Should I specify the M.S. or Ph.D. degree?
Applicants pursuing a doctoral degree should select the Ph.D. option. Students pursuing a Ph.D. may also obtain a master's degree during their doctoral career at Northwestern University. You should select the M.S. option ONLY if you are seeking a terminal masters degree. Note that no financial aid is offered to those seeking the terminal M.S. degree.
How long does it take to get a graduate degree in EECS?
The MS program requires 12 courses/credits, which are typically completed in 4 quarters (however, it can be done in as little as 3 quarters provided 4 credits are completed in each quarter). More courses/credits may be taken (typically during the last quarter), but 12 are all that is required. Note that, for international students, simply wanting to take extra courses is not a valid reason to extend the I-20 document after the degree requirements have been completed. The MS in Information Technology (MSIT) program differs in that it is a two year program designed for working professionals, with courses held only on Saturdays.
The Ph.D. students typically defend their thesis within 4-5 years.
Are there evening courses?
No, the EECS department does not offer evening classes for graduate students. However, there are evening and/or weekend options at Northwestern: School of Continuing Studies offers a Master's Degree in Computing and Information Systems (MSCIS), obtainable by taking evening and weekend courses, and working professionals can earn a Master's in Information Technology (MSIT) in two years of Saturdays. Click the links provided to learn more about these programs.
How do I apply for financial aid?
There is no separate financial aid application. Financial aid, including tuition and stipend, is offered to all admitted doctoral students, however, no financial aid is offered to terminal Master's students. However, there are several sources of loans available, and up-to-date loan information is available here. If financial aid is not required, please include a separate letter, with your application materials, stating that you do not need aid, and briefly describing the source of your support.
The application fee is expensive, and I don't want to apply if my chances aren't good. Can you look at my resume and tell me if you think I should apply?
We receive hundreds of requests weekly, so regrettably we cannot assess individually an applicant's chances. If you feel strongly about your qualifications, we encourage you to apply.
If I applied last year, will the Department save my application for the following year?
We hold application files for two years. In all cases, an applicant has to reapply and pay a new fee in order to be considered for admission. If reapplication is done within two years, supplemental materials need not be resubmitted.
I'm an international student, but I don't have a visa yet. What can I do?
You must first be accepted by the University before any visa work can begin. International students can learn about the visa process for newly admitted students at the Northwestern University International Office website.
I'm an international applicant whose native language is not English. What must I do to demonstrate proficiency in the English language?
You are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The Graduate School considers 550 to be the minimum acceptable paper-based TOEFL score, 213 to be the minimum acceptable computer-based TOEFL score, 90 to be the minimum acceptable internet-based TOEFL score (80 for MS applicants), or 7 to be the minimum acceptable IELTS score. To be eligible for a teaching assistantship, international applicants must submit an official Test of Spoken English (TSE) score of at least 50 or score at least 26 on the TOEFL speaking section.Are there any exceptions to the TOEFL requirement for international applicants?
Yes: if you have completed your BS (or MS) degree at an institution where English is the official language of instruction.What institution and department codes should I use for the GRE and TOEFL?
The institution code for Northwestern University is 1565 for both exams. The department code doesn't matter for the GRE. Use 0000 if you need to specify something. For the paper-based TOEFL, use 01. For the Internet-based TOEFL, select the graduate office option (not undergraduate) and choose option 99 for program of interest.
What if I do not have a proper BS background (i.e., my undergraduate degree is not in any of the EE, CE or CS)?
We will still give full consideration to your application and evaluate it in the context of the current batch of applicants. However, be advised that if we admit you, the lack of background cannot be used as an excuse for poor performance in your class(es) projects and/or tests. You are more than welcome to take some of our 200-level courses that are pre-requisite(s) for the 300-level courses as part of your graduate education with us -- however, the credits earned in those 200-level courses cannot be counted towards your degree. For foreign students: although the 200-level courses' credits do not count towards the degree requirements, they do count towards maintaining your immigration status in a good standing. In other words, since foreign students are expected to be registered for a minimum of 3 courses per quarter, it is fine if some of those courses are at 200-level.
What are the deadlines for graduate applications?
Please refer to this page for up-to-date deadlines: http://www.eecs.northwestern.edu/graduate.htmlWhen are the admissions decisions made?
Most decisions for PhD admissions are typically finalized by the end of March, but some decisions may be made as late as April 15. As for MS students, we send notifications for Winter quarters in early-November, and for Spring quarters by early-February. For Fall quarter, given that the number of applications is much larger, we proceed in batches, trying to find the best match between newcoming MS students and academic advisers. The first batch typically follows shortly after the Spring MS admissions -- mid-March. Subsequent batches are processed every 2-3 weeks and may go on until June.
I've received a notification from the EECS department that I am admitted as a graduate student. What are the next step(s)?
The very first step after receiving a notification from is for you to enter your decision (accept or decline our admission offer) at ApplyYourself. Please check: http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/admitted_students/ for a more detailed guidance.
I am an international student who has been admitted to your department. What do I need to do in order to get the documents needed for a visa to enter the US?
Firstly, you need to formally accept our admission offer at ApplyYourself (see the previous question/answer for details).Subsequently, you will need to fill in the electronic request-form for the I-20 document. The form is available at:
http://www.northwestern.edu/international/forms/i20/I20DS2019RequestForm_2011.pdf
Once you've completed the form, you can email it as an attachment to the International Office of Northwestern University at: intadmit@northwestern.edu
When will I be allowed to register for classes?
Newcoming graduate students cannot register until they have arrived on campus, obtained their NU student I.D. as well as NETID. Please contact our staff in the EECS Graduate Office for any inquiries related to this matter. You should plan to arrive earlier in any case so that you can attend the orientation sessions by both TGS and EECS. Calendars: TGS / EECS
If I am admitted as an MS student and perform well during my studies, will I be considered for continuing in the PhD program?
Although we have had such cases, it is rare (approx. 6% of the students admitted to our MS program in the past have been offered to continue for a PhD) and there is absolutely *no* guarantee. It is determined on an individual basis and it is dependent upon different factors -- e.g., an adviser may receive new research funding and wishes to continue working on a project involving an MS student. Hence, one should not take for granted that an MS admission will imply continuation with the PhD program. If your aspiration is to obtain a PhD degree, please apply to the PhD program.
What about CPT and OPT?
In a nutshell, CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is an option for foreign students to gain work-experience even before they have completed their degree requirements. Students in good academic standing and with valid I-20 are eligible to apply for a CPT after they have completed a year of residency and its intended period is the Summer quarter (during the regular academic year, the students are expected to register for courses as required by the immigration laws dictating the norms for maintaining the I-20). OPT (Optional Practical Training) is typically awarded after the students have completed all the requirements for their academic degree.The first step in the internship process is to meet with your international student advisor at The International Office to determine your eligibility for either CPT or OPT. Do this before you apply for internships or jobs!
Can I transfer credits earned at another institution(s) towards my graduate degree at EECS?
Strictly speaking, as per TGS rules, there is no such thing as "automatic" credit(s) transfer. However, once you have been admitted and started your graduate program, you may petition to have a particular EECS course(s) waived, based on the course(s) taken elsewhere. To do so, you will need to provide documentation describing the content of each course from another institution (e.g., syllabus, assignments/projects) and identify an EECS course that matches it in a closest-possible manner. The coordinator of the corresponding EECS course will review your petition and make a recommendation. Be advised that this can be done for at most 3 such courses, since TGS rules require that you have at least 9 credits with your "home department" (EECS).
NOTE: in the above process, you cannot "double-count" a particular course -- i.e., if you had used a given course at another institution in the count towards a completion of you degree there (which is, it appears in the transcript based upon which you degree was conferred), then you cannot apply for such course to be "waived" as part of your graduate program with the EECS department.
Who do I contact if I have questions that are not answered here?
Click here to go to the Contact Us page for the EECS Graduate Office
