You may also download the Admissions Handbook which has all the information you will need including requirements, application checklist and frequently asked questions.
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- What are the application deadlines?
- The deadline for all applications and materials is December 31st at 5:00pm CST.
- What are the required materials?
- Please see the Application Procedures Page
Consult the Graduate School's admission website for further information on each of these items. The IEMS Department has no required program-specific items, but examples of published research is often helpful. - What are the prerequisites for admission?
Scores: We look particularly at the GRE quantitative score, which should be well up into the 700s. Minimum TOEFL and TSE scores are as given above.
Grades: The grade point average of admitted applicants averages above 3.5/4.0. If you can document that you ranked very highly in your graduating class, that will also be looked upon favorably.
Prerequisites: You should have a bachelor's or a master's degree in engineering, science, or mathematics; other backgrounds may be considered in special cases. We look particularly for a strong mathematics background with high grades in that area. You should have taken courses in probability, introductory statistics, and linear algebra, or should be planning to take them prior to beginning our program. A basic knowledge of theorem-proving techniques is also beneficial. In special instances, it is possible to enroll in courses to make up deficiencies in these areas during the first year of our program.
Research/industry experience: Any experience in which you worked independently, whether in research or industry, is helpful to your application. If you were required to write about your experience or findings, we encourage you to submit a sample of your written work/publications with your application materials.
Letters of recommendation: We are looking for individuals who have impressed their teachers with the abilities and personal characteristics that would make them likely to succeed in a rigorous research-based program.
Statement of purpose: You should clearly state your current goals and career plans and should explain your decision to specialize in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences.- How can I apply?
- If you wish to apply to the graduate program here at Northwestern University, you must apply online via The Graduate School. There are no paper applications anymore. The $75 application fee must be paid by credit card at the time you submit your application.
- When will I hear a decision regarding my application?
- PhD applications will be considered for admission and fellowship aid soon after the December 31 deadline. Admissions decisions are typically made around March for applicants. Please do not contact us regarding the status of your decision. You may track your application using the GATS System April 15th is the deadline for those individuals who have been offered financial aid to accept our offer. A few additional financial aid offers may be made around April if all of our financial aid has not been committed by that time.
- Who should I contact regarding my application or admission decision?
- For all admission-related inquires please contact Adam Cebulski (gcoord @ iems.northwestern.edu). Do not contact other staff members or faculty directly.
- My goal is to receive a doctoral (PhD) degree, but I do not yet have a master's (MS or equivalent) degree. Should I first apply to Northwestern as an MS student?
- No, you should apply for the degree that is your ultimate objective at Northwestern. All prospective doctoral students follow the same program in the IEMS department, whether or not they have a previous master's degree. PhD students in IEMS have the option of receiving the MS degree after they have finished their first year's studies and exams.
- What are the minimum requirements for PhD admission?
- See the previous section's answer.
- Am I required to take the GRE and does it make a difference which version of the GRE I have taken?
- Yes, all applicants are required to take the GRE. In the past, we have made no distinction between results from the paper-based and computer-based GRE tests. We will continue to accept results from either kind of GRE test this year. For those countries where the computer-based test has been suspended, we have not yet decided whether we will make a special distinction between the two kinds of test, but the distinction is unlikely to be large. If the other parts of your application, such as grades and letters of recommendation, are very strong, then it should not be so important whether you took a computer-based GRE test. Please note: the GRE test is only good for 5 years. We will not accept a GRE score if, at the time of entrance, it will be older than 5 years.
- Do I need to submit a TSE or TOEFL score?
- TSE: A TSE score is not officially required for admission. If you are an international student whose native language is not English, however, then the Graduate School will require a score of at least 50 as a prerequisite for appointment as a teaching assistant. Thus it is important that you be able to pass this test eventually; applicants who have already passed it may have an advantage in gaining admission.
TOEFL: If you are an international applicant whose native language is not English, you must demonstrate evidence of ability in English by achieving a score of 600 or higher on the paper-based test, 250 or higher on the computer-based test, 100 or higher on the internet based test.
The TOEFL and TSE requirements are waived by earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English.
For complete information on the Application and Admissions Process please visit the Admissions section of the website. - What types of financial aid are available?
- Please visit the Financial Aid page for information on financial aid options for graduate study.
- Do I need to submit a separate form to apply for financial aid?
- No. The application is for admission as well as financial aid. A question in the financial aid section of the application asks whether you want to be considered for financial aid. Regardless of what you answer, however, if you apply for the PhD then you will be considered for aid, while if you apply for the MS then NO aid will be considered.
- If I enter as an MS to PhD track student, what are the costs of attending Northwestern?
- For more information on costs, please contact The Graduate School.
- What graduate housing is available?
- The Graduate Housing Office is a very helpful resource. You can contact them regarding both university and off-campus housing at:
Graduate Housing Office, Engelhart Hall
1915 Maple Avenue
Evanston IL 60201-3194
On-campus information phone: 847-491-5127
Off-campus information phone: 847-491-3015
grad-housing@northwestern.edu
Graduate Student Housing Website - What is Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences about?
- Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS) is concerned with the design, analysis, implementation and operation of systems that provide goods and services vital to our society. The goal of IEMS is to improve the quality and productivity of these systems. Examples of systems can be found in any sector of the economy: manufacturing, distribution, transportation, public services, health care, and financial to name a few. Because of the diversity and complexity of systems, an industrial engineer needs to use tools from a broad range of disciplines including mathematics, physical and engineering sciences, social sciences, and computing. Perhaps the best way to think of IEMS is that it is a bridge between engineering and management.
- What research topics are found in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences?
- Research in IE/MS at Northwestern University spans a variety of areas:
Applied Probability and Stochastic Modeling
Decision and Risk Analysis
Financial Engineering
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Optimization
Organization Behavior and Technology Management
Production Planning
Statistics and Quality Control
See our page on research areas for more information about each of these, including listings of specific research activities and grants. Also our faculty web page lists the specialties and current activities of all professors in the IEMS Department. - What types of careers does IEMS graduate study lead to?
- Our program prepares students for research and technology based careers in industry and academia. On average, about half of our graduates have pursued academic careers and half business careers. On the academic side, no other department has placed more of the current assistant professors at major Industrial Engineering departments than the IEMS department at Northwestern; our department also has an excellent record of business school and industry placement. On the business side our graduates have entered such areas as telecommunications, management consulting, pharmaceuticals, and transportation. Our PhD placement listing provides more specifics.
