your online application to view the decision letter. Back to top
