Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the answers to these frequently asked questions before you contact our offices with any queries. If you still have remaining questions, please contact the Graduate Program Manager at econphd@northwestern.edu
Admissions Standards
Are there any changes to the application process or requirements due to the COVID19 pandemic?
The Department of Economics at Northwestern is committed to an individualized and holistic review of each application to the PhD program. This review will take into consideration the substantive disruptions of the COVID19 pandemic as well as other challenges that influence personal circumstances. We recognize that many institutions converted to a Pass/No Pass (P/N) grading system in response to the pandemic. Finally, we understand that there are circumstances which may prevent students from submitting a complete application. Please email econgrad@northwestern.edu with any individual requests or concerns.
I am trying to decide whether or not to apply to Northwestern. Would you be able to give me a idea of the minimum standards for admission?
Most successful applicants to our program have verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning GRE scores above the 90th percentile. These scores do not represent rigid requirements, and many applicants with lower scores have been accepted and given financial aid because of other outstanding characteristics, such as superb reference letters or excellent performance as undergraduates. Foreign students must also meet the minimum required TOEFL/IELTS (see below).
If I e-mail you my resume, can you tell me if I am likely to be admitted to your program?
It is not possible to review potential applicants' records outside of the formal application procedure. To be considered for admission, a completed application along with the supporting documents is required. Please do not email the department with your resume unless requested.
How many applications do you receive each year, and how many applicants enter the program?
The program receives approximately 700 applications each year. Typically, the department's entering class is about 18 to 25 students. The University has not yet determined the incoming class size for 2021 entry.
Can I apply to more than one doctoral program at Northwestern University?
Typically, the graduate school does not permit more than one application each year to graduate school at Northwestern. However, applicants who wish to pursue graduate education in an Economics-based program at Northwestern University, either in the Kellogg School of Management or Department of Economics, are permitted to submit one application for a primary or first choice PhD program while requesting additional consideration for a second choice PhD program. Please read more about this dual application process here.
Nature of our Program
I would like to seek a master's degree but not a Ph.D. May I apply to your program?
We do not offer a Master's Degree in Economics.
How many students do you have in the program?
Approximately 130.
Do you accept international students?
Full consideration is given to all applicants. We currently have students from 32 different countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North and South America.
Do you offer a part-time Ph.D. program?
There is no part-time study available to applicants to the Department of Economics.
Can I undertake non-degree study at Northwestern?
Applicants who wish to apply for non-degree special student status with The Graduate School must meet the same admission requirements and deadlines that apply to regular applicants applying to the Ph.D. program in economics. These students are not eligible for financial aid or loans.
What are the departmental policies regarding dual-degree programs?
The University offers a joint J.D./Ph.D. program which is open to a small number of students who intend to pursue an academic career and whose teaching and research would be enriched by both a J.D. and a Ph.D. degree. The program is designed to allow students to complete both degrees more efficiently than they would through consecutive degree programs. Students must be admitted by both the Department of Economics and the Law School.
What is the attrition rate from your program?
About 70%-75% of our entering students are awarded a Ph.D., with a typical time to completion of five to six years.
Is your program considered STEM?
Yes. Our program is considered a STEM program. The CIP code is 45.0603 "Econometrics and Quantitative Economics."
How and When to Apply
How do I apply?
Please read the Admissions section of this website. It provides information on application procedures and required forms and documentation.
Does the department review applications on a rolling basis?
No. Applicants are considered for admission to the fall term only.
What is the deadline for applying?
Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by January 4, 2023 at 11:59pm.
Can the application fee ever be waived?
The Graduate School will not consider an application unless accompanied by the appropriate fee. Learn more about application fee waiver eligibility.
Should I report my GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores to The Graduate School directly?
Educational Testing Service (ETS), who manage the GRE and TOEFL tests, and IELTS are required to report their official test scores directly to the University. We recommend that you also upload a scan of your score report as part of your on-line application. Please be reminded however, these scores are not considered official unless they are reported directly to the University by ETS or IELTS.
What is the latest date that the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS can be taken without risking the score not meeting the deadline?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to register early for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS as incomplete applications can cause a delay in giving full consideration to your application. The websites of these testing organizations show test dates and approximate score report dates. The applicant should plan to have the results of their tests available by the application deadline. In extenuating circumstances where this is not possible, the committee will review late scores received 2 weeks after the deadline if the rest of the application is submitted on time.
What if my current institution does not assign grades on a 4.0 scale?
Applicants should convert their grades to the 4.0 scale when it is required in the application to provide a grade point average on a 4.0 scale. For the cumulative grade-point average request for courses in mathematics, if applicants have not taken any undergraduate mathematics courses, they should indicate "0" as the grade-point average.
The GRE
May I substitute some other exam such as the GMAT or LSAT for the verbal, quantitative, and analytic sections of the GRE?
You must take those three parts of the GRE.
Do you accept scores from the online, at-home GRE exam?
Yes.
The language requirement
What is the language requirement for international students?
Applicants from countries where the native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination unless they attended an English-speaking institution for all years of their undergraduate degree. If you are in any doubt as to whether your undergraduate degree exempts you from the TOEFL/IELTS, it is always advisable to take the test and submit the results with your supporting materials. If you do have to take the test, you must score a minimum of 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam, 250 on the computer-based TOEFL exam, 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL, or a minimum overall score of 7.0 on the IELTS. We accept MyBest Scores for the TOEFL iBT. The test must have been taken no more than two years before the intended date of entry (which means no more than 15 months prior to you application). This is a stricter requirement than that of The Graduate School and reflects the fact that successful graduate study in economics depends crucially on your ability to understand, read, write and speak English.
May I substitute some other similar test?
No exam may be substituted for the TOEFL/IELTS.
Do you accept scores from the online, at-home TOEFL?
Yes. The at-home IELTS indicator is not accepted at this time.
English is not my native language, but I have already attended a college in America or another English-speaking country. Do I have to take the TOEFL/IELTS exam?
You are only exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS if you attended an English-speaking institution for all years of your undergraduate degree. If you attended an English-speaking institution for a graduate degree, but your undergraduate degree is from a non-English institution, the Department of Economics requires that you take the TOEFL/IELTS. This is a stricter requirement than that of The Graduate School and reflects the fact that successful graduate study in economics depends crucially on your ability to understand, read, write and speak English.
Are there any other language requirements?
Admission and first-year financial aid requires meeting the requirements described in previous FAQs. A common form of funding in second and subsequent years is as a teaching assistant. To be eligible to be a Teaching Assistant, students must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English. Students with undergraduate or graduate degrees from institutions where instruction is in English are exempt from this requirement. Other students can demonstrate proficiency by scores on certain tests in the two years prior to admission
- Scoring 26 or higher on the Speaking Section of the TOEFL Internet-based test taken in the two years prior to entry to Northwestern,
- Scoring 8 or higher on the Speaking Section of the IELTS test taken in the two years prior to entry to Northwestern,
Recommendation Letters
Can letters of recommendation be submitted in hard copy?
No. People submitting reference letters on your behalf must submit their letters electronically through our application system.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
At least three letters of recommendation are required for your application. Applicants may submit up to five letters of recommendation.
Do you accept submission of letters of recommendation through Interfolio?
Yes. Applicants who have recommenders using Interfolio should list all their recommenders' information, except for their email address, in the appropriate section of the application form. The unique email address provided by Interfolio should be used instead.
Reapplication or deferment
Suppose that I apply and am not admitted. May I ask you to reconsider me next year? Do I have to repay the application fee?
The Graduate School does not maintain any documentation from previous applications. To reapply, you must submit an entirely new application and fee.
Suppose that I apply and am admitted but I want to delay my admission one year. May I receive a deferred admission? If I received financial aid, may this be deferred?
It is possible to defer admission by 12 months to the start of the Fall Quarter of the following year. Students who wish to defer their admission must notify us in writing. Granting of permission to defer admission is subject to approval by the department and The Graduate School, and any funding arrangements are not guaranteed and are subject to renegotiation.
If I applied to your program in previous years, do I still need to resubmit application materials?
The Graduate School does not maintain any documentation from previous applications. You need to resubmit all application materials.