How to Apply

Each applicant is required to have three letters of recommendation. Ideally, at least one of these recommendations will be from a supervisor of research. The letters should be requested and submitted online via the CollegeNET tool. If submitting the letter this way is not possible, please ask your recommender to email their letter to nuin@northwestern.edu. We are unable to accept more than three letters of recommendation.

As part of the CollegeNET online application, applicants need to submit an academic statement (also called a “research statement”) describing their unique background, experience and motivation for pursuing a PhD in neuroscience at Northwestern. The Academic Statement must be 1,000 words or less.

The NUIN admissions committee is interested to know what led you to pursue PhD training in neuroscience, how your research and lived experience has prepared you for the rigors of a PhD program, and how a PhD in neuroscience will help you achieve your future goals. Tailor the document to highlight research at Northwestern that lead you to apply to the NUIN program.

NUIN and The Graduate School value diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a NUIN graduate student, how could you contribute to an intellectual community that prioritizes equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural humility? Your answer may draw upon past or present experiences, whether in academic work, extracurricular or community activities, or everyday life. The Personal Statement must be 500 words or less. 

Please summarize your relevant research experiences.  Outline each project and the level of your involvement.  This is meant to be a document that can be scanned quickly by the admissions committee.  It should be no more than one page.  Paragraph or bullet style are acceptable formats.  Please note that on the application, you will upload this document under “Supplemental Document Upload” in the “Additional Statements” section.

CollegeNET gives applicants an opportunity to upload a resume. While not required, applicants are encouraged to do so. A resume should summarize your relevant research experience and past and current positions.

You are required to submit one unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution you have attended. Transcripts may be “unofficial" (for example, the versions that many institutions allow students to download themselves). Please make sure your transcripts are legible before uploading them. If you are accepted and choose to attend Northwestern, then you will need to submit official paper transcripts. For additional information on transcripts, please see TGS Admissions.

NUIN does not require GRE general or subject score submissions. We review all applications holistically and do not have minimum GPA. Recent average entering classes have had an average GPA of 3.65. In evaluating applicants, the program places greatest emphasis on research experience(s), the personal statement and letters of recommendation from research advisers.

For the most up-to-date information on TOEFL requirements please visit the TGS Admissions FAQ page and the TGS Application Requirements – Test Scores page.

The Northwestern University Graduate School requires a score of 90 or above on the TOEFL internet test or an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher for admission to the university. NUIN cannot waive this requirement except for applicants with undergraduate or graduate degrees from institutions in the United States or institutions where English is the language of instruction. See TGS Admissions - Test Scores for details on The Graduate School's English proficiency requirement and waiver process. 

See our list of NUIN-affiliated faculty. The ability of faculty to take new students may change from year to year. We encourage you to review faculty profiles and websites to learn more about their research. 

NUIN does not require a writing sample.