Dates & Materials
The TGS application portal is now open for enrollment in the Fall of 2026.
The admissions committee looks forward to reviewing your completed application!
The priority deadline for submitting your application is January 15, 2026.
Admissions decisions for applications received by the deadline will be released on March 16, 2026.
The EDI cohort fills quickly, but the application portal will remain open until all seats are filled.
// IMPORTANT NOTE // The instructions on the application portal are the same for several Northwestern programs. Please prioritize the instructions listed here on this page over the basic instructions provided with the application form.
Admissions
EDI students are selected based on their educational and professional experiences, their ability to learn, and the contributions they could potentially make to the overall cohort experience. The typical EDI student has an undergraduate degree in engineering, STEM, or a related discipline. Successful students have a demonstrated passion for design.
Your online application must be completed and submitted through The Graduate School (TGS) at Northwestern. The program code for EDI is E23MS. APPLY HERE
// IMPORTANT NOTE // The instructions on the application portal are the same for all TGS programs. Please prioritize the instructions listed here on this page over the basic instructions provided with the application form.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Resume / CV
// Upload your document on the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS PAGE.
Design Innovation Prompt
We are interested in learning more about you and your experiences leading up to the present. Please create a visual representation or "map" of your design journey that illustrates the experiences leading you to apply to the EDI program. Has your path been a straight or curvy line? Have you encountered any unexpected intersections? If you wish, you may also include your plans for the future or how you expect your time at EDI to impact your journey.
// Upload your response on the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS PAGE. Use the Supplemental Document 1 area to complete this upload. The response must be a one page PDF of approximately 8.5 x 11 inches in dimension.
Portfolio of Past Work
Your portfolio should represent your interests, past experiences, approach to problem framing, and provide tangible demonstration of your unique skills and design perspective. Portfolio projects may represent work completed in an academic context, a personal project, or other effort that communicates your curiosity, creativity, and bias for action.
We recognize that applicants’ portfolio materials may take different forms and not all disciplines lend themselves to traditional design or engineering portfolio formats. Please feel welcome to include a variety of curated materials that convey your unique skills and POV. Formats could include project case studies, photographs, blogs, videos or other relevant medium.
Stand-alone academic publications will not satisfy the above criteria. Submitted items should be presented in a context that demonstrate your individual contribution and illustrate the exploration, process, and outcomes through a design lens.
// Upload your portfolio on the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS PAGE. Use the Supplement 2 area to complete the upload. It is preferable that you share a link to your web-based portfolio via a PDF. If you chose to upload your entire portfolio as a PDF, it should not exceed 2.5 MB in size.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. Recommenders will complete the process through the TGS application system. You must provide an email address for each of your recommenders.
Unofficial Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts from all attended post-secondary educational institutions must be scanned and uploaded to the online application. We do not require sending official paper transcripts through the mail until after an admissions decision is rendered. All admitted applicants are required to send paper transcripts through the mail to The Graduate School at Northwestern before matriculation.
Academic Statement
Essay length approximately 250 - 500 words
Write a statement that answers the following questions:
- What are your academic interests, and why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in this specific program?
- How has your academic and professional background prepared you for graduate study? (Please include any research, training, or educational experiences that align with the program you are applying to.)
- Why is the Northwestern graduate program to which you are applying the best place for you to pursue your academic, intellectual, and professional goals?
// Upload your response on the ESSAYS PAGE of the online application.
Personal Statement
Essay length approximately 125 -250 words
Note: The Personal Statement should not duplicate the Academic Statement.
- Pivotal experiences, opportunities, and/or challenges that have influenced your educational and professional development.
- Leadership experiences, community outreach, service initiatives, or research projects you have participated in or plan to pursue that aim to positively impact others or the broader community.
- Anything you would like to share with the admissions committee that you have yet to discuss in other areas of the application can be addressed here. This may include any gaps in your academic and professional experience, or additional context if you believe your academic record does not demonstrate your true capabilities. If needed, you may also use this space to expand upon the topics discussed in the above essays.
// Upload your response on the ESSAYS PAGE of the online application.
English Language Proficiency
Strong proficiency in English is required for the collaborative EDI program. International applicants whose native language is not English must supply scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The EDI program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 95 (Internet-based test) and a minimum IELTS score of 7. NOTE: International applicants may request a language test waiver if they completed an undergraduate or graduate level degree where English was the primary language of instruction. Waivers may be requested in the application process. Please see the admissions section of The Graduate School website for more information.
Application fee
To apply for admission, the application fee is $95. It is non-refundable. At this time there are no application fee waivers available.
For additional questions about applying to the EDI program, please contact us at edi@northwestern.edu.
