northwestern economics phd requirements

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Financial Economics

Degree requirements.

Learn more about the program by visiting the Financial Economics PhD program

See related Interdisciplinary Clusters and Certificates

Degree Types: PhD

The PhD Program in Financial Economics is offered jointly by the Department of Economics in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Finance in the Kellogg School of Management.  The joint program requirements are a combination of those for the existing PhD programs in each departments. The program prepares students for careers in college teaching and research, government and international agencies, or private business.

Students will have access to a broad array of faculty across different disciplines within economics that taps into the interdisciplinary strengths found within the Finance-Economics curriculum.

The study of finance aligns with numerous areas within economics: macroeconomics, public finance, econometrics, economic development and economic history. This is why a broad training in economics is essential for those who wish to do innovative work that straddles both finance and economics. Some examples include the financing and investment decisions of firms, households, and governments; the interplay between asset prices, capital markets and the macro-economy; and the role and limitations of financial institutions in facilitating access to credit.

Students will complete the existing first-year Economics program that provides a rigorous foundation in macroeconomics, microeconomics and econometrics. Students will then take courses in theoretical and empirical finance, as well as additional fields in economics such as economic theory, economic history, macroeconomics, industrial organization and regulation, labor economics, economic development, econometrics, international economics, and public finance. Students are trained in the most advanced techniques of theoretical and empirical research in order to make significant contributions to financial theory and practice.

Independent thesis research will be supervised by faculty drawn from both the Economics and Finance Departments. 

Weekly workshop series in both departments provide a forum for faculty, students, and distinguished economists from around the world to meet and present their research.

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Program Statistics

Visit PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.

Program Contact

Contact Jo Ann Yablonka Program Administrator 847-491-7465

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in  The Graduate School Policy Guide .

Total Units Required: 18

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations : satisfactory grades in each of the three core areas (microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics); oral examination for approval of dissertation prospectus
• Finance Comprehensive Exam : Students must pass a Finance Competence Requirement. This can be done by achieving a 3.6 GPA across four finance doctoral courses ( FINC 585-1 Asset Pricing I ,  FINC 585-2 Asset Pricing II ,  FINC 585-3 Asset Pricing III ,  FINC 586-1 Corporate Finance I ,  FINC 586-2 Corporate Finance II , or FINC 586-3 Corporate Finance III ), or by passing a comprehensive Finance exam. The Exam takes place at the beginning of the summer quarter of the second year, typically in June.
• Research/Projects : two research papers presented in the student seminar ( ECON 501-0 Graduate Student Seminar ) or equivalent
• PhD Dissertation : original, independent research
• Final Evaluations : oral dissertation defense

Last Updated: September 12, 2023

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Application requirements.

Kellogg Opens Its Global Hub

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Thank you for your interest in doctoral study at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. We are pleased that you want to become a part of our research community.

Our application for fall 2024 admission is closed. Our application will open again September of 2024 for fall 2025 admission. We admit just once a year, in the fall. We do not offer online or part-time programming. Listed below are the application requirements and supporting documents needed when submitting your online application. For technical support for the online application , contact CollegeNET on their Technical Support Site.

Dual Application with Economics

Academic background, academic statement, personal statement.

• The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern 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.

Transcripts

• Northwestern will accept applications from international students earning a three-year bachelor's degree.
• The academic records we refer to as "transcripts" should provide a listing, year-by-year, of all courses taken and the grades or marks received for each one.
• An official English translation of all transcripts submitted must be provided. Northwestern requires literal, certified translations for all documents issued in a language other than English. We accept translations from the institution issuing the transcript, ATA certified translators, or from the consulate.

Courses Taken Form

The "Courses Taken" form lets applicants applying to our economics-based programs highlight advanced-level college/university courses that directly support their chosen field of study and proficiency of the subject matter. The form allows for up to six (6) advanced courses in each specific area. If you cannot access our form, you may create and upload a form that contains the same information in applicable areas of study.

The form is required for those applying to the following programs:

• Accounting Information & Management form
• Finance form
• Financial Economics form
• Operations Management form

The form is highly recommended for those applying to the following programs:

• Managerial Economics & Strategy  form
• Marketing  (quantitative) form

Recommendation Letters

• A description of the nature of your relationship. Did you take one or more classes with the professor? The letter should also provide a ranking – how you compared to other students. 
• A description of a research project or honor’s thesis, discussing the quality of the work, technical and writing skills, research methods used, data analysis, originality, depth of research undertaken, questions/problems raised, contribution to the field, etc.
• Your academic abilities and insights on your character and working style – ability to work on your own, self-starter, complete a project on time, etc. 
• Any research or data analysis you have done within the scope of your work.

Test Scores

English language proficiency for international applicants.

If your native language is not English, Northwestern requires that you certify proficiency in the English language in ONE of the following ways:

• TOELF - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) . Your TOEFL score must be 600 or higher on the paper-based exam, 250 or higher on the computer-based exam, or 100 or higher on the Internet-based exam. TOEFL test scores through their at home testing service are accepted. The TOEFL test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. 
• IELTS - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) . The IELTS Academic test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (fall quarter). IELTS test takers should score 7.0 or higher. IELTS scores through their a t home testing service are accepted. 
• MET -  Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the Michigan English Test . The MET test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. MET test takers should score 70 or higher. 
• Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English. -  If not indicated on the transcript, documentation regarding English instruction should be included with your application. This degree must be awarded before you enroll in doctoral classes in the upcoming fall quarter at Northwestern.
• Automatically Waived - Applicants that are citizens from the following countries where English is the native language will have the requirement automatically waived upon submission of the application (Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Israel, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. Kellogg does not require the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Unofficial test score reports are used during the application review process; official test scores are required only if admissions is recommended.

Waivers to the TOEFL or IELTS exam requirement are provided after an application is submitted. Please allow seven (7) business days for your application to be evaluated after submission. Applicants may track their application status within the online application and once complete, a waiver will be noted within the application.

Writing Sample (optional)

Application fee.

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The Experience

• Inclusion and Belonging
• Global Opportunities
• Career Impact
• History & Legacy
• Kellogg Convocation

Degree Programs

• Full-Time MBA
• Evening & Weekend MBA
• Executive MBA
• Master in Management
• Certificate Program for Undergraduates
• Which Program is Right for Me?
• Academic Calendars

Executive Education

• Online Programs
• Programs for Individuals
• Nonprofit Programs
• Programs for Groups
• The Kellogg Advantage
• Contact Executive Education
• Request a Brochure
• Find a Program

News + Stories

• Alumni Network
• Applying to Kellogg
• Career Journeys
• Global Impact
• Inclusion & Belonging
• Student Stories
• Kellogg Magazine
• Kellogg Insight
• See All News + Stories

Academics + Research

• Faculty Directory
• Academic Departments
• Research Centers
• Research + Books
• Case Studies
• Faculty Recruiting
• Faculty Teaching Awards
• Data Analytics
• Entrepreneurship
• Family Business
• Leadership & Organizations
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• Full-Time MBA Admissions
• Evening & Weekend MBA Admissions
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Take Action

Application requirements, kellogg opens its global hub.

• What We Look For
• Funding Your Graduate Education
• Admission Events
• IDDEAS@Kellogg/Booth
• Academic Experience
• Student Life
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Thank you for your interest in doctoral study at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. We are pleased that you want to become a part of our research community.

Our application for fall 2024 admission is closed. Our application will open again September of 2024 for fall 2025 admission. We admit just once a year, in the fall. We do not offer online or part-time programming. Listed below are the application requirements and supporting documents needed when submitting your online application. For technical support for the online application , contact CollegeNET on their Technical Support Site.

Dual Application with Economics

Academic background, academic statement, personal statement.

• The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern 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.

Transcripts

• Northwestern will accept applications from international students earning a three-year bachelor's degree.
• The academic records we refer to as "transcripts" should provide a listing, year-by-year, of all courses taken and the grades or marks received for each one.
• An official English translation of all transcripts submitted must be provided. Northwestern requires literal, certified translations for all documents issued in a language other than English. We accept translations from the institution issuing the transcript, ATA certified translators, or from the consulate.

Courses Taken Form

The "Courses Taken" form lets applicants applying to our economics-based programs highlight advanced-level college/university courses that directly support their chosen field of study and proficiency of the subject matter. The form allows for up to six (6) advanced courses in each specific area. If you cannot access our form, you may create and upload a form that contains the same information in applicable areas of study.

The form is required for those applying to the following programs:

• Accounting Information & Management form
• Finance form
• Financial Economics form
• Operations Management form

The form is highly recommended for those applying to the following programs:

• Managerial Economics & Strategy  form
• Marketing  (quantitative) form

Recommendation Letters

• A description of the nature of your relationship. Did you take one or more classes with the professor? The letter should also provide a ranking – how you compared to other students. 
• A description of a research project or honor’s thesis, discussing the quality of the work, technical and writing skills, research methods used, data analysis, originality, depth of research undertaken, questions/problems raised, contribution to the field, etc.
• Your academic abilities and insights on your character and working style – ability to work on your own, self-starter, complete a project on time, etc. 
• Any research or data analysis you have done within the scope of your work.

Test Scores

English language proficiency for international applicants.

If your native language is not English, Northwestern requires that you certify proficiency in the English language in ONE of the following ways:

• TOELF - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) . Your TOEFL score must be 600 or higher on the paper-based exam, 250 or higher on the computer-based exam, or 100 or higher on the Internet-based exam. TOEFL test scores through their at home testing service are accepted. The TOEFL test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. 
• IELTS - Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) . The IELTS Academic test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (fall quarter). IELTS test takers should score 7.0 or higher. IELTS scores through their a t home testing service are accepted. 
• MET -  Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the Michigan English Test . The MET test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. MET test takers should score 70 or higher. 
• Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English. -  If not indicated on the transcript, documentation regarding English instruction should be included with your application. This degree must be awarded before you enroll in doctoral classes in the upcoming fall quarter at Northwestern.
• Automatically Waived - Applicants that are citizens from the following countries where English is the native language will have the requirement automatically waived upon submission of the application (Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Israel, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. Kellogg does not require the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Unofficial test score reports are used during the application review process; official test scores are required only if admissions is recommended.

Waivers to the TOEFL or IELTS exam requirement are provided after an application is submitted. Please allow seven (7) business days for your application to be evaluated after submission. Applicants may track their application status within the online application and once complete, a waiver will be noted within the application.

Writing Sample (optional)

Application fee.

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• JOB PLACEMENT

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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

• Undergraduate

Economics Major

We are thrilled that you are interested in studying economics. Wherever your starting point, you are here to learn and expand on your aptitudes and we welcome you to our community that includes close to 1,000 students majoring in economics.

Students planning to major in economics should become thoroughly familiar with the Undergraduate Registration Requirement for both the University and the department. The information given here is intended to supplement that given in the Undergraduate Catalog and to aid the student and their advisor in planning a suitable program of study. Majoring in economics will require students to complete a set of core courses in economics, a series of upper-level field courses and two related courses outside of economics. Each of these aspects of the program is described below.

DECLARE MAJOR

Learn more about the field of economics

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Major Requirements

Six (6) core courses in economics.

• ECON 201  Introduction to Macroeconomics
• ECON 202  Introduction to Microeconomics
• The ECON 281 requirement will be waived if you take ECON 381-1 Econometrics  as a field course. For a discussion of econometrics options, please see our undergraduate advising FAQs page.
• ECON 310-1  Microeconomics I
• ECON 310-2  Microeconomics II
• ECON 311  Macroeconomics

Six (6) upper-level courses in economics

Six 300-level economics courses (in addition to 310-1, 310-2, and 311) are required.

Course Descriptions and Prerequisites

 View the Course Catalog for more information on each our upper-level course offerings and the prerequisites for each course. 

Upper-Level Course Substitutions

Students may count up to one non-economics class as a substitute . Any substitutions must be noted on a student's petition to graduate and approved by an economics adviser. This is usually done at the end of junior year.

Currently, the only permitted substitutions are:

• This course is  not allowable for students who have completed ECON 360-1 Foundations of Corporate Finance Theory or KELLG_FE 310 Principles of Finance .
• This course  cannot be double-counted for the Economics major/minor and the Business Institutions minor.
• IEMS 373  Introduction to Financial Engineering
• This course is  not allowable for students who have completed BUS_INST 304  Corporate Finance or ECON 360-1 Foundations of Corporate Finance Theory .
• This course  cannot be double-counted for the Economics major/minor and the Kellogg Certificate.
• This course  cannot be double-counted for the Economics major/minor and Mathematics.
• SOC_POL 330  Economics of Social Policy (Up to an including Fall Quarter 2021. Starting Fall Quarter 2022 Economics majors should register for this course as ECON 333 and it will automatically count as an Economics elective and not as a substitution.)
• SOC_POL 331  Economics of Inequality and Discrimination
• SOC_POL 332  Economics of Education Policy
• SOC_POL 333 Economics of Health, Human Capital, and Happiness

Additional Notes:

• Students double majoring in Economics and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS) or Industrial Engineering and Management Science should see the section on dual majors for special arrangements.
• ECON 249 Business Strategy is designed for non-majors. Students in the Economics major or minor should take ECON 349 Industrial Economics which covers the same material at a higher level. ECON 249 does not count  as an advanced field course or as a related course for the Economics major.

Two (2) related courses

• or MATH 218-1 and 218-2   Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus ,
• or higher-level mathematics course,
• or AP or IB credit,
• or engineering students can count courses in the GEN_ENG 205   Engineering Analysis  sequence.
• (Note that students entering in Fall 2023 or later cannot use an exemption from MATH 220-1 on the Northwestern Mathematics Placement Examination to satisfy this requirement unless they use it to register for and complete a higher-level mathematics course.)
• or MATH 314  Probability and Statistics for Econometrics (for students intending to take ECON 381-1)
• or MATH 385 Probability and Statistics for MMSS
• or if you are required to take another statistics class for another major, or wish to take a higher-level statistics class, consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies about equivalent classes. But, STAT 210 or MATH 314 are the  best preparation for ECON 281 and upper-level economics courses.
• STAT 210 covers probability at greater depth than does  STAT 202  Introduction to Statistics and Data Science.  Consequently, STAT 202 is insufficient preparation for ECON 281. Students planning to major or minor in both Economics and Data Science should take STAT 210 rather than STAT 202.

Note: WCAS students may double count MATH 220-1 and STAT 210/MATH 314 toward the major and toward the Distribution Requirement in Formal Studies or the Foundational Discipline in Empirical and Deductive Reasoning .

Grade Requirements

All core, field, and related courses must be taken for a letter grade (not P/N) and must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. It should be noted that to calculate your "Economics GPA" you should not count your five related courses. The courses that you are required to count are all 6 core courses and all 6 300-level economics field courses.

Dual Majors

Many Economics students complete a double major.   Learn about complementary programs that are often taken in conjunction with Economics.

Most dual majors need to satisfy the full requirements of both Departments or Programs. However, there are some exceptions for students dual majoring with:

• Industrial Engineering and Management Science  
• Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences

Honors & BA/MA Program

Outstanding majors may pursue   honors in economics   through a research paper completed in their senior year. Our selective four-year   BA/MA program   is also an option for qualified Economics majors.  

Complementary Programs

Economics core classes are offered every quarter and we offer many 300-level field classes, so many students opt to double major or minor. Students who are considering economics might also be interested in the following programs:

Mathematical Experience for Northwestern Undergraduates (MENU)

Mathematical methods in the social sciences (mmss), kellogg school of management certificate programs in financial economics or managerial analytics, business institutions program (bip), learning and organizational change (loc), industrial engineering and management sciences (iems), medill integrated marketing communications (imc) certificate.

• Medill Integrated Marketing Communications  (IMC) Certificate - A five-credit program designed to prepare students for entry-level marketing communications positions including advertising, direct, database, e-commerce, interactive marketing, PR, and corporate communications.

• News & Events

SESP Ranked No. 5 by U.S. News

For the second year in a row, Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) has been ranked among the top five graduate schools of education according to the 2024-25 U.S. News and World Report Best Education Graduate Schools rankings.

The School of Education and Social Policy and Vanderbilt University's Peabody College tied for fifth place. Among specialties, SESP's education policy program tied for the No. 11 spot with the University of Virginia, rising from No. 12 the previous year.

“SESP is a place of possibility,” said School of Education and Social Policy Dean Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, the Carlos Montezuma Professor. “It is also a place of the now. We will continue to raise new sets of ideas, rooted in empirical research theories of human development, and learning theories, that create the conditions for thriving futures for the peoples, places, and communities that we serve.”

Overall, Columbia University and the University of Wisconsin Madison tied for the top spot. The University of California Los Angeles and the University of Michigan were ranked third and fourth. The rest of the top 10 included: University of Pennsylvania (No. 7), and Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Stanford University, University of Texas Austin and the University of Virginia (tied for No. 8).

The School of Education and Social Policy broke into the top ten US News rankings in 2001-02 and has remained in the top 15 every year since then. Its consistent designation as one of the top schools in the nation reflects an ambitious commitment to interdisciplinary work, research, and innovation.

The School’s three pioneering doctoral programs–learning sciences, human development and social policy, and the joint learning sciences + computer science program–were the first of their kind in the nation and have many imitators.

Our versatile faculty includes experts across an array of disciplines, including social science, natural science, education, psychology, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, geography, neuroscience, history, and philosophy.

Other faculty highlights include:

• Seventeen National Academy of Education members.
• Thirteen American Educational Research Association Fellows
• Early career superstars. Two-thirds of full professors ages 40-55 are National Academy of Education Members – an award that generally recognizes lifetime achievement.

U.S. News evaluated education schools on research activity, academic excellence of entering students, faculty resources, and opinions on program quality from education school deans and school hiring professionals. Read more about the methodology.

Academic Catalog

2023-2024 Edition

PhD Degree Requirements

The only doctoral degree offered by The Graduate School is the doctor of philosophy (PhD). In some cases, this degree is offered in conjunction with another degree through an approved dual degree program, whether from another program administered by The Graduate School, from another school at Northwestern University, or through an agreement with a partner University.

The PhD degree is oriented toward research that will advance knowledge. Study for a specified time and accumulation of credit for courses taken are not by themselves sufficient to earn the PhD degree. A student must demonstrate scholarly distinction and the ability to advance knowledge through independent research by achieving admission to candidacy and writing a dissertation.

Each student enrolled in a PhD program must have a principal research adviser and a committee.

The principal research adviser (also known as mentor, PI, dissertation director, adviser) is a member of the Northwestern University Graduate Faculty who works with the student to develop a research topic, formulate ideas and structure for, and guides the progress of the thesis/prospectus/dissertation. In some cases, although rare, there is a principal research co-adviser who also works with the student to develop a research topic, formulate ideas and structure for, and guides the progress of the thesis/prospectus/dissertation.

The committee members are those who have expertise in and inform the student's area of research, serve as a reader of the thesis, prospectus, or dissertation, and vote on the outcome of the proposal defense/final exam. The committee chair is a member of the Graduate Faculty who leads the committee for the defense of the prospectus or PhD final exam (dissertation). In some cases, there is a committee co-chair who co-leads the committee. The committee chair may or may not be the same individual as the principal research adviser. A minimum of three individuals must serve on the final exam committee. At least two members of this committee, including the chair, must be members of the Northwestern University Graduate Faculty.

All Northwestern University PhD students must fulfill a set of requirements regarding:

• Coursework and registration
• PhD candidacy (qualifying exam)
• PhD prospectus
• PhD dissertation and defense
• PhD completion and filing for graduation
• PhD time to degree

PhD Coursework and Registration

A student who enters a doctoral program must successfully complete at least nine quality letter-graded course units (ABC, not P/NP or S/U) authorized for graduate credit . Students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The Graduate School does not accept transfer credit in lieu of the nine letter-graded minimum unit requirement.

Two types of advanced courses, 499 Independent Study (or 499 Projects) and 590 Research bear restrictions:

• 499 Independent Study  - For doctoral students, independent studies may not represent more than half of the total units taken in the first three quarters of enrollment in a PhD program.
• 590 Research -  Departmental 590 research may be taken for one, two, three, or four course units per quarter.  All 590 Research registrations must be taken on a P/N/K grading basis.

All coursework requirements for a doctoral program are expected to be completed by the end of the 12th quarter. Students who are funded and who register for less than three course and/or research units in any given quarter must also register for TGS 500-0 Funded Doctoral Study . 

Students in quarters 13 and beyond may register for non-required coursework in addition to TGS 500-0 Funded Doctoral Study if the courses are related to the student's area of study.

No credit will be awarded by The Graduate School for work completed in a graduate program prior to admission to and enrollment in the PhD program in The Graduate School. Individual programs may waive program-specific course requirements based on work completed outside of the graduate program (either prior to or after enrollment at Northwestern), but all doctoral students must complete nine quality letter-graded (ABC) course units authorized by The Graduate School for graduate credit and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. 

PhD Candidacy

Admission to The Graduate School does not constitute or guarantee a student's admission to candidacy for the PhD degree. Admission to candidacy is contingent upon the recommendation of the student's program and upon approval of The Graduate School.

A student must be admitted to candidacy by the end of the third year of study, which falls on the last date of the 12th quarter. A student failing to meet this milestone will be considered not in good academic standing and therefore will be placed on academic  probation . Deadlines will be altered in the case of an approved leave of absence.

• Admission to candidacy is reached by passing a comprehensive qualifying examination, written or oral or both. Individual programs determine the character of this examination. At the time of admission to candidacy, proficiency in the major and related fields is certified and additional requirements for the PhD degree are stipulated.
• The student submits the PhD qualifying exam form online via TGS Forms in  GSTS . The Director of Graduate Studies (or their proxy) must submit approval of this form before the end of a student's third year of enrollment in the PhD program. Following the submission of the approved qualifying exam form students are admitted to candidacy. Students are notified via email by TGS of approval of their qualifying exam form and admission to candidacy.

PhD Prospectus

Students must have a prospectus (dissertation proposal) approved by their committee no later than the end of the fourth year of study, which falls on the last date of the 16th quarter. A student failing to meet this milestone will be considered not in good academic standing and therefore will be placed on academic  probation . Deadlines will be altered in the case of an approved leave of absence. The prospectus must be approved by a faculty committee.  Individual programs determine the exact nature of this requirement.

A minimum of three individuals must serve on the prospectus committee. At least two members of this committee, including the chair, must be members of the Northwestern University Graduate Faculty. The student must submit the PhD prospectus form through TGS Forms in GSTS . The Director of Graduate Studies (or their proxy) must approve this form before The Graduate School enters the final approval. Students are notified via email by The Graduate School of approval of their prospectus form.

PhD Dissertation and Defense

Every candidate for the PhD degree must present a dissertation that gives evidence of original and significant research.

Dissertation Assistance

All dissertators should consult with their advisers about appropriate forms of assistance before assistance is rendered. Dissertations must acknowledge assistance received in any of the following areas:

• Designing the research
• Executing the research
• Analyzing the data
• Interpreting the data/research
• Writing, proofing, or copy editing the manuscript 

Dissertations must be formatted according to the Dissertation Formatting Requirements . Dissertations not conforming to these instructions will not be accepted by The Graduate School.

Dissertation Defense

The Graduate School requires that PhD students complete a dissertation defense (final examination). Individual programs determine the exact nature of the defense.  Scheduling the defense is the responsibility of the candidate and the members of the committee. The PhD final exam form must be approved by a faculty committee. A minimum of three individuals must serve on the final exam committee. At least two members of this committee, including the chair, must be members of the Northwestern University Graduate Faculty.

Depositing the Dissertation

Dissertations must be deposited into the  ProQuest Database . In addition, the University Library receives a copy of the dissertation that may be used at its discretion for reasons including but not limited to long term archiving, library use and interlibrary loan, and dissemination through an institutional repository or other means. The library also archives electronic copies of dissertations to help ensure that the content is preserved for future generations.

Dissertation Embargo

With the permission of a faculty member well-versed with the student's work, presumably the primary adviser, students may request to embargo (delay release of) their dissertation for a period of six months, one year, or two years. To request an embargo, the student must complete the Dissertation Embargo (Delayed Release) Request form and obtain the faculty mentor’s signature.  The completed and signed form must be uploaded in the “Administrative Documents” section of ProQuest when submitting the dissertation.

An approved request to place an embargo has the effect of restricting online access to the dissertation through the library’s discovery systems and ProQuest for the period of the embargo. Metadata (author, title, abstract, keywords and subjects) about the embargoed dissertation will be available through the ProQuest system and the library catalog. Users of those systems are able to search for and see the metadata, but not the actual text or other content of the dissertation.

The dissertation will automatically be released in the University repository and  ProQuest  after the approved embargo expires. To extend the embargo with  ProQuest  and/or the University Library, students must contact The Graduate School Student Services at least thirty days prior to the point of expiration. The student may request a one-time extension of the embargo for up to six years and must provide a sufficient intellectual and/or professional rationale in seeking approval from The Graduate School.

PhD Completion and Filing Requirements

Filing requirements and forms.

Students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree must file the following required documents prior to graduation and by the  published deadlines :

• Application for Degree form : this form must be filled out via GSTS . Students should login to GSTS , click on the"TGS Forms" tab and create a new "Application for a Degree" form.
• Each PhD  Final Exam committee member must approve the form after the final exam (defense) date. Committee members render their approval by clicking the embedded link in the email they automatically receive once the exam date passes. 
• Dissertation submission via  ProQuest's website . Once the dissertation has been approved by the committee and all edits and revisions are complete, the student must submit online via ProQuest. The dissertation must conform to The Graduate School's Dissertation Formatting Requirements . Once the student has submitted the dissertation online, a Student Services representative will review its formatting and confirm via email that the dissertation is acceptable or notify the student if changes need to be made.
• Change of Grade form(s) : Students with incomplete (Y, X, K) or missing (NR) grades on their transcript must work with their program/department to ensure the appropriate change of grade forms are submitted to The Graduate School by the published deadline.

PhD Timeline

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be met within nine years of initial registration in a doctoral program, which falls on the last day of the 36th quarter. For students on an approved  leave of absence , milestones will be extended accordingly.

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Advancing Quantum Leadership and Community

Northwestern hosted a qed-c plenary meeting for academic, corporate, and government stakeholders.

Quantum 1.0 technologies — including lasers, MRI scanners, transistors, and semiconductor devices — paved the way for ubiquitous devices and services such as smart phones, laptops, and GPS navigation. Harnessing the quantum mechanics of sub-atomic particles — the phenomena of superposition, measurement, and entanglement — quantum 2.0 technology has the potential to revolutionize artificial intelligence, communications, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics.

To advance quantum research and technology development, Northwestern University is a founding member of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), an alliance of academic, corporate, and government stakeholders established under the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act with support from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to accelerate the development of quantum information science and technology applications.

QED-C aims to realize the transformative potential of quantum 2.0 technologies — from quantum computing and cryptography to quantum sensing, timing, and imaging — by supporting a robust quantum ecosystem and quantum industry supply chain and identifying strategic gaps in enabling technologies, standards and regulation, and quantum workforce development.

On March 20-21, Northwestern hosted a QED-C plenary meeting for nearly 150 members — including leaders from Northwestern Engineering and the University —to learn, network, and identify collaboration opportunities.

Northwestern President Michael H. Schill and QED-C executive director Celia Merzbacher welcomed the guests.

“One doesn't need to be an expert about quantum computing to understand that it is a critical area for Northwestern and indeed for our nation and world,” said Schill, professor of law in Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law and professor of finance and real estate in the Kellogg School of Management. “The research emerging from this field is poised to revolutionize our lives in the coming decades, and the work that all of you are involved in certainly brings needed solutions to a whole range of societal challenges that quantum computing will have the answers to.

“Quantum is a rising priority for Northwestern and for our faculty members. In the University priorities I unveiled last summer, I highlighted the importance of research and innovation in data science, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and decarbonization. All of those things are implicated in quantum computing, so I'm really excited that we're able to host this conference and that we're a founding member of this consortium.”

One doesn't need to be an expert about quantum computing to understand that it is a critical area for Northwestern and indeed for our nation and world. The research emerging from this field is poised to revolutionize our lives in the coming decades, and the work that all of you are involved in certainly brings needed solutions to a whole range of societal challenges that quantum computing will have the answers to.

Northwestern University President Michael H. Schill

Quantum computing for transportation and logistics

Quantum computing offers significant promise for optimization, real-time decision making, monitoring, and predictive modeling in the highly complex, data-driven transportation, logistics, and supply chain sectors.

On March 19, the QED-C Use Cases Technical Advisory Committee published a study, titled “ Quantum Computing for Transportation and Logistics ,” based on a workshop NUTC facilitated last October to assess the feasibility and impact of quantum computing use cases for transportation and logistics applications.

The committee — which also included NUTC senior associate director Bret Johnson ; Kevin Glynn , adjunct lecturer in Northwestern Engineering’s Master of Science in Information Technology Program ; and postdoctoral scholar Divyakant Tahlyan (MS ’21, PhD ’23) — proposed 83 potential uses, including applications with high-impact potential in the near-term such as demand forecasting and optimization of labor, routing, and warehousing.

At the QED-C plenary meeting, Glynn moderated a panel featuring Tahlyan, chief technology officer at PCS Software Yusuf Ozturk (CS PhD) and Catherine Potts of D-Wave Quantum to discuss the findings and recommendations of the study and the computational challenges within the transportation and logistics domains.

The panelists agreed that the existing level of classical computation power is insufficient to solve the algorithmic problems across the logistics and supply chain sectors and that the development and adoption of quantum computing technologies is the next step toward increasing operational efficiency, supply chain security and resilience, and efficiencies to address sustainability.

Sustainable quantum technologies

Mahmassani explained that quantum technologies can play a crucial role in enhancing sustainability efforts within transportation and logistics by optimizing energy consumption, reducing carbon emissions through more efficient routing, and improving overall resource utilization.

“What mRNA research did for COVID is similarly what quantum computing could do for climate change,” said Nivedita Arora , the Allen K. and Johnnie Cordell Breed Junior Professor of Design and assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northwestern Engineering. “The next decade is going to be very critical, and we need to accelerate radical decarbonization efforts in electricity, transport, and manufacturing.”

Prem Kumar , professor of electrical and computer engineering, opened a dialogue in a QED-C plenary breakout session on both the applications of quantum to sustainability and the sustainability of quantum technology.

Kumar and panelist Michael R. Wasielewski are executive committee members of Northwestern’s Initiative for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE), a transdisciplinary hub of education and research excellence in quantum sciences across areas including material informatics and data science, material synthesis, molecular quantum transduction, nanotechnology, photonics, physics, and superconducting technologies.

“If we think that we're at an incipient stage of developing quantum technology, now is the time to really think of alternatives, to be creative and see what’s possible,” said Wasielewski, who is also the director of INQUIRE and the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction .

Student focus on next-generation quantum technologies

Students conducting research in quantum fields from Northwestern and nearby universities were invited to participate in a special track at the plenary meeting which featured speed mentoring, a science communication workshop, and a poster session.

Gamze Gül , a fifth-year PhD student in applied physics advised by Kumar, is interested in designing quantum networking protocols to manage and control quantum networks using classical bits. She presented a poster titled “ Quantum Wrapper Networking ,” which demonstrated a novel approach to operate quantum networks that is both compatible with current fiber optic infrastructure and allows for quick adjustments to address network problems — such as loss or high traffic. By creating a package of quantum bits — or qubits — wrapped with classical bits, the qubits can be transported to their destinations without measurement or disturbance to the payload.

“Some technologies that we use in our daily lives, such as lasers, GPS, and transistors, would be impossible without a deeper understanding of quantum mechanics,” Gül said. “Today, we are entering a new era of quantum technologies that could help us understand the world we live in through quantum computing or sensing. It will be crucial to connect the distributed quantum systems.”

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