| Application Process
STEP 1: COMPLETE THE UNIVERSITY'S ON-LINE APPLICATION FORM
All applicants must first complete the University's standard on-line application form, and pay the application fee. Applications can be made after October 1st of the application year. Go to the Graduate School's website at www.tgs.northwestern.edu and click on "Admission" then "Apply Online." As part of the application, you will be asked to write a statement of purpose. Please see the notes below concerning the content of such a statement. Also note that the Department does not consider writing samples. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
Program Code for the Ph.D. program in economics is E05PH.
Application Fee: The fee is $75.00. The application fee must be paid by credit card when making the on-line application.
Deadline: For all applicants who wish to begin study in the fall quarter; the on-line application must be made and all supporting documents (see below) should be postmarked by the December 31. Applicants are considered for admission to the fall term only. There are no winter or spring admissions.
Minority Applicants: The Department of Economics welcomes applications by minority students. Northwestern participates in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) and accepts the CIC FreeApp. Interested minority applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a serious intent to pursue a career in teaching and academic research may use the CIC FreeApp to request an application fee waiver at Northwestern. Eligibility criteria and the CIC FreeApp on-line application can be found at the CIC site:
www.cic.uiuc.edu/programs/FreeApp/
Statement of Purpose: Please note that for most applicants, this document has little bearing on the admissions decisions. If the applicant has a "normal" background that included some math and some economics courses in college and if they have not spent too many years in school or out of school, then they need not really write a lengthy statement. Applicants with an unusual history (e.g., having unusually weak background in math and economics, taking many years to complete college, or graduated from college many years ago, etc.), unusual achievements (serious published research in any field of study, international grand master in chess, winners of math competitions, etc.), or unusual interests should use this statement to explain briefly these aspects.
Writing Samples: The standard University application allows the possibility of submission of writing samples. The Economics Department does not require writing samples. Please do not submit anything in this section, as it will not be considered as part of your application. If you have any research papers you wish us to consider as part of the application, send a hard copy with your supporting materials rather than submitting anything electronically.
For more Information: For more information on the University's admission process, see The Graduate School information at:
www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/admissionprocess/.
STEP 2: SUBMIT SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Your on-line application will be processed by the Graduate School and forwarded to the Department of Economics. You should then send your supporting materials directly to the Economics Department. Mail them to:
Office of Graduate Studies
Northwestern University
Department of Economics
2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-2600, USA
A detailed listing and description of the supporting materials can be found at: Supporting Materials
STEP 3: COMPLETE THE GRE
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for all applicants applying to the Ph.D. program in economics. Scores must be reported directly by ETS (The Educational Testing Service) to the Graduate School to be considered official. You should include a photocopy of your GRE scores, if you have them, as part of your supporting materials. However these scores are not considered official unless they are reported directly to the Graduate School by ETS. Information on the GRE can be obtained from:
www.gre.org
The institution code for Northwestern University if 1565, and the Economics Department code is 1801.
STEP 4: CERTIFY ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Your success in graduate study of economics depends on your ability to understand, read, write and speak English. If English is not your native language, evidence of proficiency in its use will be decisive in reviewing your application for admission. Because of the nature of economics, the Department has stricter language requirements than the minimum required by the University.
You can demonstrate English proficiency in only three ways:
- be a native English speaker;
- by earning an undergraduate degree in an English-speaking country at an accredited institution where the language of instruction is also English, and you attended this institution for all years of your undergraduate study; or
- by providing official scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination.
Earning a graduate degree in an English-speaking country, without having attended an English-speaking institution in an English-speaking country for your undergraduate degree, is insufficient demonstration of proficiency in English. You should take the TOEFL/IELTS to support your admission to the Department of Economics.
Students taking the TOEFL must score a minimum of 600 on the paper-based exam, 250 on the computer-based exam, or 100 on the internet-based exam. Students taking the IELTS must have a minimum overall band score of 7.0, and a minimum score in each of the four sections (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) of 6.5. The tests should have been taken in the past two years. Results of the TOEFL/IELTS test are reported directly to the Graduate School. However, if you already have your results, submit a photocopy with your supporting materials. Details on the TOEFL are available from:
www.toefl.org
The institution code for Northwestern University if 1565, and the relevant department code of 01. If you are taking the computer-based examination, when prompted, request that your scores be sent to the graduate office (versus the undergraduate office) and then select the program name that most closely matches Economics.
Information on the IELTS is available from: www.ielts.org
An international student wishing to be considered for appointment as a Teaching Assistant, a common form of financial support in the second and subsequent years, must have a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE), taken no more than two years before consideration for appointment. However, applicants who have taken the internet-based TOEFL exam and scored 26 or higher on the speaking section of the TOEFL may not be required to submit TSE scores. If you are not taking the internet-based TOEFL exam, the Department of Economics recommends that applicants take the TSE prior to arrival. Results of the TSE test are reported directly to the Graduate School. However, if you already have your results, submit a photocopy with your supporting materials. Details on the TSE are available from: www.ets.org/tse/
STEP 5: THE DECISION PROCESS
Your application form and supporting materials are consider by the Department's Admissions Committee. The committee also decides whether to offer financial aid. You will be notified if you have been admitted, and whether you will be offered financial aid, by April 1. Successful applicants then have until April 15 to notify the department of their decision.
STEP 6: VISAS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
For general information on the visa process once you have been admitted, please visit Northwestern's International Office website at www.northwestern.edu/international
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