Prospective Graduate Students
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Our Charge
Preparing and inspiring scholars to transform our world.
From admission to graduation, The Graduate School (TGS) supports graduate students throughout their experience, awarding doctoral and master’s degrees in more than seventy disciplines. We are a resource throughout your academic journey.
Find Your ProgramApplication StepsPoints of Pride
See what makes TGS special, by the numbers
A Stipend for the 21st Century
$33,504
annually for PhD students through fellowships or assistantships. More on stipend rates
Support for Parents
12 weeks
paid parental leave for PhD students who are new parents. All family resources
A smooth transition
34%
of students are international, supported through language and other programs. See all supports
Connected to Campus & City
7 miles
between our Evanston campus and Chicago. Travel by free buses and trains. U-Pass transit programs
Ongoing Inclusion
1:1
mentor/mentee pairings in our Diversity Peer Mentor Program. More diversity initiatives
Funding Your Studies
Fellowships, grants, assistantship options, and more
TGS provides most doctoral students with a stipend and scholarship to pay tuition costs; they are supported for a minimum of five years. For master’s students, external grants and loans make graduate study accessible.
Funding OptionsTGS Spotlight
TGS is home to more than 3,200 PhD and 1,400 Master’s students, from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Get to know our diverse community.
Happenings at TGS
Don't miss news, opportunities and announcements.
News
Congratulations to 2021 PhD and MFA graduates!
Click here to watch a recording of 2021 PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony, which took place on Saturday, June 12 at 2:00 PM CDT.
Events
Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TG...
August 6, All Day
Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Summer PhD candidates
Fall quarter courses viewable for students in CAESAR for the foll...
August 9, All Day
Fall quarter courses viewable for students in CAESAR for the following: Communication, Education, Engineering, Journalis...
Announcements
Damon Williams Promoted to Associate Dean
Since joining Northwestern, Damon and his team have developed strategies to facilitate student recruitment and retention that have helped us build and support an increasingly diverse community of scholars. Damon and his team have developed many outstanding programs in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
On-Campus Expectations for TGS Students Beginning Summer 2021
In accordance with University planning for the Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 Quarters, The Graduate School expects graduate students to follow their program’s guidelines, their research requirements, teaching assignments, and expectations of relevant funding agencies with respect to in-person residency. Beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021, graduate students are expected to be present on campus when their research and teaching assignments require it. In the rare case where a graduate student is unable to return to campus when their scholarship requires an in-person presence, The Graduate School will work with the program to help find solutions.