Organizer Information
University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana. Relevant opportunities for students in the arts and creative disciplines are offered through the College of Arts and Letters, the Department of Art, Art History, and Design, the Department of Film, Television and Theatre, and the School of Architecture. The university offers undergraduate study in studio art, art history, design, film, television, theatre, and architecture, as well as graduate MFA programs in studio art and design and graduate programs in architecture and historic preservation.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Notre Dame
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / B.Arch. / MFA / M.Arch. / M.ADU / MSHP
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Art History / Design / Film / Television / Theatre / Architecture / Historic Preservation
- Relevant Programs: Art Studio BA and BFA; Art History major; Design BA and BFA; Film, Television and Theatre BA; Architecture B.Arch.; Studio Art MFA; Design MFA; M.Arch.; Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (MADU); MS in Historic Preservation.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications open 1 August; graduate deadlines are program-specific.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate — 1 November (Restrictive Early Action) or 4 January (Regular Decision); graduate deadlines vary by program.
- Start of Studies: Fall semester; transfer admission also includes spring enrollment.
- Application Fee: Undergraduate $85; Graduate School applications $75
- Tuition: Undergraduate $69,280/year; Graduate School $69,110/year before mandatory fees
- Funding: Need-based aid, merit scholarships, graduate tuition waivers and program-specific graduate funding are available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Notre Dame's Department of Art, Art History, and Design offers undergraduate study in studio art, art history, and design. Studio art concentrations include ceramics, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Design includes industrial design and visual communication design.
- The Film, Television and Theatre major offers concentrations in film, television studies, and theatre, with coursework including filmmaking, digital cinema production, documentary film, screenwriting, media industries, and film studies.
- Architecture is offered through the School of Architecture, including a five-year B.Arch. and graduate architecture programs.
- For the MFA in studio art or design, applicants ordinarily hold a BFA in studio art or design or an equivalent qualification; exceptional applicants with a BA/BS in studio art or design may also be considered.
General Eligibility
- Notre Dame accepts international and domestic applicants. Undergraduate first-year applicants must be completing high school or have graduated from high school without subsequently attempting college coursework; applicants who have undertaken college study after high-school graduation apply as transfer students.
- For undergraduate applicants intending to study art, art history, design, or architecture, a creative portfolio is optional, rather than a general admission requirement. The Department of Art, Art History, and Design and the School of Architecture accept optional creative portfolios through SlideRoom.
- For the MFA in studio art and design, applicants must normally have a BFA in studio art or design, or an equivalent BA/BS qualification, and must have at least a B average in undergraduate major courses.
- Graduate architecture applicants have program/path-specific academic requirements. The School of Architecture reviews previous coursework for professional-degree applicants and generally seeks a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants whose primary first language is not English or whose secondary education was not primarily in English must demonstrate English proficiency. Notre Dame strongly recommends TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.5, or Duolingo English Test 125. Certain SAT/ACT scores can qualify for a waiver.
- For the MFA in studio art and design, non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. The program specifies TOEFL iBT 80 with at least 23 in speaking, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 120. A waiver is available for applicants who completed at least two academic years at an institution whose primary language of instruction was English.
- Graduate architecture programs recommend TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.5; the School also strongly recommends a Duolingo score of 120 or higher where the test is used.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Program | Application Fee | Additional Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $85 | — |
| Graduate School applications | $75 | Fee waivers may apply to eligible applicants |
| MFA Studio Art / Design portfolio | — | $10 SlideRoom submission fee |
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Tuition | Billing Structure | Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, full-time | $69,280/year | $34,640/semester | $514/year |
| Graduate School, full-time | $69,110/year | $34,555/semester | $500/year |
| M.Arch., MADU, Historic Preservation | $69,110/year | $34,555/semester | $500/year |
Graduate mandatory fees comprise the technology, Health Center Access, and Graduate Student Activity fees.
Funding & Financial Support
- Notre Dame evaluates undergraduate international applicants on a need-blind basis and states that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of undergraduate students, including international students. International applicants seeking need-based aid must submit the CSS Profile.
- The university also offers a limited number of merit scholarships to admitted first-year students, with no separate scholarship application required unless the applicant is selected as a semi-finalist.
- For the MFA programs in studio art and design, the department states that all admitted students receive full-tuition waivers, renewable annually for students in good standing. Additional stipends are available to students of exceptional talent.
- Graduate architecture funding is program- and path-specific. MADU and MSHP students typically receive full scholarships, while M.Arch. Path B and Path C students may receive merit-based partial scholarships.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant support includes International Student and Scholar Affairs, which assists international students with immigration and visa procedures, orientation, and transition to Notre Dame.
- Art and design graduate students work closely with faculty through independent studies, critiques, thesis development, exhibitions, and studio practice. The department also organizes public exhibitions of MFA work.
- The School of Architecture provides academic advising, portfolio and career preparation, an annual career fair, and access to professional-development workshops.
Application Requirements
Undergraduate applicants must submit:
- Common Application or Coalition Application
- Notre Dame Writing Supplement
- Official secondary-school transcript
- Teacher evaluation
- Application fee
- English-proficiency results for applicable international applicants
- CSS Profile when applying for need-based financial aid as a non-U.S. citizen
- SAT/ACT results are optional through the 2026–2027 application cycle.
Optional: Counselor evaluation and creative portfolio. Portfolios are relevant to applicants intending to pursue art, art history, design, or architecture and are submitted through SlideRoom.
MFA applicants must submit: statement of intent, CV/resume, three recommendation letters, unofficial post-secondary transcripts, application fee, and a 20-image or applicable-media portfolio through SlideRoom. International applicants must also provide required English translations of transcripts.
Graduate architecture applicants must submit: résumé/CV, statement of intent, three recommendation letters, portfolio, academic writing sample, transcripts, and TOEFL/IELTS scores for international applicants.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Applications Available: 1 August 2026
- Restrictive Early Action: 1 November 2026
- REA Supporting Application Documents: 15 November 2026
- REA SlideRoom Submissions: 15 November 2026
- Regular Decision: 4 January 207
- RD Supporting Application Documents: 15 January 2027
- RD SlideRoom Submissions: 15 January 2027
- Undergraduate Confirmation Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Transfer Spring Enrollment Application Deadline: 1 October 2026
- Transfer Fall Enrollment Application Deadline: 15 March 2027
- MFA Studio Art / Design Application Deadline: 1 February 2027
- M.Arch., MADU and MSHP Application Deadline: 16 January 2027
Location
University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, Indiana, United States
Additional Details
- The university's official MFA program listing currently displays 15 February as the deadline for both Studio Art MFA and Design MFA, while the Department of Art, Art History, and Design's current admissions page states 1 February. Because the department-specific admissions page provides the more specific program information, applicants should verify the deadline directly with the department before submitting.
- For undergraduate applicants, Notre Dame states that standardized testing will become required beginning with the 2027–2028 admissions cycle; applicants seeking Fall 2028 enrollment will need to submit SAT or ACT scores.