EDI Admissions

We are now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 academic year. 

Please see The Graduate School (TGS) website for general information about graduate study at Northwestern.  We generally follow TGS guidelines on GPA and score minimums.  However, each application is considered independently, and in some cases other factors are prioritized over grades and scores.

Up to 20 students will be enrolled in the EDI program each year.  The EDI admissions process becomes more selective each year as more people learn about the program and our applicant base grows.

For information about tuition rates, BS/MS study, and more details on admissions requirements, please see our admissions FAQ.

How to apply

The following items must be submitted for admission to the MS-EDI program:

1. Online application form completed, including the Statement of Purpose and resume. The diversity statement is optional. The program code for the MS EDI program is E23MS.   Please choose 2 of the following 4 questions and address them within your Statement of Purpose:

   -Pick a product that you think is well-designed and explain why.  Do the same with a product you think is poorly designed.

   -You’ve just finished sketching a new universally accessible kiosk for the London underground. How could you build and test a prototype in 1 hour?

   -A dental supply company wants to create a new product line targeted towards hygienists in China. What would you do to understand the needs of the user?

   -If you could spend 1 year solving 1 problem, what would it be and why?

   You may also choose to include additional information about yourself in the Statement of Purpose.

2. Official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing). Results must be sent directly from ETS to The Graduate School at Northwestern University (institutional code 1565).  Please note that you do not need to indicate a department code on the ETS form.

3. Two letters of recommendation, submitted online or through the mail. Email addresses must be provided in the online application for recommenders submitting electronically.  Mail submissions should be sent to:  Amy O'Keefe, Segal Design Institute, 2133 Sheridan Rd, G.301, Evanston, IL 60208.

4. Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions attended, scanned and uploaded to the online application.  Please note that we do not require official paper transcripts to be sent through the mail until after a admissions decision is rendered.  All admitted applicants will be required to send paper transcripts through the mail to The Graduate School of Northwestern before matriculation.

5. Electronic submission of past project work.   Submissions uploaded through the online application system as a "writing sample" should be in PDF format and should be under 2.5 MB in size.  Alternatively, you may submit a link to your online portfolio within the body of your application.

6. 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.  and Please see the admissions FAQ section of The Graduate School website for more information about taking the TOEFL/IELTS.

In addition, we strongly encourage applicants to arrange a campus visit and meet with one of the directors to review the program structure and discuss personal goals.

Admissions decisions for applications received by January 15 will be available online by mid-March.  For applications received later, a decision is typically available 3-4 weeks after your application is submitted.

We do not offer fellowships, scholarships or grants for students in the MS-EDI program at this time. A limited number of TA positions may be available, and are generally awarded after students arrive on campus in the fall. 

Please see The Graduate School website for student loan information.