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Transfer Process

The information included on THIS site is for currently enrolled first-year and sophomore students at Notre Dame. (Information for students applying to transfer to Notre Dame from other universities can be found here.) 

Applicants to Notre Dame are admitted to the University, not to an individual school or college. However, upon application to Notre Dame, all students are asked to make a non-binding indication of the college or school and the specific major or discipline in which they intend to major. First-year class applicants who indicate an intent to enroll in the Mendoza College of Business will be informed, at the time of admission, whether or not they are preapproved to do so at the end of their first year.

A small number of students who were not preapproved to major in business will be selected to matriculate into Mendoza through an internal transfer application process. This number will include both first-year and sophomore students currently enrolled at Notre Dame, along with some students applying to Notre Dame as transfer applicants from other universities. The number of openings will be managed to ensure the University achieves the desired enrollment goal per class for Mendoza as specified by the University. 

Application Checklist and Instructions for CURRENT FIRST-YEAR/Rising Sophomore Notre Dame Students

• Notify your first-year advisor of your intentions to apply to the Mendoza College of Business during an advising meeting.
• Complete the online Mendoza College of Business transfer application found here during the application timeline noted below. 
• The application will ask you to submit an “essay” of no more than 250 words explaining as concisely as possible how you will make a difference with a business education. 

Application Checklist and Instructions for CURRENT SOPHOMORE/Rising Junior Notre Dame Students

• Notify your college/school advisor of your intentions to apply to the Mendoza College of Business during an advising meeting.
• Complete the online Mendoza College of Business transfer application for sophomore students found here during the application timeline noted below.
• The application will ask you to submit a statement of no more than 250 words explaining as concisely as possible how you will make a difference with a business education.

Please note:

It is difficult for sophomore internal transfers to complete a semester study abroad program after transferring to Mendoza.

Additional semesters will not be granted for the BBA degree.  Sophomore transfers may find it difficult to complete multiple majors or minors.

Who may apply?

Students must matriculate into the Mendoza College of Business as first-semester sophomores or first-semester juniors.  As such, only first-year and sophomore students will be eligible to apply for internal transfer.

Current First-Year Application Timelines

Current Sophomore Application Timelines

Evaluation Criteria

Academic Performance in Your First Year at Notre Dame

The Admissions Committee will evaluate each applicant's academic performance in the context of the overall rigor of the transcript incorporating grading distributions from individual course sections.  Students are expected to have demonstrated high academic achievement as noted by their cumulative GPA and via high grades in the specific courses mentioned below.

Completion of the following courses are required for Mendoza internal transfer:

• Principles of Microeconomics
• Elements of Calculus, Calculus I, or Calculus A

*Credit by examination can be used to satisfy these based on the University's AP credit policies. 

Students must demonstrate required academic progress in their current college/school.

Business-Specific Activities

Notre Dame women and men are more than just students—they are creative intellectuals with passion and multiple interests. Above all else, they are involved, in the classroom, in the community, and in the relentless pursuit of truth. For this application, however, students will be asked to list only any clubs or activities that are especially business-specific.

Personal Statement

The personal statement portion of the application is a great opportunity to take a step back and think about your reasons for pursuing a business degree. How will you make a difference with a business education? Maximum word limit: 250 (1500 characters).

 FAQs

Why has the University of Notre Dame implemented enrollment limits for the Mendoza College of Business undergraduate program?

The Mendoza College of Business experienced a significant increase in undergraduate enrollment over the past several years. To ensure the quality of the student experience within the Mendoza College of Business, as well as maintain balance in enrollment across all the colleges, the University has adopted enrollment targets for the Mendoza College of Business.

How do I notify the University of my Intention to possibly transfer to the Mendoza College of Business?

You would alert your first-year advisor (if a first-year student/rising sophomore) or your college/school advisor (if a sophomore student/rising junior) during an advising meeting and use the online applications on this webpage.

When do I apply?  

First-year students may apply after the end of their first semester at Notre Dame. Sophomores may apply after their third semester at Notre Dame. The first application window typically opens in early December with a submission deadline in January. The second application window opens in April with a submission deadline in May.

Who may apply?

Students must matriculate into the Mendoza College of Business as first-semester sophomores or first-semester juniors in order to complete the BBA degree requirements within the four-year (eight semesters) undergraduate program. The application process is highly competitive, as only a limited number of spots are available each year.

If I apply during the early deadline timeframe and I am not selected, may I apply again during the later deadline timeframe?

You only need to apply once. Students who are not selected in the first (winter) round will automatically be considered again in the second (spring) round unless they remove their name from further consideration. 

What criteria will be used to determine acceptance into Mendoza’s undergraduate business program as an internal transfer?

The Mendoza College of Business uses a holistic review process for internal transfer applicants that considers relevant academic performance, and business-related accomplishments, and reasons for pursuing a business education. It should be noted that there are no guarantees of acceptance and the process will be exceptionally competitive.

Will I be assured of my choice of major in the Mendoza College of Business?

The Mendoza College of Business is committed to admit as many students as possible into their choice of business major. Presently, there are no limits on enrollment in available majors, although some have minimum grade requirements in certain prerequisite courses. You can learn more about Mendoza majors here.

Where do I find the application for internal transfer?

The application is available on the Mendoza Undergraduate website above. More information regarding the Mendoza internal transfer process may also be found above.

When will I hear my decision?

First-round decisions will be released by February and second-round decisions by early June. If a student has been accepted to the Mendoza College of Business as an internal transfer, they will need to accept or decline that offer by the deadline specified in their acceptance notification.

If I am not admitted, will I still be able to take business classes?

Notre Dame offers many options to non-business students who wish to supplement their studies with business courses. Mendoza currently offers five minors to non-business students: Accounting, Marketing, Foundations of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Real Estate. Note: The Minor in Foundations of Business is available to students in the College of Arts & Letters, the College of Science, and the Keough School of Global Affairs.

• Last Edited February 12, 2025

Advising Tools (Advising)

Graduation Progress System

Available on your Student Academic Tab on insideND, the Graduation Progress System (or GPS as it’s more commonly known) tracks all your graduation requirements including University, College, Major and 2nd major or minor (if officially declared) as well as electives.  It offers a What If? feature that helps you explore majors and minors you’re considering and calculates your major GPA.  We recommend you refer to it before registering to make sure you’re clear on your outstanding requirements and after registration to ensure your courses were properly categorized.  Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of an advisor for clarification and correction.

Plan of Study

With assistance from an advisor, students receive a personalized plan of study to ensure you understand the requirements that lie ahead.  This baseline plan becomes the basis for all future registration planning and should be updated regularly to incorporate actual classes completed and new goals such as study abroad, second majors and/or minors.  These plans are housed on your Google Drive/Shared With Me. This provides easy access by both student and advisors. If you wish to update your plan, you must create a new tab by right clicking on the most recent tab, select Duplicate, rename it with the current date and make your changes.

While there is some flexibility in scheduling, it is highly recommended that students follow the sequencing laid out on their reviewed plan of study as closely as possible.  Any deviations should be discussed with an advisor to ensure you stay on track and minimize complicated course loads etc.

Sample Plan of Study 

Peer Tutoring

Peer tutoring in select core Business courses is available at no charge to students.  Students in the Notre Dame Business Honors Program are offering tutoring services for various courses within the Mendoza College of Business.  If you are in need of a tutor, please schedule a tutoring session on the BHP website here.  

For additional information, contact Abby Zelenka (azelenka@nd.edu), BHP Program Coordinator.

• Last Edited December 19, 2024