Admission Requirements

The Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional program has two starts per year, in the fall quarter and winter quarter. Consult the academic calendar below to see our upcoming priority deadlines, final deadlines and start dates.

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Our application checklist is a brief, one-page takeaway that will help you successfully complete your application to the MS in IMC Professional program at Northwestern.

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Round 1: IMC ProfessionalRound 2: IMC ProfessionalRound 3: IMC Professional
Application DeadlineApril 15, 2024June 3, 2024July 29, 2024
Decision NotificationMay 6, 2024June 24, 2024August 19, 2024
Deposit DateMay 27, 2024July 17, 2024August 28, 2024

The admissions application to start the Integrated Marketing Communications Professional master’s program in the Fall of 2024 opens on January 12, 2024.

Please apply in the Round that fits your schedule. The same application review process is applied during each Round.

Each deadline has a corresponding decision notification date. Decisions are not released on a rolling basis; instead, applicants who have submitted completed applications by the deadline can expect a decision by the notification date above. A completed application means that all transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation and required essays have been received by our office. Applicants can view whether their application is complete by checking their application portal. Applications that are submitted but missing required documents, such as a letter of recommendation, will not be reviewed until all materials have been received. As a result, applications that are incomplete are not guaranteed a decision by their corresponding notification date.

If you have any questions, please schedule a call with an Admissions Outreach Advisor.

Application Requirements

Northwestern Medill is working with prospective IMC Professional students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your health and well-being, along with that of the Medill community, are our top priority. If you are unable to take the TOEFL/IELTS due to COVID-19 restrictions, please reach out to MedillGraduateadmissions@northwestern.edu for information on waiver options.

You must have a Bachelor's degree.

When you apply, you must submit academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. You are not required to submit a transcript for non-degree course work for certificates or MOOCs. Please list non-degree coursework on your resume. If you have transfer credit for three or more courses, you must submit a transcript from the original grade-granting institution even if the transfer credit appears on your home institution transcript.

For application review, you can submit either official or unofficial transcripts. You can upload unofficial transcripts in the "Academic Experience" section of the application. Please make sure that uploaded unofficial transcripts are complete and legible; if they are not, the processing of your application could be delayed. If the size of your unofficial transcript file is too large to upload directly into the system, please email your transcript to the email address provided below.

You can also send official transcripts via secure e-transcript provider to MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu or via mail directly from the institution to:

Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Suite 104
Evanston, IL 60208-2101

If you are admitted, you will be required to submit official and final copies of all of your transcripts 30 days prior to enrollment (start of classes), including your final undergraduate transcript with proof of your degree and the date it was conferred. Medill reserves the right to withdraw an admission offer if we do not receive these official transcripts by this deadline. It is your responsibility to request an official transcript from the registrar of each institution and to ensure transcripts are sent to Medill.

Applicants with international transcripts must also submit an independent course-by-course credential evaluation and degree verification from a NACES provider (see NACES' website for a list) and an official English translation of the transcript (if they were not originally issued in English).

Please note: The Northwestern University Medill Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office is a separate office from Northwestern University’s The Graduate School. Transcripts must be routed directly to the Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid.


Send materials that cannot be uploaded or entered into your online application account to:

Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Suite 104
Evanston, IL 60208-2101

Please note that application materials become property of Northwestern University and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application. You can also email materials to MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu.

Medill reserves the right to revoke admission if new information is obtained that would warrant such action.

In exceptional circumstances, Medill reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive any documentation normally required for admission. Medill also reserves the right to admit or deny admission whenever it believes that it has sufficient evidence to do so.

Admissions Deadlines
Apr
15
Next Fall 2024 Deadline
Fall 2024 Quarter
Sep
24
First Day of Class
Fall 2024 Quarter