Admissions
We are pleased that you are considering applying to the M.S. Program in Psychology at Wake Forest University. Below you will find detailed information about application requirements, review procedures, and resources for international applicants.
How to Apply
All applications are submitted through the Wake Forest University Graduate School.
Application Deadline: January 15. To access the online application and view the Graduate School admissions checklist, please visit:
https://graduate.wfu.edu/admissions-checklist/
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Completed online application
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Letters of recommendation
- Research statement
- GRE scores (optional)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable; see International Applicants below)
Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded for application review.
- If admitted and you accept the offer, official transcripts will be required prior to orientation.
- Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Graduate School in a sealed institutional envelope and signed across the back flap by the certifying officer.
GRE Information (Optional)
Both the General GRE and the Psychology GRE Subject Test are optional.
We encourage submission of the General GRE, but it is not required.
- GRE School Code: 5885
- TOEFL Code: B994
There are no strict cutoffs for GPA or GRE scores.
For context, recent admitted cohorts have averaged:
- GPA: 3.76
- GRE (Verbal + Quantitative): 315
These are descriptive averages — admission decisions are holistic and based on the full application.
How Applications Are Reviewed
The Psychology Department begins reviewing applications immediately after January 15.
We enroll approximately 10–16 students each year to maintain small cohorts and individualized mentorship.
Admission decisions are based on multiple factors, including:
- Academic performance
- Research experience
- Letters of recommendation
- Writing ability
- Evidence of motivation and research readiness
- Fit with faculty research interests
We do not use strict numerical cutoffs. Instead, we evaluate the overall pattern of preparation and potential for success in a rigorous, research-focused program.
Applicants without a psychology major are welcome to apply. However, students should have foundational preparation in:
- Introductory Psychology
- Research Methods
- Statistics
We do not offer assessments of specific students’ prospects for admission. See the FAQ page for additional discussion of admissions philosophy.
International Applicants
We warmly encourage applications from international students.
International students who did not graduate from colleges or universities within the U.S. and whose native language is not English must submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Duolingo English Test.
Test scores are only valid for two years from the date of the test.
- TOEFLiBT:
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80.
- For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5.
- The minimum score on the IELTS is 6.5.
- The minimum score for Duolingo is 115.
Copies of unofficial TOEF, IELTS and Duolingo test reports may be attached to the online application and used for the review process. If your student report is not available, please self-report your test scores (by category) on the online application. Official TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo scores will be required if an offer of admission has been made and accepted by the student. All official test scores will need to be received directly from the Educational Testing Services (TOEFL) or IELTS or Duolingo.
The Duolingo English Test (DET) is a standardized test(opens in a new tab) of the English language(opens in a new tab) designed to be internet-based rather than paper-based. DET is an adaptive test(opens in a new tab) that uses an algorithm to adapt the difficulty of the test to the test-taker. For more information, please visit englishtest.duolingo.com/test_takers(opens in a new tab).
https://graduate.wfu.edu/international-students/
The TOEFL bulletin of information and registration form can be obtained at American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States Information Service, United States educational commissions and foundations abroad, and at bi-national centers. Students unable to obtain a bulletin from one of the above should write to: Test of English as a Foreign Language, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6155, USA or contact the website, www.toefl.org(opens in a new tab). Administrations of TOEFL are coordinated with the GRE and are available in most countries. Correspondence should be initiated at least three months before the testing date.
The TOEFL Special Home Edition is also accepted.
IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The IELTS is available at 270 test centers worldwide. To obtain information regarding this test and the centers, please visit www.ielts.org(opens in a new tab).
STEM Designation
Our M.S. program is STEM-designated under CIP code 42.2799 (“Research and Experimental Psychology, Other”).
This designation may have implications for Optional Practical Training (OPT) eligibility for international students.
Contact Information
Questions About Your Application Status
If you have questions about the completeness of your application, please contact the Graduate School directly:
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
118-B Reynolda Village
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Phone: (336) 758-5301
Email:
Website:https://graduate.wfu.edu/
Program-Specific Questions
Dr. R. Michael Furr
Department of Psychology
Wake Forest University
P.O. Box 7778, Reynolda Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Email: