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Doctoral Student Enrollment Procedures

If you were recently admitted to a doctoral program in The Graduate School (TGS), review the steps and procedures below.

  1. View your electronic admission decision

    If you have not done so already, please view your admission decision via the online application.

    When you login to the online application, you will now notice a "View Your Decision Letter" button. By clicking the "View Your Decision Letter" button, you will automatically be taken to your electronic decision letter.  which contains important information regarding enrollment decision deadlines and the link to submit your enrollment decision.

  2. Submit your enrollment decision online

    Please let us know if you are accepting or declining our admission offer by submitting your enrollment decision via the online application. Your enrollment decision must be entered by the enrollment deadline stated in your virtual admission letter. Late enrollment decisions may not be accepted. Once submitted, enrollment decisions may not be changed.

    It is important to note that by accepting our offer of admission, you are also accepting any financial award offered to you by Northwestern University. Before accepting or declining your offer of admission, please consult the Regulations Governing University Assistance page to make sure you do not have any conflicts with this information.

    If you intend to enroll at Northwestern University, continue to step 3.

  3.  Mail your official transcripts

    Please keep in mind that transcripts uploaded onto your online application are not official documents. Therefore, you are required to submit one official hard copy of each of your transcripts to the TGS Admission Office.

    Official transcripts are documents that are produced directly by the registrar's office of the awarding institution. For international transcripts, we will also require a diploma or certificate that lists the degree awarded and conferral date to accompany the transcripts for our verification process.

    Whether issued as secure .pdf documents or mailed hardcopy, official transcripts are required to assess authenticity and content accuracy and they should be submitted by the issuing institution either by mail in sealed envelopes or emailed as official, electronic transcripts to: 

    Northwestern University, The Graduate School, Office of Graduate Admission, 633 Clark Street, Evanston, IL  60208-1113; tgsadmission@northwestern.edu.

    Emailed transcripts must be sent from the issuing institution via a password protected, e-transcript delivery service. Please check with your institution’s Registrar's Office to see if they offer an e-transcript service.


    Please do not submit your official transcripts until all degrees you will earn prior to enrolling at Northwestern University are listed.Verifying the completion of your previous degrees is an important step in our transcript collection process. 

    New students will not be permitted to register for their first quarter of study at Northwestern until all official transcripts (including degree-awarding transcripts) have been received by TGS

  4. Submit your health record information

    All new full-time and half-time students must visit the Northwestern University Health Service (NUHS) website to review information relating to University and State of Illinois health requirements, and download the required entrance health form. There are deadlines associated with these requirements (listed on the NUHS website).

  5. Notify your home program of external funding (if applicable)

    If you have accepted funding by a source other than Northwestern University (NSF, Ford Foundation, VEF, etc.), you must notify your home program via email prior to your first quarter of enrollment. If necessary, your home program will make appropriate adjustments to your financial package. 

  6. Submit your visa request (international students only)

    For international students whose NetIDs are activated, please click here for the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) website to download visas and forms information. To submit an I-20 request, visit the Office’s Steps for New Students web page and follow the directions to complete the process.

    Please note, if you have been admitted to the Fall Quarter you must submit your I-20/DS-2019 Request no later than the dates outlined on the OISS website. 

    For all questions regarding choosing the proper visa, or errors in your visa document, please contact the OISS via email at intadmit@northwestern.edu. 

  7. Obtain a tax identification number (international students only)

    Nonresidents who will receive stipends from a fellowship, but will not be employed in any other way (such as a graduate assistantship or temporary employment), will not be eligible for a SSN and must complete a Form W-7, Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The W-7 will be collected as part of the Foreign National Information System (FNIS) process through Payroll.  If an ITIN is not obtained by NU, you will apply for the ITIN when filing your U.S. tax return.

    You may use your Tax Identification Number to acquire a US bank account via Bank One, US Bank, or Citibank. Additionally, you may use this number to obtain a US cellular phone via University Mobile or ZeeZoo.

  8. Activate your NetID and email

    Doctoral enrollees receive NetID and email account information shortly after declaring intent to enroll. Your NetID will be used to access the student services system (CAESAR), your email and other university systems.

    If you do not receive your NetID prior to the start of classes, you may obtain it by visiting an NUIT Support Center with your Wildcard (student ID card). The NUIT Support Center will not release NetID data over the phone or via email. More information is available at the NUIT website.

  9. Enter emergency notification phone numbers

    You must identify at least one phone number in CAESAR that the University can use to contact you in the event of a campus emergency. You must provide this information before you can register for classes.

  10. Register for classes

    All students register online through CAESAR. Registration for new students usually occurs a few days before the start of classes. The registration schedule is available via the Registrar’s Office website. Registration help is available from a link on the CAESAR login page or via the CAESAR Support Line at 847-467-0260.