About the University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is a private, four-year university located in South Bend, Indiana, about 90 miles east of Chicago. Known for its Catholic tradition and rich undergraduate experience, Notre Dame is among the top 20 (U.S. News & World Report) universities in the United States and is a great place for international students to experience a culturally immersive study experience. The vibrant campus, athletic, and academic environment make Notre Dame one of the most sought after universities in the United States.

American Summer and Semester Programs

Notre Dame offers American Summer Programs for international high school and undergraduate students. The programs provide a hands-on and intensive academic, cultural, and leadership experience on the Notre Dame campus. Students in these programs work directly with Notre Dame faculty in classrooms and laboratories, as well as take part in academic and cultural excursions outside of the classroom.

For High School Students

For international high school students age 15-17 we offer two summer programs:

International Leadership, Enrichment, and Development (iLED)

The International Leadership, Enrichment, and Development (iLED) program is a two-week curriculum taught by Notre Dame faculty with a focus on international leadership. It includes lectures by professors, hands-on learning, collaborative projects, business and community engagement, and many extracurricular activities such as a trip to Chicago and opportunities to meet with representatives from Notre Dame’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

iLED students take courses at the College of Engineering, College of Science, Mendoza College of Business, College of Arts and Letters, and the School of Architecture. With courses relating to every college at Notre Dame, the program offers the best exposure to life at Notre Dame and broadens students’ understanding and knowledge on the disciplines of science, engineering, humanities, business, social sciences, arts, and architecture.

International Summer Physics Institute (iSPI)

The International Summer Physics Institute (iSPI) is a two-week intensive science program on the most intense and cutting-edge science: particle physics. The program strengthens students’ existing knowledge of physics and supplements it with advanced knowledge to investigate questions in physics using particle physics data.

For the experiments, students use real data from the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) laboratory in Switzerland. They assemble and test detectors in the laboratory to study cosmic rays and draw raw data from their particle physics experiments. Students also visit the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).

Students on iSPI also take part in many extracurricular activities such as a trip to Chicago and opportunities to meet with representatives from Notre Dame’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Program Cost

iLED and iSPI have a program cost of $4000 each, which includes:

• Tuition
• Housing in an on-campus dormitory
• Three meals per day
• Welcome dinner and closing reception
• All program-sponsored activities
• Medical insurance
• Ground transportation for all program activities and airport pickup/drop-off at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

The cost does not include personal expenses, flight, and any visa and passport fees.

TOEFL/SAT/ACT Preparation Week

iLED and iSPI students can participate in an optional third week that prepares them with expert staff instruction for TOEFL, SAT, and ACT exams. The cost of this additional week is $2,000.

For University Students

The American Semester Abroad Program (ASAP) is a semester/academic year long, credit-bearing program that allows undergraduate students to take 12-18 credits per semester. Undergraduate students attending ASAP will be fully integrated into student life at Notre Dame. Students will receive an official Notre Dame transcript upon completion of the program.

Program Highlights

• Welcome orientation and activities
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP) training
• Face-to-face Q&A sessions with Graduate School admissions staff
• Living on campus as part of the Notre Dame community
• Access to campus facilities
• 3-4 day academic excursion over mid-term break to a major destination (for example: New York, Washington, or similar)

Program Cost

The program cost of a semester ranges from $22,000-$28,000 depending on course load, which includes:

• Tuition and fees
• Housing in an on-campus dormitory
• Three meals per day
• Medical insurance
• Excursions, trips, and all other program-sponsored activities

The cost does not include books, personal expenses, travel to and from Notre Dame, and any visa and passport fees.