Kellogg international MBA candidates

International applicant requirements

The Kellogg community is made up of applicants from over 90 countries, each with unique considerations. To ensure you have everything needed for a successful submission, please follow these instructions carefully.

We also strongly encourage all international candidates to apply by the Round 1 or Round 2 deadline, as the visa process needs to be initiated early in many countries.

In addition to the application, you will be required to submit a few additional documents to verify your readiness to attend a U.S. institution. These include:

• A college-level education equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree
• A degree from certain international three-year undergraduate programs (e.g., institutions in India, United Kingdom) may be acceptable
• TOEFFL, IELTS or DET score
• The name on your application must match the name on your passport. Any discrepancy will delay our ability to process the I-20 form, which is required to obtain a visa

English proficiency tests

All non-native English speakers will need to show proficiency in English as part of the application process.  Any of following criteria will satisfy this requirement:  

• You have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in the United States. 
• You have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university where English was the only language of instruction. 
• In the application, you must provide the exact URL or documentation from your institution that states English was the only language of instruction. 
• If you graduate from an institution that does not explicitly state this, please provide the URL for the homepage of the school’s website. 
• You have worked in the United States (or an English-speaking nation) for at least two consecutive years within the last 5 years. 

If none of the above criteria are met, English proficiency will be evaluated throughout the application process and interview in combination with a valid TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English score.  The Admissions Committee reserves the right to require a score from any candidate if they deem it necessary to assessing a candidate’s English proficiency. 

STEM-designated MBA

All Kellogg Full-Time MBA Programs are STEM-designated degrees. Graduates meeting the below qualifications may be eligible to apply for the F-1 24-month STEM-OPT extension. This applies if you have either:

• An F1 student visa
• An approved F-1 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Our STEM-designated degrees grant you three years of authorized work in the U.S. before requiring sponsorship for employment-based nonimmigrant or immigrant visas. For more information on eligibility and process, please visit the Northwestern Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS).