Admissions & Financial Support
The application deadline is January 2
How to Apply
Notre Dame uses an online application. For instructions please consult the Application Instructions link from within the application itself once you have received your PIN and logged in.
Requirements for Admission
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a master's degree in theology, or the equivalent.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, with an expectation of at least 4.5 on the analytical section and 310 cumulative on the other two sections, the score for the verbal component being the more important of the two
Facility in some of the languages required for study in the department
Application Documents
The following materials must be submitted via the online application system:
- A statement of intent (600 to 800 words; no more than 3 pages) and a C.V.
- Unofficial transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended (official transcripts required upon admittance)
- GRE scores (and, for all nonnative speakers of English, TOEFL scores)
- Three letters of recommendation
- A Waiver of Access form for each letter of recommendation
- A Writing Sample with a recommended length of 4,000 to 6,000 words
Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships
Full-time students in good standing are eligible to receive a 12-month annual stipend (an amount of $25,000 for students starting in 2021-2022) for up to five years and a full-tuition scholarship for up to eight years.
5 + 1 Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Students who complete the program in five years are eligible for a one-year teaching postdoctoral fellowship at Notre Dame.
Premier Fellowships
The Graduate School awards premier fellowships on a competitive basis. These fellowships provide full tuition, an increased stipend, and full coverage of the university's health insurance premium. For more information see the Graduate School website.
In cases where students are funded by an extramural source (e.g., a religious order), the University normally covers tuition costs.
More Details
Students are not responsible for any service to the Department during their first and fourth years.
During their second and third years, graduate students are assigned to a member of the faculty as Graduate Assistants (c. twelve hours per week during the academic year).
In their fifth year, students teach two independent courses (one of which may be deferred to a sixth year).
The Department provides travel grants for students to present papers at conferences, network with colleagues, and interview for jobs. The Graduate School and Graduate Student Association also provide grants for travel to conferences, archives, on a competitive basis.