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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
Training the next generation of interdisciplinary engineers and educators.
Application Deadline
Entrance Year | Application Deadline |
---|---|
Fall 2024 | December 15, 2023 |
Application Details
The application for fall 2025 admissions will open on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Please check back in the fall for more information.
PhD Application Timeline
- December
Application Due
Online application and materials due to The Graduate School
- January
Review Begins
Admissions committee begins reviewing applications
- 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.
Two letters of recommendation
Upload a minimum of two letters, three is the maximum.
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, recommended)
Applications to Northwestern University’s Learning Sciences and Computer Science PhD Program are GRE-optional but strongly recommended, meaning that applications submitted without scores will still 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
- CS + LS: Computer Science + Learning Sciences