Application Process
Research and Advisors
Program Specifics
Contact Us

Q. How do I apply to the graduate program?
A. Please visit the Application page for Prospective Graduate Students.

Q. Do I have to pay the application fee?
A. Yes, all students have to pay the application fee.  The application fee is not typically waived.

Q. Do I have to pay the fee by credit card? Can I pay by check?
A. The fee must be paid online using a credit card. If you do not have a credit card and are unable to borrow a card from a friend or family member, please contact the Graduate School's admissions staff. Students without credit cards may also pay using a Visa gift card, which may be purchased in a number of ways and is a gift certificate that may be used in place of a credit card. These gift cards frequently involve a nominal purchase fee, though, and the use of a standard credit card is recommended if at all possible.

Q. Where do I get forms for recommendations?
A. We do not provide a form or worksheet for your recommenders to fill out. We ask that recommenders write letters on their respective letterhead, and we prefer that recommendations be submitted on-line. If you wish to submit your recommendations in hard-copy, please generate a cover sheet with your name, application ID, and the program to which you are applying, and give your recommenders that sheet to attach to the front of their recommendations. If possible, please submit the recommendations (in individual sealed envelopes signed over the seal) in the same envelope with your other supplemental materials.

Q. How do I submit official GRE or TOEFL scores? What are your department and institution codes?
A. Please order official score reports directly from ETS - photocopied or hard-copy score reports cannot serve as official reports. Northwestern University's school code for GRE and TOEFL is 1565. Additionally, you should reference department code 01 or 99 when submitting TOEFL scores. You needn't reference a specific department code for GRE scores.

Q. If I applied last year and was not admitted, but would like to apply again, do I have to send in a new application?
A. You need to fill out a new on-line application and pay the application fee again.  However, you do not need to send new copies of the supporting documents if you confirm with us that we still have them on file.

Q. Can I be admitted to the department if I do not have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering?
A. Yes, you certainly can.  We have students with BS degrees in other areas of engineering and BS degrees in the sciences, typically chemistry.  In some cases, it may be necessary to first take some undergraduate chemical engineering courses to be prepared for the core chemical engineering graduate courses.

Q. Do you admit international students?
A. Yes, we certainly do.  While the large majority of the graduate students received their BS degrees from US institutions, we do admit a small pool of international students each year.

Q. How are research advisors assigned?
A. Early in the fall, each faculty member who is offering projects gives a presentation.  Over the next four weeks or so, you talk in more detail with the faculty members with whom you have interest in working.  In November, you submit your top three project choices, in rank order.   The faculty then meet to match students’ and advisors’ preferences.

Q. Will I get my first choice for my research advisor?
A. Typically, the matching process has gone very well, with the majority of the students receiving their top choice.  In some cases, a student’s second or third choice is awarded.  It is extremely rare that we are not able to satisfy one of the top three choices.   In this case, we work with the student to identify other available projects that are still in their area of interest.

Q. How long does it take to complete a PhD?
A. The typical residency for a PhD student is five and a half years.

Q. How many courses do I need to take?
A. PhD students are required to take 14 classes on the quarter system.  MS students take 9 or 12 courses, depending on whether they opt for the thesis or non-thesis option, respectively.

Q. Are there any qualifying exams?
A. No, unlike many other schools, we do not have formal qualifying exams.  After the first year, PhD students wishing to be considered for continuation are evaluated based on their course record and their research performance to date.

Any additional questions may be directed to our Admissions email, or to the Graduate Program Assistant.