Application Requirements

• The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern graduate student, how could you contribute to an intellectual community that prioritizes equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural humility? Your answer may draw upon past or present experiences, whether in academic work, extracurricular or community activities, or everyday life.

• Northwestern will accept applications from international students earning a three-year bachelor's degree.
• The academic records we refer to as "transcripts" should provide a listing, year-by-year, of all courses taken and the grades or marks received for each one.
• An official English translation of all transcripts submitted must be provided. Northwestern requires literal, certified translations for all documents issued in a language other than English. We accept translations from the institution issuing the transcript, ATA certified translators, or from the consulate.

The "Courses Taken" form lets applicants applying to our economics-based programs highlight advanced-level college/university courses that directly support their chosen field of study and proficiency of the subject matter. The form allows for up to six (6) advanced courses in each specific area. If you cannot access our form, you may create and upload a form that contains the same information in applicable areas of study.

The form is required for those applying to the following programs:

• Accounting Information & Management form
• Finance form
• Financial Economics form
• Operations Management form

The form is highly recommended for those applying to the following programs:

• Managerial Economics & Strategy form
• Marketing (quantitative) form

• A description of the nature of your relationship. Did you take one or more classes with the professor? The letter should also provide a ranking – how you compared to other students. 
• A description of a research project or honor’s thesis, discussing the quality of the work, technical and writing skills, research methods used, data analysis, originality, depth of research undertaken, questions/problems raised, contribution to the field, etc.

• Your academic abilities and insights on your character and working style – ability to work on your own, self-starter, complete a project on time, etc. 
• Any research or data analysis you have done within the scope of your work.

If your native language is not English, Northwestern requires that you certify proficiency in the English language in ONE of the following ways:

• TOELF - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Your TOEFL score must be 600 or higher on the paper-based exam, 250 or higher on the computer-based exam, or 100 or higher on the Internet-based exam. TOEFL test scores through their at home testing service are accepted. The TOEFL test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. 
• IELTS - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS Academic test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (fall quarter). IELTS test takers should score 7.0 or higher. IELTS scores through their at home testing service are accepted. 
• MET - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the Michigan English Test. The MET test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. MET test takers should score 70 or higher. 
• Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English. - If not indicated on the transcript, documentation regarding English instruction should be included with your application. This degree must be awarded before you enroll in doctoral classes in the upcoming fall quarter at Northwestern.
• Automatically Waived - Applicants that are citizens from the following countries where English is the native language will have the requirement automatically waived upon submission of the application (Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Israel, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. Kellogg does not require the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Unofficial test score reports are used during the application review process; official test scores are required only if admissions is recommended.

Waivers to the TOEFL or IELTS exam requirement are provided after an application is submitted. Please allow seven (7) business days for your application to be evaluated after submission. Applicants may track their application status within the online application and once complete, a waiver will be noted within the application.