Graduate Admissions

Applications received after the stated deadline dates will be accepted and processed when complete as quickly as possible; however it may not be possible to have a decision rendered in time for the applicant to begin taking classes for the desired term if admitted.

Applications submitted by the above referenced dates will receive full consideration for the referenced term. Applications received after the above referenced dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note: In order to be minimally qualified to pursue admission through the Graduate School of Engineering, a candidate must have successfully completed or is in the process of completing an undergraduate bachelors degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent from a foreign college or university. Any offer of admission is contingent upon a candidate’s successful completion of an undergraduate bachelors degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent from a foreign college or university.

1. Application. The application is to be completed online. (Paper applications are not accepted.)
2. Application Fee. $100 USD to be paid online by credit card
   The application fee is waived for all applicants applying to the MS in Telecommunication Networks.
   Note to applicants from Iran: For inquiries related to difficulties and delays regarding payment of the application fee, please send an inquiry and include a copy of your resume/CV via email attachment using the following site: https://coe.northeastern.edu/admissions/help
3. Two Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be from individuals familiar with technical, professional, and personal qualifications
4. Transcripts. At the time of application submission, we require unofficial copies of your transcripts from all institutions in which you earned a Bachelor’s degree equivalent or higher. Official transcripts and degree certificates will be required if and after admission to the Graduate School of Engineering. To upload unofficial transcripts to your application properly follow the below steps:
   1. Create scanned versions of your transcripts in PDF format (up to 500 KB in size)
   2. When prompted to do so in the application, upload and attach transcripts to the online application
   3. Requirements:
      1. Scanned transcripts must be readable and include all courses, grades, (i.e. marks, scores, etc.) and credits completed to date.
      2. If a transcript(s) and/or degree certificate(s) are issued in a language other than English, an English translation must accompany the native language documents. An English translation only will not be deemed sufficient. For those who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree program, a minimum of six semesters of course, grade, and credit information must be present; for those who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree program, a minimum of four semesters must be present.
      3. Include the reverse side of the transcript when uploading to your application. Any additional grading scale information or transcript legends included on the transcript should also be included in the scanned copy. Typically such grading scale information is on the backside of the documents or is on a separate page.
      4. For applicants who have obtained credentials from China, the degree certificate and graduation certificate are required.
      5. For applicants who have obtained credentials from India, semester mark sheets and degree certificate(s)/provisional certificate(s) are required in addition to the consolidated transcript. If semester mark sheets are unavailable, an official communication on institutional letterhead must accompany the consolidated transcript indicating any retakes/backlogs associated with the program.
5. Statement of Purpose.
6. Resume.
7. GRE. Northeastern University is GRE test-optional for the 2023-2024 academic year and does not require applicants to submit standardized testing to be considered for admission. Northeastern is committed to partnering with you, your family, and your educational institution to support your individual needs.
   • As of October 2021, the Department of Chemical Engineering is not considering GRE scores for PhD or MS applicants; applicants to Chemical Engineering should therefore not submit their GRE scores.
8. TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo. Applicants who are non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. permanent residents, regardless of the applicant’s undergraduate language of instruction must submit official TOEFL, IELTS, and/or Duolingo scores. TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition are acceptable.
   1. Waiver:
      Applicants are exempt from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam requirement if they are citizens of, hold, or will hold a degree from an accredited institution located in Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Greenland, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica , Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, South Africa, Tobago, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States of America, or US Virgin Islands.
   2. Minimum Score Requirement:
      TOEFL: 79 overall (internet-based)
      IELTS: 6.5. overall
      Duolingo: 105
      Note: Applicants to the Electrical and Computer Engineering department are required to submit the minimum score requirement:
      TOEFL: 95
      IELTS: 7.0
      Duolingo: 115
   3. Sending Scores:
      TOEFL: Send scores via ETS, Institution code is 3665; no department code is needed.
      IELTS: Please have your official scores sent directly from the testing center to Northeastern University.
      Duolingo: Upon completion of the test, please select College of Engineering at Northeastern University to receive your scores
   4. If you do not meet the minimum TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo requirements and you are intending to apply to a graduate engineering program at the master of science level, you are encouraged to apply first to Northeastern University’s Global Pathways Program, where you can boost your English language skills and academic knowledge before beginning your engineering coursework.
9. Eligibility to Apply. Generally to be qualified for admissions consideration, applicants are required to hold (or be pursuing) an undergraduate engineering or technology degree in a closely related major. Students with non-engineering bachelor’s degrees are eligible for some graduate engineering degree programs. View available programs and eligibility requirements.

Note that every element of any applicant’s background is considered in the admissions process, that there is no single factor that determines whether or not a candidate is admitted, that there are no guarantees of admission for any applicant, and the decision rests solely with the appropriate faculty admissions committee.

Students with non-engineering bachelor’s degrees are eligible for some graduate engineering degree programs. View available programs and eligibility requirements.

The International Enrollment Management Global Team has established open drop-in office hours for prospective, admitted or current students. See times below.

Contact an International Recruitment Global Representative. Use the following email addresses:

• east-asia@northeastern.edu (China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia)
• South-asia@northeastern.edu (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan)
• SE-asia@northeastern.edu (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines)
• LATAM@northeastern.edu (anything south of the US/Mexico border)
• mena@northeastern.edu (Middle East and North Africa)
• global@northeastern.edu (rest of world)

Have questions on your application? View frequently asked questions and also please feel free to contact us through Graduate Student Support Center.