Complete the following application materials and upload them into the Graduate School’s online application.
All applications must be submitted online by the deadline: December 15. Applications missing required materials after the December 15 deadline may not receive full consideration. To ensure that all your materials, including recommendation letters, are received by the deadline, we suggest that you submit your online application as early as possible.
- University of Notre Dame Graduate School application
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Intent
- Writing sample
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
- Letter of Verification of English Proficiency (for non-native speakers of English only)
- TOEFL or IELTS (for non-native speakers of English only)
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
- Application fee
Important: Your name should be entered as it appears on your
passport. Please capitalize your Last Name when entering.
Transfer students: If you are already enrolled in a doctoral program and seek to enter the Ph.D. program in peace studies, you must submit a formal application, even if you are currently enrolled at the University of Notre Dame.
1) University of Notre Dame Graduate School
All applicants to the Ph.D. program must complete the online application. Your statement of intent, CV, and writing sample should be submitted in the “Uploads” section of the online application. Mailing a paper copy will delay the processing of your application. Please have 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 may only be submitted once. However, you do not have to complete the whole online 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 online application to your satisfaction, click the “Submit” button at the top of the application. This will take you through the steps to pay the application fee and submit your application electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Remember: Submit your online application once.
After you submit your application, you will not be able to go back and make changes or additions to your application using the online application system. However, you will be able to view your online application to check which materials have been received. Back to top
2) Resume 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. Do not fax or e-mail your CV to the Kroc Institute unless instructed to do so. Back to top
3) Statement of Intent
The statement of intent (maximum 1000 words) must describe your areas of interest and experience as explicitly as possible and list the faculty with whom you wish to study. The statement will be considered by both the relevant departmental admissions committee (history, political science, psychology, or sociology) and the Kroc Institute admissions committee. Please address both your interest in peace studies and in the discipline of the relevant department.
Submit your Statement of Intent in the “Uploads” section of the Graduate School's online application. Do not fax or email your Statement to the Kroc Institute unless instructed to do so. Back to top
4) Writing Sample
A writing sample, demonstrating skills in writing, analysis, and peace research is required. If you send part of a longer work (for example, a senior or master’s thesis), include an abstract of 250 words describing the whole piece and its argument. Back to top
5) Three Letters of Recommendation
Recommendations are very important. At least two of the three letters should be from professors 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 intellect, demonstrated ability to do academic work, discipline, creativity, motivation, maturity and character. Please comment on the applicant’s future promise in the field of peace studies and his or her suitability for interdisciplinary work.”
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 email will be sent to the online recommendation provider 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.
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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 recommended for all non-native speakers of English. The Verification of English Proficiency 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. The letter should describe your experience with the language, present level of proficiency, communicative ability in English, and ability to do doctoral-level work in English (including extensive reading and writing).
The full name, email address and complete contact information of the person who will be writing your letter of Verification of English Proficiency 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. Please request an official score report sent to Notre Dame by ETS. 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. Please request an official score report sent to Notre Dame. 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. Your unofficial copy will suffice for the purposes of the Admissions Committee. 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) GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores
Scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are required from all Ph.D. applicants. We are not able to waive this requirement. The institution code for the University of Notre Dame is 1841. A department code is not necessary. 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. The GRE test is offered by the Educational Testing Service at locations around the world. More GRE information»
Please upload your personal copy of your GRE score to your online application in the "Test Score Information" section. Your unofficial copy will suffice for the purposes of the Admissions Committee. If the test will be taken after your application is submitted, please type the date you expect to take the GRE into your online application, and then e-mail 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.
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10) Application fee of $50
You 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
U.S.A.
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, writing sample, 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.
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 an initial 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 and email with instructions to log back into your online application to view the decision letter.Back to top
