Northwestern engineering graduate admission for international students runs through The Graduate School (TGS) for PhD and most research master’s programmes at the McCormick School of Engineering, while professional master’s programmes such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and Data Science take applications on their own sites. PhD deadlines for fall 2027 fall between 1 December and 31 December 2026, depending on the department. The TGS application fee is $95, English needs TOEFL or IELTS (Duolingo is not accepted), and the GRE is set by each programme. Electrical and Computer Engineering has said it will not require the GRE for fall 2027.
The money picture is simple. PhD students are funded for at least five years in science and engineering, with a stipend, full tuition scholarship and subsidised health insurance, and international students are funded the same way as domestic students. Master’s students are not funded by TGS and pay $23,662 a quarter in 2026-27. Every figure below was checked on Northwestern pages on 29 October 2026 unless another source is named.
Northwestern engineering ranking
In the U.S. News 2026 Best Graduate Schools edition, released on 7 April 2026, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is tied at No. 16 in Best Engineering Schools with the University of Pennsylvania. The position comes from VnExpress International’s list of the top 30 US graduate engineering schools (9 April 2026).
McCormick is smaller than the public giants near it in the rankings. ECE alone reports nearly 400 graduate students, which gives a sense of scale. The practical effect is that PhD cohorts are small and funding is spread across fewer students.
Departments and graduate programmes
PhD programmes through The Graduate School:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics
- Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
- Applied Physics
Master’s programmes through The Graduate School include Biomedical, Chemical and Biological, Civil and Environmental, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer, Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, Mechanical, Materials Science, Engineering Science and Applied Mathematics, Engineering Design and Innovation, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, and Predictive Science and Engineering Design.
Professional master’s programmes that you apply to directly on the programme’s own site include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science, Robotics, Biotechnology, Energy and Sustainability, Information Technology, Engineering Management, Project Management, Product Design and Development Management, the MMM programme, and Executive Management for Design and Construction. These have their own deadlines, fees and tuition rates, so read each programme page separately.
Northwestern engineering graduate admission requirements
McCormick lists these materials for TGS applications:
- A resume or CV.
- A statement of purpose.
- Letters of recommendation (the number depends on the programme).
- Transcripts from every university attended; unofficial copies are uploaded for review.
- GRE scores if your programme requires them.
- For international applicants, a TOEFL or IELTS score, or proof of a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction.
The application opens in September. You can save your work and pay the fee only when you submit.
GRE policy
Only some programmes accept or require the GRE. Electrical and Computer Engineering states that the GRE will not be required for MS or PhD applicants in the fall 2027 cycle. For any other department, check the programme page before you book the test. GRE scores must be under five years old at the start of your intended term and sent by ETS to code 1565.
English requirements
| Test | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT, taken before 21 January 2026 | 90 for PhD; 80 for master’s | Home edition accepted; code 1565 |
| TOEFL iBT, taken from 21 January 2026 (new scale) | 4.5 for all applicants | |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | IELTS Indicator accepted; select Northwestern University, The Graduate School |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 61 for PhD; 54 for master’s | |
| Duolingo English Test | Not accepted | TOEFL Essentials also not accepted |
Scores must be no more than two years old at your intended start. Programmes can set higher minimums.
The waiver route is worth knowing. If your bachelor’s or master’s degree came from an institution that teaches mainly in English, you can ask your programme for a waiver after you submit the application. Programmes may ask for documents, and approval rests with the programme and TGS. Many Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan and South African graduates fit this rule, so ask before you pay for a test. One catch: PhD students must meet TGS’s English proficiency requirement before they can be paid as teaching or graduate assistants.
Application fee
The TGS application fee is $95 and non-refundable. TGS fee waivers are for US citizens and permanent residents. International applicants are told to ask the programme directly, and not every programme can help.
Application deadlines for fall 2027
PhD deadlines, from McCormick’s graduate admissions page:
| PhD programme | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Biomedical Engineering | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Chemical and Biological Engineering | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Computer Science | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Materials Science and Engineering | 3 Dec 2026 |
| Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences | 9 Dec 2026 (supplemental materials by 16 Dec) |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Applied Physics | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics | 31 Dec 2026 (recommended) |
| Theoretical and Applied Mechanics | 31 Dec 2026 (recommended) |
ECE confirms that fall 2027 PhD applicants must apply by 15 December 2026, with most offers finalised by the end of March 2027 and some by 15 April. Mechanical Engineering says its 15 December deadline is strictly enforced and that all international applicants’ materials must be in by 1 February. PhD admits must accept or decline by 15 April.
Master’s deadlines vary by programme. ECE warns that its MS portal may close early once the cohort is full, so apply well before spring.
Deadline
Biomedical, Chemical and Biological, and Computer Science PhD applications close on 1 December 2026, two weeks before most other McCormick departments.
PhD funding at Northwestern engineering
Northwestern states its PhD package plainly. During the guaranteed funding period, TGS support includes:
- a stipend;
- a full tuition scholarship, including year-round tuition;
- fully subsidised health insurance and the health services fee.
Science and engineering PhD students are typically funded for at least five years, through a mix of TGS money and funding from advisers and programmes. International students are generally funded the same as domestic students. Mechanical Engineering says all its PhD students are fully supported by fellowships and research or teaching assistantships.
Northwestern’s union contract with its graduate workers set the TGS base stipend at $45,000 a year from 1 September 2024, with 3% increases in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. If those rises compound, the 2026-27 base works out to about $47,700. That is my calculation; programmes can pay above the base, so check the figure in your offer letter. Funded students may work no more than 20 hours a week from all sources.
Choosing an adviser
In some McCormick departments you do not need an adviser lined up before admission. Mechanical Engineering, for example, says students choose their research adviser after arrival, through faculty research talks in September and preference forms in mid-October. That lowers the pressure to secure an adviser before you apply, but it is still worth naming faculty whose work matches yours.
Master’s funding
TGS does not fund MS students. Some programmes offer small scholarships, so ask your programme. Master’s students can take loans, but US federal loans need citizenship or permanent residency. Plan to show full funding for your I-20.
Tuition and cost of attendance 2026-27
Northwestern Student Finance lists these 2026-27 TGS rates:
| Item | 2026-27 amount |
|---|---|
| Master’s tuition, full time | $23,662 per quarter |
| Master’s tuition, part time | $8,418 per unit |
| PhD tuition (covered by the funding package) | $18,689 per quarter |
| Student health fee | $298 per quarter |
| NU-SHIP health insurance | $5,996 per year |
| TGS U-Pass transit card | $125 per quarter |
Three quarters of master’s tuition at the full-time rate come to $70,986 for the academic year (my sum), before health insurance, fees and living costs. Northwestern’s most recent master’s budget I could find, for 2024-25, allowed $28,200 for housing and food over four quarters, so the true yearly cost is well above $100,000. Professional master’s programmes such as Machine Learning and Data Science publish their own rates.
Costs not covered
- Rent and living costs in Evanston, which the 2024-25 budget alone put at $28,200 for housing and food.
- Visa, SEVIS and flight costs.
- Winter clothing; Chicago winters are long and cold.
- Rent deposits and furniture.
- For master’s students, any summer quarter if your programme runs four quarters.
STEM OPT after graduation
Engineering degrees fall under CIP family 14, which the Department of Homeland Security includes on its STEM Designated Degree Program list. After your MS or PhD you can work on OPT and then apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension with an E-Verify employer. Confirm your programme’s CIP code with Northwestern’s International Office when you receive the I-20.
How to contact potential PhD advisers
Because Mechanical Engineering and possibly other departments match students with advisers after arrival, an email before applying is optional. It is still useful in departments where professors admit their own students, and for checking whether a lab is taking anyone.
- Pick two or three faculty: read their recent papers and lab pages.
- Keep the email short: under 200 words, with your closest project and one question.
- Use a specific subject line: “Fall 2027 PhD applicant: battery materials”.
- Attach a one-page CV: nothing else.
- Use other channels too: Mechanical Engineering suggests talking to current students through its graduate student group, MEGSS.
A short opening, for illustration only:
“Dear Professor [Name], I am a chemical engineering graduate of [University], [Country], applying to the Northwestern Chemical and Biological Engineering PhD for fall 2027. My final-year research tested [catalyst or process] and found [result]. Your group’s recent paper on [topic] is close to what I want to study. Will your group be taking new PhD students next year?”
How to write your statement of purpose for Northwestern
McCormick reviewers look for research ability and fit with a small faculty. Keep it to about two pages unless your programme says otherwise.
- Open with the research question you want to work on, in plain terms.
- Describe one or two projects in detail: your role, methods, results and what you would do differently.
- Name faculty and centres at Northwestern that match your interests, and explain why in a sentence each.
- For interdisciplinary programmes such as Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics or Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, show the maths depth you bring.
- For professional master’s programmes, focus on the job you want and the skills you are missing.
Our guide to recommendation letters helps when briefing your referees.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Applying to a professional master’s through TGS: programmes such as AI and Machine Learning and Data Science use their own applications.
- Missing the 1 December PhD deadline: BME, ChBE and CS close two weeks before most others.
- Booking Duolingo: it is not accepted.
- Paying for a test you might not need: if your degree was taught in English, ask about the waiver first.
- Converting your CGPA: upload your transcript as issued. Mechanical Engineering says it reads GPAs in the context of each institution.
- Three-year degrees: ask the programme whether your degree is equivalent to a US bachelor’s before you apply.
- Expecting a fee waiver: TGS waivers are for US citizens and permanent residents.
Who should apply
Northwestern suits PhD applicants with research experience who want a well-funded, smaller programme close to Chicago, especially in materials science, chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering and applied mathematics. Its professional master’s programmes in AI, data science and engineering management suit applicants with a sponsor or employer backing.
If you need a funded master’s degree, or a low-cost one, a public university such as Texas A&M or UCLA will cost far less.
How Northwestern compares with nearby-ranked schools
| School | U.S. News engineering rank (2026) | GRE | Application fee (international) | Full-time master’s tuition 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern McCormick | 16 (tied) | Varies; not required in ECE for fall 2027 | $95 | $23,662 per quarter |
| Johns Hopkins Whiting | 13 | Not required school-wide | Master’s free; PhD $75 | $68,670 |
| Texas A&M Engineering | 14 (tied) | Varies; optional in Mechanical and ECE | $148 | $14,641 tuition plus $8,356 fees (9-month estimate) |
| UCLA Samueli | 14 (tied) | Varies; required in MAE from the 2027-28 cycle | $155 | $15,608 fees plus $15,102 non-resident tuition |
For first-year entry, see our Northwestern admission requirements guide, and for outside funding, our list of American scholarships for international students.
FAQs
Does Northwestern engineering require the GRE?
It depends on the programme. Electrical and Computer Engineering will not require the GRE for fall 2027 MS or PhD applicants; for other departments, check the programme page and send scores to code 1565 if needed.
What TOEFL score does Northwestern engineering need?
On the old scale, 90 for PhD and 80 for master’s; on the new scale (tests from 21 January 2026), 4.5. IELTS Academic 7.0 is also accepted, but Duolingo is not.
Are international PhD students funded at Northwestern engineering?
Yes. International PhD students are generally funded the same as domestic students, with a stipend, tuition scholarship and subsidised health insurance for at least five years in science and engineering.
What is the Northwestern engineering application fee for international students?
The Graduate School charges $95. International applicants are not covered by TGS fee waivers and must ask their programme about any waiver.
Sources and updates
Checked on 29 October 2026. Rank: U.S. News 2026 Best Engineering Schools (released 7 April 2026), as reported by VnExpress International on 9 April 2026. Programmes and PhD deadlines: McCormick graduate admissions page. ECE deadline, GRE policy and English minimums: McCormick Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate admissions. Mechanical Engineering deadline, funding and adviser matching: McCormick Mechanical Engineering PhD FAQ. English tests and GRE rules: The Graduate School test scores page. Fee and waivers: The Graduate School application fee page. PhD funding: TGS About Graduate Funding and PhD Student Funding FAQs. Stipend base: Northwestern graduate union resources CBA overview. Tuition: Northwestern Student Finance 2026-27 TGS tuition and fees; living cost allowance from the Evanston graduate financial aid 2024-25 master’s budget. STEM OPT: the Department of Homeland Security STEM OPT Hub. McCormick does not publish engineering graduate acceptance rates on these pages. This guide will be updated if dates or fees change.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
