How to Apply

Please visit our FAQ section for additional information about the admissions process and application materials. If you do not see your question answered below, please contact:

Program Assistant, Tammy Wen (tammy.wen@northwestern.edu)
Director of Faculty Services and Doctoral Student Affairs, Megan Redfearn (m-redfearn@northwestern.edu)

Take the next step

Advance the understanding and practice of teaching and learning.

Apply online

Application Deadline

Application Deadlines for the Learning Sciences PhD
Entrance Year	Application Opens	Application Deadline
Fall 2026	Monday, September 29	Tuesday, December 2, 2025

PhD Application Timeline

September
Application Opens
The application portal for the fall 2026 admissions cycle will open on Tuesday, September 10.
December
Application Due
Online application and materials due to The Graduate School on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
January
Review Begins
Admissions committee issues interview invitations
February
Interview Invitations
Admissions committee issues interview invitations
March
Decision Letters
Admissions committee releases decision letters
April
Offer Deadline
Deadline for admitted candidates to accept the admissions offer

Application Requirements

The Graduate School’s Online Application

Applicants can start or continue their application here. All application documents must be uploaded and submitted electronically. We do not accept paper copies of application documents.

Three letters of recommendation

The admission committee is interested in letters of recommendation from those who are most able to assess your academic, professional, and research abilities in areas related to your field of study. When considering a recommender, choose individuals familiar with your work who can speak to your academic and research accomplishments and your potential for graduate study.

Personal statement

Write a statement in response to this prompt (500-word max.)

Academic statement

Write a statement in response to the following questions (1000-word max.)

Resume/CV

Upload your resumé/curriculum vitae (CV) to the online application.

Writing sample

Upload a writing sample to the online application.

Post-secondary unofficial transcripts

Only unofficial transcripts need to be uploaded in the online application.

$95 application fee (non-refundable)

Fee waivers remain available for domestic applicants on a rolling basis. More information about eligibility and criteria here. Please check back in fall 2024 for the status of fee waivers for international applicants.

Additional Requirements

English Proficiency Scores (International Applicants Only)

Applicants will get the English Proficiency test requirement for TOEFL or IELTS automatically waived if an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned from an institution that instructs primarily in English.

The TGS's school code for TOEFL is 1565. Click here for more information about TOEFL scores.

GRE Scores (Optional)

Applications to Northwestern University’s Learning Sciences PhD Program are GRE-optional, meaning that applications submitted without scores will be given full consideration. In all cases, we will evaluate traditional measures of academic success including undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA (if applicable), performance in courses requiring rigorous quantitative and qualitative reasoning, independent writing samples, and letters of recommendation. GRE scores when submitted will be considered along with these other measures.

Have Questions?

Get in touch with us or attend an upcoming information session.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What do all these acronyms (NU, SESP, TGS, HDSP, LS, CS + LS) mean?

We like to use a lot of acronyms! Here are common ones you might encounter during the application process:

NU: Northwestern University
SESP: School of Education and Social Policy (SES · p)
TGS: The Graduate School
LS: Learning Sciences

What kind of academic system does Northwestern follow?

Northwestern follows a quarter system.

Can I request an individual visit?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate individual visits to campus due to a high volume of applicants. However, there is an option to do a self-guided campus tour or register for a guided campus visit with the Segal Visitors Center. We will plan your visit to campus as part of the last steps of the admissions process.

Can I connect or meet with a current student?

This is one of the ways to gain valuable insight about a current student’s experiences and perspectives in a program. It will depend on the student’s consent and availability to connect with you via email, Zoom or in-person.You can reach out to a student directly using their emails on the website or share your research interests/areas with the Program Assistant to get in touch with a current student from there.

I thought the programs were offered under SESP. Why is the application showing that I’m applying to The Graduate School (TGS)?

This is very confusing! While the faculty and the courses are in the School of Education and Social Policy, all Northwestern Doctoral Programs are administered under the umbrella of The Graduate School. This allows for more centralized and consistent processes around admissions, and policies like funding and curriculum. As a SESP/TGS student you’ll have access to resources and support from both SESP and TGS.

Application Questions

I’m not able to start a new application. What should I do?

The application typically resets and opens again in the fall of the following year. Please check back in September.

When will the application be available?

The application for fall 2024 admissions went live on September 14, 2023. You can start or continue your application here.

Where can I start an application?

All application materials should be uploaded and submitted electronically to The Graduate School’s online application. We do not accept physical documents.

I’m not able to submit or upload my documents. What should I do?

Some applicants are unable to upload their resume because of unreadable Adobe fonts. If you are experiencing difficulty with uploading your materials, please get in touch with the Program Assistant for further support.

Is there an application fee waiver?

The Graduate School (TGS) is able to provide a limited number of fee waivers to domestic and U.S. applicants. Learn about criteria and waiver request steps here.

The fee waiver availability for international applicants is pending. Please complete this interest form for future updates.

What are the deadlines for fall 2024 admissions?

Human Development and Social Policy: Friday, December 1, 2023.
Learning Sciences: Friday, December 15th, 2023.
Computer Science and Learning Sciences: Friday, December 15th, 2023.

When do the programs matriculate?

Applications will be for fall 2024 intake only.

Do I need a master’s degree to apply?

All three programs at SESP do not require a master’s degree for PhD admission. The Human Development and Social Policy program does have a reduced number of courses for students who enter with a Master’s degree.

What does the admissions committee look for in the writing sample?

Applicants should be the sole author. Former applicants have used their undergraduate or master’s theses, published papers, policy reports, class papers, etc. from previous application cycles for the writing sample component. We don’t require a specific number of pages or word count. Papers also do not need to be published. Longer writing samples can be accompanied with a cover letter noting the specific pages or sections for the admissions committee to focus on.

Is Professor _________ available or accepting students for this admission’s cycle?

Unlike other doctoral programs, students are admitted without an advisor and assigned a temporary advisor in their first year while they refine their research and academic goals. Students are permitted to change and finalize their advisor by the end of the first year. Faculty members listed as “core faculty” have the capacity to serve as advisors to PhD students.

Should I contact a faculty member before applying?

We encourage you to reach out to faculty who align with your research interest. Keep in mind, they may be receiving many queries so it may take them a little while to connect with you. Please feel free to send a follow up note if you don’t hear back. Applicants are not required to contact faculty members as part of our admissions process. Please note that your application will not be impacted if you don’t reach out or you don’t hear back from a faculty member. However, it will strengthen your application to have identified 1-3 faculty members who align with your research interests.

What kinds of transcripts should be uploaded?

Students only need to upload and submit unofficial transcripts for their online application. Official transcripts from previous institutions are only required upon admittance and enrollment.

Is there a preference for the letters of recommendation?

The admissions committee will accept academic and professional references. It is strongly advised that at least one of the letters comes from someone who can speak to your academic/research competencies.

I studied or majored in _______. Can I still apply?

We don’t require or prioritize specific areas of study. Students have entered the programs with a range of backgrounds and disciplines. Some students have joined us from academia/research or professional experiences gained in areas such as education, economics, public policy, psychology, sociology, etc.

Program Questions

Can I apply to more than one PhD program?

You can only apply to one PhD/TGS program per academic year. Additional applications will not be reviewed, and application fees will not be refunded.

Which programs have STEM OPT eligibility?

The Computer Science + Learning Sciences is the only PhD program eligible for STEM OPT extension as of October 2023 at SESP. Human Development and Social Policy and the Learning Sciences programs currently do not have a STEM-designation status. Their statuses may be subject to change in the future.

What is the lecturer-to-student ratio?

PhD classes can range from 4-20 students per class, with most classes averaging about 10 students.

Can I earn a master's degree en route to a PhD?

Yes, this is possible. Some students will earn a Master’s in Statistics during their time in the program (due to several cross-listed courses with the Statistics department) but this is not a program requirement for students. Students can earn certificates as well during their PhD candidacy. Students in the HDSP program can earn a HDSP Master’s after completion of the Trial Research. Students in CS+LS can earn a CS Master’s degree.