How to Apply
When starting a new application, please select "2026-2027" under Application Type. You'll see that your application is saved as "Fall 2027" - this refers to the application window for prospective MSES students who would matriculate in Fall 2027, and graduate in Spring 2028.
Application Deadlines (Class of 2028)
|
Round |
Application Due |
Decisions Sent |
Reply Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Round 1 (ROLLING ADMISSIONS) – Priority deadline for domestic and international* applicants |
December 7, 2026, ***by 11:59pm CST (UTC-6) |
Pending submission date due to rolling admissions policy - see notes below* |
~30 days after your admissions decision |
|
Round 2 – Final round for international** applicants |
February 15, 2027, ***by 11:59pm CST (UTC-6) |
March 2027 |
April 2027 |
|
Round 3 – Final round for domestic applicants |
May 15, 2027, ***by 11:59pm CDT (UTC-5) |
Late May/early June 2027 |
June 2027 |
*MSES offers a rolling admissions process for Round 1 applicants. Submit by November 15, get an admissions decision within 30 calendar days. Submit after November 15, but by the December 7 deadline, get prioritized rolling review (albeit without a decision timeline guarantee). Applications submitted on or around December 7 can expect a decision in mid-late January 2027.
**An international applicant is defined as any individual who requires a visa to enter the United States for the purpose of studying at Northwestern.
***Applications are due by 11:59 pm Central Time on the articulated date. Please note that Central Time is UTC-6 for the Dec. 7 and Feb. 15 deadlines, but due to daylights savings observation in the US, Central Time is UTC-5 for the May 15 deadline.
Although there are three application rounds, Round 1 is highly recommended because of the rolling admissions process, and to obtain preferred access to various grant and scholarship funding opportunities.
At this time, only a full-time, in-person program modality is offered.
Application Requirements
The MSES Admissions Committee seeks well-rounded applicants and considers applications holistically. We welcome applications from all academic and professional backgrounds; however, successful applicants typically offer:
- Degree - MSES does not have required degree backgrounds for application; in fact, we're proud of the academic diversity of past cohorts. Typically (but not exclusively), successful applicants will have a bachelor or master degree in:
- An engineering or an engineering-related field (e.g., engineering management);
- A physical/natural/social science discipline with some quantitative and/or analytical background (e.g., chemistry, earth and planetary sciences, economics/business, environmental sciences, math/statistics, physics, etc.);
- A social science/humanities discipline without a quantitative and/or analytical background with subject-area relevance (e.g., history, political science, etc.), so long as the applicant can demonstrate such skills in other coursework;
- A professional master’s degree (e.g., business administration, law, etc.)
- GPA - Minimum 3.0 overall Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate work is recommended, but not required for application. GPA carries less weight in the evaluation of your candidacy the longer it's been since you graduated.
- Academic Transcript(s) - At the time of application, applicants must submit an unofficial copy of academic transcripts from each college or university they have attended. If you are offered a position in the MSES program and you decide to enroll, you will be required to submit one official copy of your transcript(s) for any degrees you have been awarded. For applicants with degrees from institutions outside of the United States, you may (but are not required to) submit a 3rd party course-by-course transcript evaluation form, like WES or ECE, in lieu of each unofficial transcript. WES reports should be sent to "Northwestern University - McCormick Graduate Admissions, attn: Chloe White," and ECE reports should be sent to "McCormick School of Engineering, attn: Ward Lavino".
- Test Scores - GRE scores are accepted but are not required for application. A lack of GRE scores will not put any individual applicant at an evaluatory disadvantage, but individuals that have, or plan, to take the GRE may submit their scores as supplemental evidence of graduate readiness (please refer to the FAQ page for institution submission codes). Other graduate readiness tests (GMAT, LSAT) may also be submitted.
- International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency to be eligible to apply, either by submitting language proficiency scores (TOEFL or IELTS scores from the past two years), or by showing evidence of prior post-secondary degrees (undergraduate or other graduate) taught in English. Please review the Transcript, Grade, and Language Requirements section of the International Students page for more details, and refer to the FAQ page for institution submission codes.
- Resume - Applicants are required to upload a current resume or CV. Please limit your submission to two pages; documents longer than two pages will not be reviewed.
- Required Essays - Applicants will be asked to provide responses to two short essay prompts on their applications:
- Essay #1 (Personal Statement - required): 400 words of less to articulate your motivations, aptitude, and vision for pursuing a master's program, notably why you are interested in graduate school at this point in your career, why you are interested specifically in Northwestern's MSES program, and what are your short-term and long-term career goals.
- Essay #2 (Creative Solution - required): 300 words of fewer to tell us about an innovative energy and sustainability solution you find interesting, and why. The scale, location, and application are all up to you. You may write about an existing solution or one that you have devised.
- You will also have optional space to share anything not covered by the previous two essays that you would like the Admissions Committee to know such as academic discrepancies, work disruptions, or other extenuating circumstances. (300 words or fewer)
- Video Introduction - Applicants will be asked to record a two-minute maximum video to introduce themself and tell us why they are a good fit for the MSES program. We also ask that the applicant tell us what they will uniquely bring to the cohort. Please note that you will record this directly in the application portal (not pre-recorded), and that you'll only have 3 tries to record your final composition, so you may want to practice ahead of time.
- Letters of Recommendation - Two letters of recommendation that attest to the candidate's academic or work performance as well as leadership potential. These letters can be from academic and/or professional references, at the discretion of the applicant.
- $75 application fee - Note that prospective applicants who attend an online info session will receive a waiver code for this fee.
* Northwestern University does not make decisions related to admissions, including but not limited to financial aid and scholarships, based upon any category protected by the law. The University is committed to complying with all applicable laws. The University believes different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds are critical to building a dynamic student body, and as such encourages all qualified applicants to apply. *