Doctoral Program, Kellogg School of Management

1. How do I apply?
The only way to apply to Kellogg's doctoral program is by using the online application form, a web-based form submitted electronically to Northwestern, that is available each October for the upcoming fall.

Please refer to Application Process and Application Materials for more information.

2. May I apply to more than one program?
Northwestern allows an applicant to apply to one program only in a given year. For instance, you can apply to either Finance (Kellogg School) or Economics (Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences); you cannot submit an application to both. Therefore, you should choose the program that is the better fit for your research interests and overall program of study.

3. When does Kellogg begin accepting applications?
The Kellogg School has one admission period each year, and that is during the fall quarter. The Graduate School starts accepting applications in October of any given year. More detailed information on the application process can be found under Application Process.

4. What is the application deadline?
The deadline to submit the completed application and all supporting documents to the Graduate School is December 31 of any given year. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that delayed documents do not prevent review of the application file. The Kellogg School may recommend that a student be admitted or denied admission whenever it believes it has sufficient basis for the decision.

5. What are the program numbers for the application?

Accounting Information and Management: A05PH
Finance: F05PH
Managerial Economics and Strategy: M10PH
Marketing: M15PH
Management and Organizations: O20PH
Management and Organizations and Sociology: O15PH
Operations Management (O30PH)

6. Do you offer a part-time PhD program or a distance-learning/external program?
No. Our PhD program is a full-time commitment. You must be here on campus to attend classes and fulfill residency requirements. Interaction with faculty and other students is crucial to your education. Therefore, you must be here on campus. Students usually complete the requirements in four-five years.

7. How many applications do you receive each year and how many do you admit?
On average the Kellogg School receives over 600 applications each year for its seven programs of study. Among those applications, approximately 25 students (about four to five students per individual program/department) enroll in the fall.

8. To apply, is there any specific coursework required?
No. However, PhD study does require strong quantitative skills. It is recommended that applicants have taken Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability and Mathematical Statistics – especially students applying to our quantitative programs: Accounting Information & Management, Finance, Managerial Economics & Strategy, Operations, and Marketing (quantitative area). For behavioral areas, such as Management & Organizations and Marketing (behavioral area), statistics for social scientists is recommended for preparation for PhD study. In addition, your performance on the GRE and GMAT quantitative sections will be evaluated.

Please note that strong math skills are needed to manage and analyze your data and have an impact on the type of research you are ultimately able to do. The PhD Program is especially well suited to students who have previously studied engineering, natural sciences, or social sciences (such as economics, political science, psychology and sociology).

9. Is a master's degree required for admission into Kellogg's PhD program?
No. A master's degree is not required for admission into Kellogg's PhD Program, just a bachelor's degree.

10. I already have a master's degree. Do I still need to take the GRE or GMAT?
Yes. You must provide us with a test score. This requirement is never waived. These test scores are valid for five years.

11. I already have a master's degree. Will I be able to complete my PhD degree in a shorter period?
No. While Kellogg admits students with masters’ degrees, the coursework undertaken in a master’s program is not at the PhD level. Master’s and PhD coursework requirements are different, so students must satisfy the PhD coursework requirements at the Kellogg School.

12. I am a senior in college. Can I apply?
Yes. Applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent will be considered for admission. The degree must be awarded before students are allowed to register in September. Three-year undergraduate degrees are also accepted.

13. What tests should I take - GMAT or GRE? Is there a minimum score?
Kellogg accepts test scores on either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The admissions' committee reviews the whole application, so test scores make up just a part of the application. While there is no minimum test score set by each department/program, a good performance on one of the standardized tests is usually required. On average, our students score in the 90th percentile range overall.

14. Is a TOEFL or IELTS score required of international students?
Yes, although there are two exceptions to this policy that are outlined below. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score is required of applicants whose native language is not English. To be considered for admission with financial aid, applicants must certify their proficiency in the English language by scoring a minimum of 600 (a paper-based exam), 250 (a computer-based exam) or 100 (an Internet-based exam) on the TOEFL. IELTS test takers should score 7.0 or higher. TOEFL and IELTS tests must be taken no more than two years before the quarter of entry.

Applicants are waived from the TOEFL and IELTS score requirements under the following condition only:

Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English. This degree must be awarded BEFORE the student enrolls in doctoral classes in the upcoming fall quarter at Northwestern. (If possible, applicants should include one copy of any TOEFL or IELTS scores they have – even if they have expired.)

15. What are the institution codes for the GMAT, GRE and TOEFL and IELTS?

GMAT: 6WZ-3J-54 (PhD Program, Kellogg)

GRE: 1565 (Northwestern), no Department Code

TOEFL: 1565, Department Code 01 (Graduate School)

IELTS (Scores must be sent by IELTS, in a sealed envelope, to the Kellogg School.)

16. Is work experience required?
No. Work experience is not required to gain admission into our PhD program.

17. Are interviews required after submitting the application?
Due to the number of applications we receive each year, it is not feasible for our faculty to interview every applicant. Instead each program initiates phone or campus interviews for only those candidates who are being strongly considered for admission or for candidates for whom additional information is needed. An applicant cannot request an interview. The program will contact the applicant to arrange for an interview. Even candidates who are being strongly considered for admission may not be interviewed until late February or early March.

18. May I send some papers I have written?
Please do not send copies of papers that you have written. Papers are not required with the application, and the admissions committee (faculty) does not read papers in the review process.

19. How long does it take to complete a PhD degree?
On average, most students finish in four to five years.

20. What are the professors looking for in applicants?
Kellogg's faculty selects qualified students based on evidence of outstanding intellectual ability and a strong commitment to a career in research. The student's performance on standardized tests, the strength of the recommendation letters, the academic record at the applicant's undergraduate/graduate institution, and his/her research agenda, with its fit within the general research interests of the faculty, are evaluated.

21. Is financial aid available for students, including international students?
Yes. Kellogg does offer financial aid to those admitted students who request funding. International students also qualify for this financial aid package. The financial aid package consists of full tuition, a stipend to help cover living expenses, and health insurance (Northwestern's student health insurance plan) for at least five years, providing the student is in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress toward the PhD degree. Students may also be invited to teach a course, for which they are paid.

22. What are the tuition costs?
For the 2008-2009 academic year, full tuition at Northwestern is $36,756.

23. Do you have a visit day for admitted students?
Yes. Each program/department makes arrangements with the admitted students to visit the campus and meet with Kellogg PhD students and faculty. Kellogg also provides each student with a specified amount of travel money to help pay for airplane tickets, etc., and in addition pays for the student's hotel accommodations.

24. How many doctoral students are in your program?
On average, 100-120 students.

25. Are PhD students allowed to teach courses?
Yes. PhD students in their fourth or fifth year may teach a course, for which they are paid. Please note that teaching is not a requirement for the PhD degree, and teaching assignments are arranged by the student's department.

26. If I am denied admission, can I reapply?
Yes. However, when reapplying, you must submit a new application and application fee. If you applied for Fall 2007 or Fall 2008, your previously submitted materials (transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) may be reused. Please refer to the "Reapplications" section on the web for procedures.