1. I am trying to decide whether or not to apply to Northwestern. Would you be able to give me a idea of the minimum standards for admission?

Most successful applicants to our program have math and analytic GRE scores above the 90th percentile. Applicants receiving financial aid generally have math and analytic GRE scores above the 95th percentile. The Graduate School indicates that scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE should typically be well above 600, and the analytic section score should be above 4.5. These scores do not represent rigid requirements, and many applicants with lower scores have been accepted and given financial aid because of other outstanding characteristics, such as superb reference letters or excellent performance as undergraduates. Foreign students must also meet the minimum required TOEFL/IELTS (see below).

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2. If I e-mail you my resume, can you tell me if I am likely to be admitted to your program?

It is not possible to review potential applicants' records outside of the formal application procedure. To be considered for admission, a completed application along with the supporting documents is required. Please do not email the department with your resume unless requested.

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3. How many applications do you receive each year and how many applicants do you admit?

The program receives approximately 600 applications each year. Each year, the department admits about 18 to 25 applicants.

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4. I would like to seek a master's degree but not a Ph.D.. May I apply to your program?

Students desiring a Masters degree as a terminal degree should apply to a program specifically directed towards that goal. Our program is designed as a Ph.D. program, so normally we do not accept students seeking only a master's degree. A rare exception may be made for a Northwestern Ph.D. student in another discipline who wants to also receive a master's degree in Economics.

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5. How many students do you have in the program?

Approximately 105 to 110.

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6. Do you accept international students?

Full consideration is given to all applicants. We currently have students from 33 different counties in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, and North and South America.

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7. Do you offer a part-time Ph.D. program?

There is no part-time study available to applicants to the Department of Economics.

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8. Can I undertake non-degree study at Northwestern?

Applicants who wish to apply for non-degree special student status with The Graduate School must meet the same admission requirements and deadlines that apply to regular applicants applying to the Ph.D. program in economics. These students are not eligible for financial aid or loans.

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9. What are the departmental policies regarding dual-degree programs?

The University offers a joint J.D./Ph.D. program which is open to a small number of students who intend to pursue an academic careers and whose teaching and research will be enriched by both a J.D. and Ph.D. degree. The program is designed to allow students to complete both degrees more efficiently than they would through consecutive degree programs. Students must be admitted by both the Department of Economics and the Law School.

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10. What is the attrition rate from your program?

Of the 225 students who entered our program during the past decade, 6% left the program during the course of the first year, usually for personal rather than academic reasons. Another 10% left after failing some or all of the qualifying examinations held at the end of the first year. Overall, about 70% of our entering students are awarded a Ph.D., with a typical time to completion of five to six years.

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11. How do I apply?

Please read the "Admissions" section of this website. It answers all of your questions on the applications procedures, and the forms and documentation you must submit.

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12. Does the department review applications on a rolling basis?

No. Applicants are considered for admission to the fall term only. The application period begins in October of each year and ends December 31, the deadline to submit the application and all supporting materials.

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13. What is the deadline for applying?

Applications and supporting materials must be postmarked December 31 to meet the application deadline for all applicants.

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14. Can the application fee ever be waived?

The Graduate School will not consider an application unless accompanied by the appropriate fee. The sole exception is the Committee on Institutional Cooperation "FreeApp" program for minority students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

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15. I intend to seek a Ph.D. Under "Degree Sought" on the application, should I choose "Ph.D." or "MA/MS-Ph.D."? Is my eligibility for financial aid affected by the choice?

This distinction exists on the application form for the use of other departments. The economics department treats all applicants the same in all respects, including eligibility for financial aid. Any Ph.D. candidate successfully completing qualifying examinations and a residency requirement may receive a master's degree.

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16. Should I report my GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores to The Graduate School directly?

Educational Testing Service (ETS), who manage the GRE and TOEFL tests, and IELTS are required to report their official test scores directly to the University. We recommend that you also send a photocopy of your score report to the department, if it is available, at the time you complete your application. Please be reminded however, these scores are not considered official unless they are reported directly to the University by ETS or IELTS.

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17. What is the latest date that the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS can be taken without risking the score not meeting the deadline?

Applicants are strongly encouraged to register early for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS as incomplete applications can cause a delay in giving full consideration to your application. The web sites of these testing organizations show test dates and approximate score report mailing dates. The applicant should plan to have the results of their tests available by the December 31 application deadline.

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18. May I substitute some other exam such as the GMAT or LSAT for the verbal, quantitative, and analytic sections of the GRE?

You must take those three parts of the GRE. There are no exceptions.

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19. Do I have to take the economics section of the GRE?

Though not required, this section is a positive factor if the applicant's score is strong.

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20. What is the language requirement for international students?

Applicants from countries where the native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination unless they attended an English-speaking institution in an English-speaking country for all years of their undergraduate degree. If you are in any doubt as to whether your undergraduate degree exempts you from the TOEFL/IELTS, it is always advisable to take the test and sunbmit the results with your supporting materials. If you do have to take the test, you must score a minimum of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam, 250 on the computer-based TOEFL exam, 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall band score of 7.0 on the IELTS (with a minimum score in each of the four sections - reading, writing, listening, and speaking - of 6.5). The test should have been taken in the past two years.

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21. May I substitute some other similar test?

No exam may be substituted for the TOEFL/IELTS.

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22. English is not my native language, but I have already attended a college in America or another English-speaking country. Do I have to take the TOEFL/IELTS exam?

You are only exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS is you attended an English-speaking institution in an English-speaking country for all years of your undergraduate degree. If you attended an institution in an English-speaking country for a graduate degree, but your undergraduate degree is from a non-English-speaking country or institution, the Department of Economics requires that you take the TOEFL/IELTS. This is a stricter requirement than that of The Graduate School and reflects the fact that successful graduate study in economics depends crucially on your ability to understand, read, write and speak English.

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23. Should international applicants also take the TSE when applying?

Admission and first-year financial aid requires meeting the requirements described in FAQ #20. Applicants who have taken the internet-based TOEFL exam and scored 26 or higher on the speaking section of the TOEFL are not required to take the TSE. If you took the paper or computer-based versions of the TOEFL or the IELTS, it is highly recommended that you also take the TSE. A score of 26 on the speaking section of the internet-based TOEFL or a score of 50 on the TSE is a requirement for all international students whose native language is not English and would like to be considered for funding as a Teaching Assistant in the second year of their Ph.D. studies. You must have completed your spoken English qualification by July 31 at the end of your first year to be eligible for continued funding. If required, we recommend that you take the TSE early and often! Doing so before you arrive at Northwestern is beneficial.

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24. Does Northwestern require that letters of recommendation be written on a form the university provides?

The university does not provide recommendation forms. The applicant should request that a recommendation letter be composed on the school's letterhead and placed in the school's envelope with the recommender's written signature across the seal. Alternatively, letters can be submitted on-line (see answer to the next question).

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25. Can letters of recommendation be submitted electronically?

Yes. The people submitting reference letters on your behalf may send their letters electronically through our application system. In your initial on-line application you will be asked to provide the names and contact information for each recommender, whether they will be submitting electronically or on paper. For those recommenders that wish to submit their letter electronically, be sure to mark "Yes" for the online submission question on the Provider Input Form. Once your have submitted your application, an email will be sent to the on-line recommender with an access code and instructions on how to proceed with the online recommendation. When the recommender submits their letter to our office it will become a part of your application. You can view the status of your online recommendations each time you log into your application account.

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26. Can I provide more than two letters of recommendation?

You do not need to have more than two letters of recommendation, but you can have more if you want to.

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27. Suppose that I apply and am not admitted. May I ask you to reconsider me next year? Do I have to repay the application fee?

The Graduate School does not maintain any documentation from previous applications. To reapply, you must submit an entirely new application and fee.

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28. Suppose that I apply and am admitted but I want to delay my admission one year. May I receive a deferred admission? If I received financial aid, may this be deferred?

It is possible to defer admission by 12 months to the start of the Fall Quarter of the following year (it is only possible to start the program in the Fall Quarter). Students who wish to defer their admission must notify us in writing. Granting of permission to defer admission is subject to approval by the department and The Graduate School, and any funding arrangements are not guaranteed and are subject to renegotiation.

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For additional FAQ's:

General University Admission FAQ's

University Financial Aid Information

Back to Admissions

Back to Applications Process