Financial Matters
Foreign Applicants
Previous Graduate Work
Application Requirements (General, Deadline, Application Form, Statement of Purpose, GREs, Writing Sample, Recommendation Letters)
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer a terminal Master's program?
We do not offer a separate Master's program. Students in the Ph.D. program earn a Master's degree after a year of satisfactory work toward the Ph.D. degree. Northwestern's School of Continuing Studies offers several part-time master's programs, including the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) and a Master of Arts in Literature (MALit). To find out more about these programs, visit their website at: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/
Can I start your program in the Winter, Spring, or Summer quarter?
No, we only admit for the Fall quarter.
Do you have a part-time and/or a correspondence program?
We do not. Northwestern's School of Continuing Studies offers several part-time master's programs, including the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) and a Master of Arts in Literature (MALit). To find out more about these programs, visit their website at: http://www.scs.northwestern.edu/
Do you require a major in History for admission?
We do not require a major in History as a prerequisite for admission. However, a background in historical analysis is obviously significant with regard to preparation for graduate work.
How good is your department in…?
If you wish to know more about a specific field, please contact individual faculty directly. You will find descriptions of interests and current work, as well as e-mail addresses, in the "Faculty" section of our website.
Can I visit the campus and meet with faculty and graduate students?
We organize a group visit in early April for all students admitted into our program. Faculty and Graduate students make a point of being available at that time. In addition, the Graduate School helps partially defray the cost of the trip. If you wish to visit us at a different time, you should contact faculty and graduate students directly. You will find contact information in the "Faculty" and "Current Graduate Students" sections of this website.
Am I too old to attend your program?
Age is not a factor in the admission process. Admission is solely based on academic merit.
How long does it take to complete your Ph.D. program?
Most graduate students complete the program in five or six years. A few students take more time.
What can I do with a Ph.D. degree?
Our program is designed to train teachers and scholars for faculty positions at Colleges and Universities.
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Financial Matters
How do I apply for financial assistance?
The regular application serves as the application for financial aid.
What kind of financial aid does your department provide?
All admitted students receive a five-year financial package that provides a stipend and pays tuition. Please see the "Admission and Financial Aid" section of our website for details. The first-year fellowship pays tuition and currently provides a stipend of $19,140 for twelve months.
Can I work part-time or full-time while in the program?
Our graduate program requires a full-time commitment. Work is prohibited by the terms of the financial package offered to admitted students (exceptions are made in rare cases, when it complements a student's academic pursuits).
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Foreign Applicants
What is the TOEFL or IELTS requirement for foreign applicants?
For information regarding English language requirements for foreign applicants, please see the Graduate School application webpage: http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/materials/
Do I need to submit TSE scores?
The TSE is not required for admission and financial aid in the first year of graduate study. However, a minimum score of 50 is required on the TSE in order to obtain funding in the second and subsequent years (for Teaching Assistantship).
As a foreign student, am I eligible for the same funding as American students?
Yes, all entering students receive the same funding regardless of citizenship.
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Previous Graduate Work
Do I need to have a Master's degree in order to be accepted into your program?
No, a Master's degree is not a prerequisite for earning entry into our Ph.D. program.
I have a Master's degree in History. Will I still need to take courses?
About half of our entering students hold a Master's degree from another institution. While previous graduate work often helps students complete their degree requirements faster, all students in our program have to complete two years of coursework. In specific cases, and with permission of the department, a student may use a graduate course taken at another institution to satisfy a departmental requirement. The course is replaced by one that better serves the student's academic needs.
What is the department's policy on transferring credits into the Ph.D. program from another institution?
We do not grant transfer credit for courses taken at another institution.
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Application Requirements
What documents do you require for admission?
In addition to the application form, we require: a) the application fee; b) a statement of purpose; c) two or more letters of recommendation; d) transcripts from all College/University work, in duplicate; and e) a writing sample. Items b, c, d, and e need to be sent directly to the History department. The application form and the fee are submitted electronically.
Can I apply at any time?
The application process starts on 6 October and ends on 1 December. You will not be able to apply online before 6 October.
Where should I send my supporting documents?
The application form and the application fee need to be submitted electronically. All other materials are to be sent directly to the History Department, to: Graduate Program Assistant, Department of History, Harris Hall, Room 202, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2220.
What is the History department code?
The History department application code is "H20PH."
What are your expectations for grades and test scores?
We do not have specific set expectations. The GPA is one amongst many factors that affect admission decisions: the writing sample, the letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose are often better indicators of an applicant's ability to do graduate level work. Moreover, grades in specific History courses will be considered more closely than grades in other courses.
What languages do I need?
Your application should make clear that you are proficient in the primary language(s) required for your research. Please consult the "Degree Requirements" section of this website for details. You may also contact faculty you are interested in working with for specific expectations pertaining to your chosen field of study.
Do you require an interview as part of the application process?
We do not, at this time, require a formal interview as part of the application process. Occasionally, faculty contact applicants (via e-mail or phone) to clarify information provided in the application, or to get a better sense of a student's interests, or preparation.
When will I be notified of a decision?
The Director of Graduate Studies contacts fellowship recipients in early March.
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Deadline
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 1 December.
Will you accept documents that reach you after the deadline?
Faculty start reviewing files immediately after the deadline. Late materials will be added to files. However, depending on when they arrive, they may or may not be part of the file reviewed by faculty.
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Application Form
Should I use the paper or the online application?
The paper application forms are no longer available.
How do I select a quarter of entry that is not showing as an option in the online application?
There are two possible problems: 1) you are trying to apply for an inappropriate quarter (we only admit for the Fall), or 2). if you know that the quarter you are trying to select is appropriate, you may be using an outdated application. You will need to start a new online application (set up a new account).
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Statement of Purpose
The online application includes a "Statement of Purpose" field. Do I still need to send a separate statement of purpose?
We prefer a separate document. Moreover, the online field is limited to 5000 characters (including spaces), which may not be enough space. You can simply write "sent separately" in that field, and send a separate statement of purpose along with your other supporting documents.
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GREs
Do you require GRE scores?
We do not presently require the GRE for Admission.
Do you require the GRE History Subject test?
We do not.
What is your "institution code"?
The institutional code number for reporting GRE scores to Northwestern's Graduate School is 1565. There is no separate code for the History department.
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Writing Sample
What type of writing sample should I submit?
We prefer papers written for history courses or on historical topics. But applicants should submit whatever sample they believe best exhibits their skills of analysis and exposition.
How long should the writing sample be?
There are no length restrictions. However, most applicants submit papers between 15 and 35 pages. When submitting a longer writing sample, please indicate which section(s) you wish readers to focus on.
Can I submit more than one writing sample?
Yes, however, please indicate which section(s) you wish readers to focus on.
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Recommendation Letters
Do I need to use forms for the recommendation letters?
We do not have recommendation letter forms. The recommending professor should use his or her own letterhead, seal the letter in an envelope and sign the sealed flap of the envelope.
How many letters of recommendation do I need?
Two are required and three are recommended.
Should I collect recommendation letters from professors and send them myself, or should I have the professors send them directly to you?
You may do either. However, if you are sending a letter yourself, ask the professor to seal the letter in an envelope and sign the sealed flap of the envelope. Letters which arrive unsealed will be marked as such. Recommendation letters should be send to the History Department, to: Graduate Program Assistant, Department of History, Harris Hall, Room 202, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-2220.
Can I use the application system to have professors submit letters electronically?
Yes. However, we do not accept letters via e-mail.
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