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
Paid Medical Leave (MLOA) Benefit Expansion
After a successful pilot phase, The Graduate School is pleased to announce that we are launching a full-fledged paid medical leave of absence (MLOA) program for funded TGS PhD and MFA students beginning in the Fall 2020 Quarter.
Events
Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TG...
August 7, All Day
Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Summer PhD candidates
Master's completion form due for TGS Summer master's candidates
August 21, All Day
Master's completion form due for TGS Summer master's candidates
Announcements
Fall Quarter TGS Activity Fee and U-Pass Access
"Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and the fact that many courses will be taught remotely this fall, The Graduate School will not charge a Fall Quarter activity fee for full-time students and will not activate any U-Passes for the Fall Quarter unless you choose to opt in." Read the full message from TGS Associate Director, Student Life, Lauren-Ashley Buchanan, PhD.
Your Northwestern Academic Experience in the Fall
"We look forward to welcoming you in the fall, whether you are enrolled in remote or in-person classes. Faculty, advisers, and staff are busy preparing for the new term, and as we do so, we are prioritizing your health and that of the rest of our community while also keeping in mind the importance of your ability to make progress toward your Northwestern degree." Read the full message from Interim Dean Mayo.