International Applicants

Each year, Medill welcomes international students from around the world. To apply, international students must have an undergraduate degree (or earn one prior to enrollment).

Below is some general information for international applicants. Please also see the specific application requirements for the MSJ program.

STEM

Medill’s Master of Science in Journalism degree is STEM designated. The CIP code is 09.0702.

For eligibility and additional details on the OPT extension, please visit Northwestern’s Office of International Student Services.

Transcripts

Applicants with international transcripts must provide an English translation with their application if the transcripts were not originally issued in English. Applicants with international transcripts also need to provide an independent course-by-course credential evaluation and degree verification from a NACES provider (see the NACES website for a list) at the time they submit their application.

Tests for English language proficiency

While the admissions interview is not required, we strongly encourage applicants to consider scheduling one especially if there are areas of your application you would like to discuss in greater depth. This may include limited academic or professional experience in journalism, media, or communication or a change in career direction. Additionally, we recommend that applicants whose first language is not English or with limited reporting experience in English complete an interview as part of their application.

Please note that the Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid may also request an interview if additional information is required for application review. We encourage applicants to schedule their admissions interview during their selected application round, ideally before submitting the application. Each round has a specific deadline by which interviews must be scheduled. Interviews are typically conducted virtually, with limited opportunities to meet in person at our Medill Chicago or Evanston campuses, as well as in select cities.

Applicants should be prepared to thoughtfully discuss the following topics during their admissions interview:

• Your personal and professional journey and what has inspired you to pursue graduate study in journalism at Medill.
• Your educational and career goals, and how Medill’s journalism program aligns with your aspirations and long-term vision.
• The journalism specialization you have selected and what draws you to that specific area of focus. 

If none of the listed interview times are convenient for you, email MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu to schedule one.

Financial aid

International MSJ applicants are eligible for some Medill scholarships. All students are encouraged to research potential sources of external scholarships.

Loans for international students may be available under certain circumstances, but international students are not eligible for U.S. federal student loans. Visit our financial aid page for more information.

Visas

Information about applying for a student visa is provided upon admission to the program.