Welcome to The Graduate School (TGS) at Northwestern University. Opportunities for graduate study have been offered to students at Northwestern since 1874. In 1910 the Trustees of the University organized The Graduate School. Governance of The Graduate School resides in the Graduate Faculty, comprising over 1,000 distinguished scholars.  Appointments to the Graduate Faculty are made by the President, upon recommendation by the Dean of The Graduate School and the Provost. 

The Graduate School is charged with supervision of graduate work leading to advanced academic degrees, offering the master of arts (MA), master of fine arts (MFA), master of public health (MPH), master of science (MS) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees in over 70 disciplines. Additional programs offer specializations, in areas ranging from African studies through a combined certificate in law and social science, for students currently enrolled in graduate degree programs.

Advanced work leading to professional degrees (master of business administration, master and doctor of music, doctor of medicine, and a variety of engineering, communication, education, law, and journalism degrees) is not administered by The Graduate School, but by the respective professional schools: the Kellogg School of Management, School of Music, Feinberg School of Medicine, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Communication, School of Education and Social Policy, School of Law, and Medill School of Journalism. Contact the schools directly for information regarding these professional degree programs.