The EDI Application
The application deadline is January 15, 2025. The EDI cohort fills quickly and is typically complete after the January deadline.
Admit decisions will be delivered March 15th // Program commitment requested by April 15th
If necessary, applications received after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.
Admissions
EDI students are selected based on their backgrounds, 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. 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 TGS application 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.
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. 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.
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.
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
Academic Statement (~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 EDI?
- How has your academic and professional background prepared you for graduate study?
- How will the EDI program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
// Upload your response on the ESSAYS PAGE of the online application.
Optional Essays
Personal Statement (~ 500 words maximum)
The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern graduate student, how could you contribute to an intellectual community that prioritizes equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural humility? Your answer may draw upon past or present experiences, whether in academic work, extracurricular or community activities, or everyday life.
Short Answer Prompt (~250 words Maximum)
If there is something you would like to highlight that you have yet to discuss in other areas of the application, please do so here. You can also use this space to address any concerns you may have in your application. If, for example, you do not believe your academic credentials demonstrate your true capabilities, please explain why. Also, describe any gaps in your academic career and work experience or any extenuating circumstances in your profile of which the admissions committee should be made aware.
TOEFL/IELTS Scores (if necessary)
Applicants whose native language is not English must also 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 out of 9. 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.
For additional questions about applying to the EDI program, please contact us at edi@northwestern.edu.
