MSES - Admissions
Note: Applications for the incoming Fall 2021 cohort are now closed - the Fall 2022 application cycle will open Sept. 7, 2021.
The MSES program is primarily aimed at students and graduates with BS/BA degrees in engineering, natural sciences, or other quantitative or topic-relevant degrees like economics, math/statistics or political science. Target applicants will be early/mid-career or will have graduated with distinction in their field of study and have a demonstrable commitment to energy and sustainability through academic achievements or other comparable experiences.
Application Requirements
The MSES Admissions Committee seeks well-rounded applicants and considers applications as a whole. However, successful applicants typically offer:
- Degree - Bachelor's or master's degree in:
- An engineering or an engineering-related field (e.g. engineering management);
- A social/natural science discipline with some quantitative and/or analytical background (e.g. chemistry, earth and planetary sciences, economics, environmental sciences, math/statistics, physics, etc.);
- Another social/natural science discipline without a quantitative and/or analytical background with subject-area relevance (e.g. history, political science, etc.), so long as the applicant can demonstrate such skills in other coursework;
- A professional master’s degree (e.g. business administration, law, etc.)
- GPA - Minimum 3.0 overall Grade Point Average (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate work is recommended, but not required for application. GPA carries less weight in the evaluation of your candidacy the longer it's been since you graduated.
- Academic Transcript(s) - At the time of application, applicants must submit an unofficial copy of academic transcripts from each college or university you have attended. If you are offered a position in the MSES program and you decide to enroll, you will be required to submit one official copy of your transcript(s).
- Letters of Recommendation - Two letters of recommendation (plus an optional third letter) that attest to the candidate's academic or work performance as well as leadership potential.
- Test Scores - GRE scores are accepted, but are not required for application. A lack of GRE scores will not put any individual applicant at an evaluatory disadvantage, but individuals that have, or plan, to take the GRE may submit their scores as a supplemental evidence of graduate readiness. Other graduate readiness tests (GMAT, LSAT) may take the place of GRE scores, if taken in the last three years.
- International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores from the past two years to demostrate language proficiency (although this requirement may be waived if undergraduate coursework was taught in English). Applicants must score at least a 90 on the TOEFL (send to institutional code C527), or 7.0 on the IELTS (e-deliver score results to "Northwestern University - Master in Energy & Sustainability").
- Resume - Applicants are required to upload a current resume or CV. Please limit your submission to two pages; documents longer than 2 pages will not be reviewed.
Financial Aid
The MSES program provides a variety of financial aid options for students. Learn more
Application Deadlines (2021-2022 Academic Year)
Applications for the 2021-22 MSES cohort will open on September 8, 2020. For the 2021-22 cohort, the MSES program is now accepting international students requiring a visa (note: all international applications must be received no later than February 15, 2021). A part-time program is under consideration to begin in June 2022 (one class per quarter over 3 years). Want to receive updates on the MSES program? Request info here
*Round 1 is highly recommended to obtain preferred access to grant funding, to allow time for scholarship applications, and to seek summer internships
**If part-time program is offered, it will begin in June 2022. It is highly recommended for part-time candidates to target Round 1 or Round 2 applications
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