Application Procedure
We warmly welcome your interest in our Ph.D. in Political Science program. All applications are reviewed holistically. Before commencing the application process, please consult The Graduate School's Admissions page to ensure you have all the necessary information. Check our FAQs page for further information.
The application for Fall 2025 will open on September 10, 2024, and close on December 16, 2024.
To apply for admission to our graduate program in Political Science:
- Complete the online application form. (Available in September 2024)
- Submit the $95 application fee to the Graduate School. After completing the application form, you will be prompted to enter your credit card information. You will automatically skip over the payment page if you qualify for a fee waiver. Please visit The Graduate School's website for more information about fee waiver qualifications. If you are in need of an application fee waiver, please get in touch with tgsadmission@northwestern.edu for more information.
Please include the following in your application:
- A personal statement
- An academic statement
- Writing sample
- At least three letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts from all universities previously attended. Official transcripts are only required for admitted applicants who have chosen to enroll at Northwestern.
- International applicants: The academic records we refer to as transcripts should provide a year-by-year listing of all courses taken and the grade or marks received for each one. It is helpful to have the institution's grading scale and the student's rank in class included when such information is available. If your college or university does not mail original official academic documents to you, you may send exact copies verified as "Certified True Copies" by the appropriate institutional official of each institution you have attended. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable. To be considered, all documents not in English must be accompanied by official English translations that adhere to the following guidelines: If an institution's transcripts are only available in a foreign language, please include an English translation completed by a verifiable, neutral third party (e.g., ATA translators, a transcript evaluation service, etc.) in addition to the original copy. The Graduate School will accept applications from international students earning three-year bachelor's degrees.
All materials should be submitted online, not mailed to our office. Some international programs will only send paper copies of transcripts, which is acceptable. If this applies to you, our mailing address is below, though ALL other materials must be submitted online. For more information, visit the Graduate School application requirements page and our FAQs.
Coordinator of Graduate Admissions
Department of Political Science
Northwestern University
601 University Place
Evanston, IL 60208
USA