Admission Requirements
The Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional program starts in the fall quarter each year and starting 2023, January winter quarter. Consult the academic calendar below to see our upcoming priority deadlines, final deadlines and start dates.
Download an Application Checklist
Our application checklist is a brief, one-page takeaway that will help you successfully complete your application to the MS in IMC Professional program at Northwestern.
| Program | Round 1: IMC Professional | Round 2: IMC Professional | Round 3: IMC Professional |
| Application Deadline | September 6, 2023 | October 16, 2023 | November 14, 2023 |
| Decision Notification | September 22, 2023 | November 6, 2023 | November 27, 2023 |
The admissions application to start the Integrated Marketing Communications Professional master’s program in the Winter of 2024 opens on July 23, 2023.
Please apply in the Round that fits your schedule. The same application review process is applied during each Round.
Each deadline has a corresponding decision notification date. Decisions are not released on a rolling basis; instead, applicants who have submitted completed applications by the deadline can expect a decision by the notification date above. A completed application means that all transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation and required essays have been received by our office. Applicants can view whether their application is complete by checking their application portal. Applications that are submitted but missing required documents, such as a letter of recommendation, will not be reviewed until all materials have been received. As a result, applications that are incomplete are not guaranteed a decision by their corresponding notification date.
If you have any questions, please schedule a call with an Admissions Outreach Advisor.
Application Requirements
Northwestern Medill is working with prospective IMC Professional students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your health and well-being, along with that of the Medill community, are our top priority. If you are unable to take the TOEFL/IELTS due to COVID-19 restrictions, please reach out to MedillGraduateadmissions@northwestern.edu for information on waiver options.
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Academic Transcripts
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Admission Interview
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GRE or GMAT Test Scores
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TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo Test Scores
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Resume
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Professional Statement
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Letters of Recommendation
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Application Fee
You must have a Bachelor's degree.
When you apply, you must submit academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. You are not required to submit a transcript for non-degree course work for certificates or MOOCs. Please list non-degree coursework on your resume. If you have transfer credit for three or more courses, you must submit a transcript from the original grade-granting institution even if the transfer credit appears on your home institution transcript.
For application review, you can submit either official or unofficial transcripts. You can upload unofficial transcripts in the "Academic Experience" section of the application. Please make sure that uploaded unofficial transcripts are complete and legible; if they are not, the processing of your application could be delayed. If the size of your unofficial transcript file is too large to upload directly into the system, please email your transcript to the email address provided below.
You can also send official transcripts via secure e-transcript provider to MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu or via mail directly from the institution to:
Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Suite 104
Evanston, IL 60208-2101
If you are admitted, you will be required to submit official and final copies of all of your transcripts 30 days prior to enrollment (start of classes), including your final undergraduate transcript with proof of your degree and the date it was conferred. Medill reserves the right to withdraw an admission offer if we do not receive these official transcripts by this deadline. It is your responsibility to request an official transcript from the registrar of each institution and to ensure transcripts are sent to Medill.
Applicants with international transcripts must also submit an independent course-by-course credential evaluation and degree verification from a NACES provider (see NACES' website for a list) and an official English translation of the transcript (if they were not originally issued in English).
Please note: The Northwestern University Medill Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office is a separate office from Northwestern University’s The Graduate School. Transcripts must be routed directly to the Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid.
The Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid may require applicants to sit for an admissions interview to supplement their completed application and provide more information about their interest in the MS in IMC Professional program. Interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom. Applicants will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
GRE/GMAT scores are not currently required for admission. If you would like to strengthen your application by submitting these scores, you are welcome to, but they are not compulsory at this time.
If you are an international student who earned an undergraduate degree at a college or university where the primary language of instruction was not English, submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo scores. The TOEFL or IELTS must have been taken within two years of your application submission date. Send TOEFL scores to Medill using code 1699-18. The IELTS test must be the Academic version. If you are submitting IELTS scores you can provide the TRF number on your application instead of sending an official report.
Medill allows you the option to self-report your test scores in your application. Once you submit your application, we will review these unofficial scores along with the rest of your file. If we decide to offer you admission based on these unofficial scores, it will be on the condition that you send us your official scores at least 30 days prior to enrollment.
Submit your current resume, which should highlight your professional and academic experiences, including non-degree course work and MOOCs. Three years of work experience are required. Career changers are welcome to apply.
In your essay, describe your interest in Medill’s Integrated Marketing Communications Professional program in 1,500 words or fewer. Be sure to address the following questions:
- What professional experiences have led you to pursue an IMC degree? What professional experiences and/or opportunities informed your decision to apply to the program at this time?
- How will IMC help you achieve your professional goals?
Additional Information (optional): If there is anything in your application that you would like to address (e.g., GRE or GMAT scores, GPA, lack of marketing or other work experience) or any additional information you would like to include, please do so.
Medill requires two letters of recommendation for applicants to our graduate programs. You may submit a third recommendation if you wish. Recommendations should be from someone who can assess your academic and professional abilities (e.g., employers, supervisors, current or former professors). Recommendations from family members or from friends who do not have direct experience with your professional or academic work will not be accepted. Enter your recommenders' contact information in the online application. The system will then email your recommenders instructions on how to submit their letters online. You are responsible for reminding recommenders to submit their letters through the online system by the deadline. If your recommender has trouble submitting their letter, please contact MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu.
Please note: We cannot accept letters of recommendation submitted by applicants; they must come directly from the recommender.
There is a $100 non-refundable application fee. You may pay this online by credit card or indicate that you will be paying by check. If paying by check, please include the payment voucher that you can print from your online application and mail your payment to:
Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Suite 104
Evanston, IL 60208-2101
If you are a current or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces, AmeriCorps, Teach for America or the Peace Corps, you may request a fee waiver by sending an email to Director of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Julie Collins prior to submitting your application.
We also offer a limited number of application fee waivers based on financial need; requests of this nature must be requested in writing prior to submitting your application. Send your request to Director of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Julie Collins.
Send materials that cannot be uploaded or entered into your online application account to:
Medill Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
1845 Sheridan Road
Suite 104
Evanston, IL 60208-2101
Please note that application materials become property of Northwestern University and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application. You can also email materials to MedillGraduateAdmissions@northwestern.edu.
Medill reserves the right to revoke admission if new information is obtained that would warrant such action.
In exceptional circumstances, Medill reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive any documentation normally required for admission. Medill also reserves the right to admit or deny admission whenever it believes that it has sufficient evidence to do so.