Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation Graduate Opportunity
Notre Dame agrees to reserve a maximum of two seats each academic year for graduates from Holy Cross in the ESTEEM Graduate Program at Notre Dame, subject to Notre Dame’s sole discretion in evaluation and admission decisions.
About the Program
ESTEEM emphasizes the action of entrepreneurship, not just the study of it. By the time they graduate, due to the rigorous academic experience, exposure to real-life business ventures, and exceptional mentorship, ESTEEM students find their technical skills impactful and marketable in a rapidly changing economy. Students are launched into career tracks outside of narrow technical roles, taking positions of leadership at the intersection of business and innovation.
Over the course of this 11-month master of science degree program at the University of Notre Dame, students from technical backgrounds are equipped with the skills and experience to launch new businesses, become innovators within large corporations, and be leaders of dynamic, innovative teams. Students are immersed in an entrepreneurial sandbox, where they get their hands dirty with entrepreneurship and innovation through a cutting-edge curriculum, a capstone commercialization project for an emerging technology, and outstanding out-of-the-classroom experiences.
How it Works
To be eligible for consideration for the reserved seats, Holy Cross applicants must submit their completed admissions application for early decision consideration by ESTEEM’s early December deadline and meet the following criteria:
- Science (biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, neuroscience, physics and psychology), engineering, and economics or mathematics major or minors;
- Non-STEM majors who can demonstrate some level of technical proficiency—either through undergraduate coursework (i.e., some level of math, statistics, science, etc.), research efforts, internship and/or job experience, familiarity with software and technical tools, being very tech savvy, etc.;
- An overall GPA of 3.5 or above;
- A written recommendation of the Dean or department chair as one of the three (3) required recommendations for admissions.
- Complete admissions interview
Candidates who meet the above criteria and who are admitted to the ESTEEM program will automatically be awarded a 50% tuition scholarship. They will remain eligible for consideration for additional need-based awards from ESTEEM.
For context, the average total of merit- and need-based financial assistance from ESTEEM to the students of the 2023–2024 cohort was $30,000.
Any candidate who fails to meet the above criteria or who is not selected for admission to the reserved seats may apply through Notre Dame's normal process during the academic year admissions deadlines are available on the ESTEEM website.
Notre Dame will continue to give normal consideration to any Holy Cross students who:
- Have completed, or are on track to complete, their undergraduate degree with a strong record of academic achievement and a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Submit a completed application for admissions along with the required essays, three letters of recommendation, resume/CV and transcripts
- Complete admissions interview
