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Northwestern University

Admissions Requirements and Process

The admissions process for the Master of Product Design and Development Management (MPDD) program at Northwestern University seeks innovative and driven professionals ready to advance their careers. We look for applicants with diverse backgrounds who are eager to enhance their design thinking, leadership, and strategic management skills. Our program values both your professional experience and your potential for future success, so we welcome candidates who demonstrate creativity, collaboration, and a passion for bringing new products to life.

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On this page, you’ll find important information about our admissions requirements, deadlines, and application process, as well as details on how we evaluate candidates. Get started on your path to becoming a leader in product development today.



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Deadlines

We admit new students annually during the fall quarter. The application opens one year before classes start in early September and closes the following August 1st. We review applications as we receive them until all seats are filled in the cohort. Our cohorts are small, with 20-30 students admitted every year.  

Round One: March 15th 

We recommend Round One for any candidates for whom mpd² is their top choice graduate program. 

Round Two: June 15th 

Round Two is the final application review round for international applicants requiring a student visa. 

Round Three: August 1st 

Round Three is the final application review round. Please note that the application closes after this round concludes, so submitting your application before the August 1st deadline is crucial. 

Applications are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis starting in September for acceptance to the next class.



Application Materials

Applicants to mpd² complete an online application, which will require them to provide some personal information and upload the following materials:  

Unofficial Transcripts 

mpd² does not require official transcripts for the application review process. You can upload an unofficial copy to your application form. However, we do ask admitted students to submit official copies of their transcripts as part of their enrollment and new student onboarding.  

Personal Statement 

We ask that applicants submit a personal statement that, in 750 words or less, addresses the following questions:  

Why are you applying specifically to the mpd² program at Northwestern University?  

How do you hope to add value to the experience of your classmates?  

What are your career aspirations upon completing the program, and how will mpd² help you reach these goals?  

Short Answer Essays 

We also ask that applicants submit a series of short answer responses that, in 150 words or less per question, address the following questions:  

  1. What is your current position, and how does it relate to product development? 
  2. What are your long-term career goals? 
  3. What factors influenced your application to the Northwestern University mpd² program? 
  4. What skills or abilities do you hope to strengthen in the program? 
  5. Describe a trend that will influence product design and development over the next five years.  

Resume / CV 

Applicants are asked to submit a recent version of their resume or CV. We encourage applicants to keep their submissions between one and three pages long.  

Letter of Recommendation 

(Optional for Application Submission, Required for Admission) 

Applicants must provide contact information for at least one recommendation letter writer before submitting their application. After you save their contact information in your application form, recommenders are emailed a link to a brief recommendation form confirming their name, current organization, phone number, and how long they have known you. They can then upload their letter as an attachment.  

While many applicants ask their direct supervisors for a letter, they can also come from peers, clients, or colleagues. Recommendations can be from any professional reference who knows you well and can speak to the quality of your work and your abilities, especially in a team setting. 

Recommendations can be processed before or after you submit your application form, but we must have received at least one for you to be eligible for admission.   

Examples of Past Work 

 (Optional for Application Submission, Required for Interview) 

The mpd² program focuses on innovative thinking and practical problem-solving. As part of our holistic admissions process, we encourage applicants to submit examples of past work that demonstrate their skills and approach to problem-solving. These examples help us understand your experience, creativity, and potential fit for the mpd² program. Your work samples allow us to understand better how you approach real-world challenges and bring ideas to life. 

What to Include: 

Examples can come from your professional career, academic projects, or personal interests. We welcome a variety of formats, such as: 

Your examples need not be polished or perfect—they should simply give us a window into your thinking and how you tackle challenges. This part of the application is optional at the time of submission, but please note that it will be required before scheduling an interview. We recommend submitting them simultaneously, if possible, as having these ready significantly speeds up the scheduling process if you’re invited to an interview.  

If you're unsure what to submit or how to format your examples, please get in touch with us. We're here to help! 

Interview (by invitation only) 

Some applicants are invited to complete an admissions interview with Program Director Jim Wicks or another member of the mpd² team.   

The admissions interview is an opportunity for us to get to know you better, for you to walk us through the examples of past work you provided, and for you to ask us more in-depth questions about the program’s curriculum, culture, and community in a one-on-one environment.  

Applicants must submit examples of their past work before they can schedule and complete their admissions interview.  



Undergraduate Degree

You must have earned a bachelor's degree (or the international equivalent) to be eligible to apply for admission.

 

Work Experience

We want our students to draw from real-world experiences when contributing to class discussions and project work. Therefore, we require a minimum of three years of full-time, post-undergraduate experience to be eligible for admission.  



English Proficiency

Foreign nationals are required to demonstrate English proficiency as part of their application in one of two ways:  

  1. Unofficial transcripts that illustrate that the applicant holds an undergraduate or graduate degree (or an international equivalent) from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.  
  2. Unofficial TOEFL or IELTS score reports demonstrating a minimum TOEFL score of 100 or a minimum IELTS score of 7.5


Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition Rates, Fees, and Cost of Attendance  

Northwestern Student Finance publishes the current tuition and fee rates, and Northwestern’s Evanston Office of Graduate Financial Aid provides detailed estimates of the total cost of attendance.  

Please see Financial Aid. 



Open Houses and Information Sessions

Come for a Visit

Discuss the mpd² program with director Jim Wicks, faculty, students, and alumni.



Acknowledgment and Verification

The mpd² program office will email an acknowledgment once it has received your application form. We will then contact you to schedule your interview at which time you are to bring your product design and development or technical portfolio.

Ready to take the next step?

Learn how to apply for admission.

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