Engineering Design Innovationat the SEGAL DESIGN INSTITUTE, McCORMICK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

No. We do not require previous design experience for admission. We look for a demonstrated interest in design and the human-centered design process. Be sure to highlight such interest in your portfolio examples, work experience, design innovation prompt and academic statement.

We admit applicants with a variety of academic degrees across disciplines in STEM, humanities, and the arts.  One of the strengths of our cohort model is the diversity of expertise our students have across various fields.

The EDI program considers BS/MS applications from students requiring 4 or fewer courses toward BS degree requirements entering the Fall of their final undergraduate year. Applications should be submitted by January 15 and will be considered on the same cycle as all other applications to the cohort. While you must have at least a 3.00 GPA to be considered, there are no automatic admits to the EDI program. Please submit your application through CollegeNet. Include your BS/MS plan of study, two recommenders, and the rest of the application requirements. If requested prior to submission of your application, a fee waiver code can be provided to BS/MS applicants.

No. Students may matriculate only in the fall term.

No. We do not have a policy of automatic admission for any student.

No.  All applications completed and submitted by January 15 will be provided with an admissions decision by March 15. 

Typically the EDI cohort is filled from the applications received by January 15.  If necessary, additional applications may be considered on a rolling basis.  The final application deadline is July 15.

We generally follow The Graduate School's guidelines on minimum GPA and test scores:

• a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
• a minimum TOEFL score of 95 (Internet-based test) or minimum IELTS score of 7 is required ONLY for international students who have not previously studied at an institution where the primary instruction language is English
• Please note grades and scores are considered alongside a wide range of factors in determining admissibility to the EDI program. 

So long as the material you submit effectively conveys your interests, past experiences, and your approach to problem framing/solving you are on the right track. Take care in communicating the purpose for each project sample submitted.

Generally, applicants submit two to six projects, depending on each project’s scale and the amount of descriptive information required.  Projects may be academic, professional, or personal interest based.

If you received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English, you do not need to take the TOEFL or IELTS.

If you have taken the TOEFL/IELTS within the last two years, you may request to have those scores sent from ETS.

Under no other circumstances can the requirement be waived if your native language is not English.

Camp EDI is a two-three week, pre-term orientation workshop designed to familiarize new students with the people, resources, tools, and activities that will define the EDI experience while helping students build relationships with EDI faculty, staff, alumni, and peers.

The workshop consists of a set of intensive training sessions that provide students the opportunity to strengthen their skills in selected tools of the design trade, including 2D visualization and communication, 3D modeling, Solidworks, mechatronics, and equipment in the prototyping and fabrication shop.

Students work on a project that allows them to practice their newly acquired skills. Sessions are primarily devoted to instruction, and students are expected to work on their own time to complete the project.

New student registration opens in September. During Camp EDI, second-year EDI students will be able to field questions about elective courses and the registration process.

Use these resources to help during the registration process:
CAESAR: Student Information Portal Login
CAESAR FAQs
EDI Curriculum Breakdown
Segal Course Catalogue

Please refer to The Graduate School website for detailed information about the cost of tuition.

Students take it upon themselves to get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. Examples include outreach-based activities such as mentoring student teams or volunteering with local elementary schools; cohort-based activities like the EDI volleyball team; and activities just for fun such as pottery classes.

Learn more about student groups offered through the Segal Design Institute.

Visit the Northwestern Student Affairs website.

Our EDI classes tend to be split down the middle — about half of our students live in Evanston and another half live in Chicago. Students who live in Chicago usually live near the Purple Line CTA train, which operates express trains to Evanston. Students also live near the Red and Brown Line trains, which easily connect to the Purple Line.  All EDI classes are held on Northwestern's Evanston campus.

Learn more about housing at:
Northwestern’s Off-Campus How To Guide
Chicago Neighborhoods Guide
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Maps

Northwestern University's Off-Campus Life (OCL) serves as the first point of contact for all students moving and living off-campus. OCL helps educate students about their rights, responsibilities, and resources as members of the Evanston and Chicago communities.

To find out more, watch their How-To videos How to Move Off Campus and NavigatingPlaces4Students. You can also contact OCL via phone at 847-491-8430 or email at offcampuslife@northwestern.edu. 

The Graduate School (TGS) and CTA provide the CTA University Pass (U-Pass) to full-time graduate students. The CTA U-Pass program uses fare cards called Ventra, a contactless payment system that serves as a U-Pass.

You can learn more about transportation options on campus by visiting the Northwestern Shuttle Services and the Northwestern Transportation and Parking websites.