The University of Notre Dame in the United States has opened graduate applications for its 2027 intake, offering prospective PhD students an opportunity to receive comprehensive financial support through the Richard and Peggy Notebaert Premier Fellowship.
The fellowship is designed for incoming doctoral students who are admitted to eligible full-time graduate programs at Notre Dame. Selected fellows can receive full tuition coverage, an annual living allowance of $46,000 to $48,000, and full coverage of the premium for the university-sponsored student health insurance plan.
Applicants do not need to submit a separate application for the fellowship. Students must first apply for admission to an eligible graduate program, after which academic departments nominate candidates for consideration.
What the Notebaert Fellowship Covers
The Richard and Peggy Notebaert Premier Fellowship provides financial support throughout the year, including both tuition and a living allowance.
Selected fellows can receive between $46,000 and $48,000 annually, with the exact amount depending on their academic program.
The university also covers the full premium for its student health insurance plan.
Another benefit is priority access to funding for eligible professional development activities. Fellows may receive additional support for activities such as attending academic conferences, presenting research, undertaking research trips and participating in other professional opportunities.
Notre Dame guarantees five years of fellowship support, provided students continue making satisfactory progress toward their degree.
The university says the fellowship is supported through the largest single gift it has received for graduate education.
Who Can Apply?
Students interested in the fellowship must first gain admission to a full-time graduate program at the University of Notre Dame.
International students are also eligible to apply for graduate admission and can be considered for the fellowship.
Notre Dame’s general graduate admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Individual departments may impose additional requirements for their respective PhD programs. Students are therefore advised to carefully review the admission criteria of their chosen department before submitting an application.
Admission to a graduate program does not automatically guarantee that a student will receive the Notebaert Fellowship. Departments nominate candidates based on factors including their academic record and potential for graduate-level study.
English Language Requirements
International applicants who are required to demonstrate English proficiency can submit results from accepted language tests.
Notre Dame lists minimum scores for several examinations, including:
- IELTS: 7.0 overall
- Duolingo English Test: 120 overall
- TOEFL iBT: 80 overall on the 120-point scale, including at least 23 in Speaking
- Updated TOEFL iBT scale: 4.5 average, with no section below 4.0
Applicants should check their selected program’s requirements because departments may have additional conditions.
PhD Programs Available
The University of Notre Dame offers doctoral programs across a broad range of academic fields.
These include areas such as science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, global affairs and business.
Prospective students should use the university’s graduate program directory to identify programs that match their academic and research interests.
The program directory also provides information about individual departments, admission requirements and relevant department contacts.
Application Deadlines Vary by Program
There is no single deadline for all Notre Dame PhD programs. The application deadline depends on the department and program selected by the applicant.
For fall admission, listed deadlines range from December 1 through January 15 for different programs.
Some of the earlier deadlines include December 1 for programs such as Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Integrated Biomedical Sciences, International Peace Studies, Psychology, Sustainable Development and joint Peace Studies programs.
Other programs have deadlines later in December or January. These include Computer Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Mathematics, Sociology, History and several engineering disciplines.
Applicants should confirm the deadline directly with their selected department before applying.
Some programs also offer spring admission. Listed spring deadlines include October 1 for Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, while Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering list an October 15 deadline.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare several documents before starting their graduate application.
These generally include academic transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, a statement of intent describing their academic and research plans, and a CV or résumé.
Students are also required to provide three recommendation letters.
Depending on the program, applicants may additionally need English proficiency scores, GRE results, writing samples, portfolios or other department-specific materials.
Because requirements can vary considerably between programs, prospective students should review the instructions for their chosen department carefully.
How to Apply
Students interested in the Notebaert Premier Fellowship should begin by selecting an eligible PhD program at Notre Dame.
After reviewing the program’s admission requirements and deadline, applicants can access the 2027 graduate application through the university’s admissions portal.
They must complete the online application, upload the required documents and provide contact information for three referees.
There is no separate fellowship application. Fellowship consideration takes place through the graduate admission process and departmental nominations.
Students seeking this opportunity should therefore focus on submitting a complete graduate application by the deadline specified by their chosen PhD program.
The fellowship offers international and domestic applicants an opportunity to pursue doctoral study in the United States with substantial financial support, including tuition, living expenses, health insurance and professional development opportunities.
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