Organizer Information
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, with arts and media education concentrated in areas including the School of Communication. Its Department of Radio/Television/Film offers undergraduate and graduate study spanning media production, screenwriting, film and media studies, documentary media, screen cultures, sound, and creative-enterprise leadership.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Northwestern University
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / MA / MS / MFA / PhD
- Academic Fields: Film / Television / Media / Sound / Screenwriting / Documentary Media / Screen Cultures / Creative Industries
- Relevant Programs: Radio/Television/Film; Film and Media Studies; Sound Arts and Industries; Leadership for Creative Enterprises; Documentary Media; Writing for the Screen and Stage; Screen Cultures
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program- and applicant-specific
- Application Deadline: 1 October 2026–15 June 2027, depending on program/applicant category
- Start of Studies: Fall quarter; graduate program dates are program-specific
- Application Fee: $75 for undergraduate applications; $40 for MA in Sound Arts and Industries
- Tuition: Undergraduate full-time tuition $71,802; MA in Sound Arts and Industries $75,200 for 2026–2027
- Funding: Need-based undergraduate financial aid; program-based graduate scholarships and other funding opportunities
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Northwestern's Radio/Television/Film curriculum combines media production with critical study of cinema, television, sound and interactive media. Undergraduate areas include Production, Screenwriting, and Screen Cultures.
- Graduate options include documentary media, writing for screen and stage, screen cultures, sound arts and industries, and leadership for creative enterprises. The MA in Sound Arts and Industries accepts applicants from any academic field and does not require a formal sound background.
- Portfolio requirements are program-specific. For example, sound-related work is not required for admission to the MA in Sound Arts and Industries but is required for consideration for its merit-based scholarships.
General Eligibility
Northwestern accepts international applicants for undergraduate study, with international applicants following the same general application process as domestic applicants. First-year applicants should complete secondary education that qualifies them for degree study at an accredited university in their home country. Students already pursuing undergraduate study elsewhere apply through the transfer process.
Graduate eligibility and requirements vary by program because Northwestern's graduate and professional programs manage their own admissions processes.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate applicants must meet Northwestern's first-year or transfer academic requirements. Transfer applicants must provide official university and secondary-school records and demonstrate at least one year of full-time undergraduate study.
- Applicants to the MA in Sound Arts and Industries must hold a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree or comparable non-U.S. degree. Applicants whose bachelor's degree was earned outside the United States must obtain a course-by-course evaluation through Educational Credential Evaluators or World Education Services.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants whose first language is not English or whose secondary education was not conducted in English must submit official English-proficiency results. Northwestern accepts Duolingo English Test, IELTS, and TOEFL iBT and does not specify a minimum score for undergraduate admission.
- For the MA in Sound Arts and Industries, international applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS unless eligible for the program's degree-based English-language waiver. The program requires a minimum TOEFL score of 100 overall with 26 in Speaking, or an IELTS overall band score of 7.5.
Application Fee
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | First-year / Transfer | $75 | Available to eligible applicants |
| MA in Sound Arts and Industries | Graduate | $40 | Waived for applicants who attend an information session |
Northwestern's undergraduate application fee is non-refundable unless a qualifying fee waiver applies.
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Full-time | $71,802 | Standard academic year | $1,260 fees |
| MA in Sound Arts and Industries | Full-time | $75,200 | Four quarters / one year | Health Services Fee and other program-related charges |
Northwestern's undergraduate cost-of-attendance figures also include estimated housing, meals, books, personal expenses and transportation; these are not all direct university charges.
The MA in Sound Arts and Industries lists a 2026–2027 total cost-to-degree of $75,200 and a part-time rate of $6,300 per credit.
Funding & Financial Support
- Need-based financial aid is available to international undergraduate applicants. Northwestern states that it will meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted first-year international students for all four years, although international admission is need-aware.
- The MA in Sound Arts and Industries offers a limited number of merit-based partial tuition scholarships. Applicants must submit eligible creative or scholarly work samples for scholarship consideration.
- Doctoral students in the School of Communication receive funding through combinations of assistantships and fellowships, while professional graduate programs may offer partial scholarships.
University Services & Academic Support
- School of Communication students have access to EPICS (External Programs, Internships, and Career Services), which provides career coaching, workshops, experiential opportunities, internship and job-search guidance, networking support, and career-asset development.
- Radio/Television/Film students also have access to production opportunities, faculty mentorship, and the Media Arts Grant, which provides funding and equipment checkout for eligible undergraduate media projects.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate applicants submit the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir, Northwestern's supplement, academic transcripts, school report, teacher recommendation, and the required application fee or waiver. SAT/ACT scores are optional.
- International applicants must provide certified English translations of foreign academic records and, when applicable, official English-proficiency scores.
- For the MA in Sound Arts and Industries, applicants must submit an online application, statement of purpose, personal statement, resume, three references, transcripts, application fee, and required English-proficiency documentation where applicable. Creative work samples are optional for admission but required for scholarship consideration.
- Requirements for the MFA, MS, MA and PhD programs vary by program. Northwestern directs applicants to the individual graduate program for its specific requirements and deadlines.
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate Application Portal
- Undergraduate Application Portal
- MA in Sound Arts and Industries Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- QuestBridge Application: 1 October 2026
- Early Decision First-Year Application: 1 November 2026
- Regular Decision First-Year Application: 4 January 2027
- Early Decision Transfer Application: 1 March 2027
- Regular Decision Transfer Application: 1 April 2027
- Financial Aid Application — Early Decision: 1 December 2026
- Financial Aid Application — Regular Decision: 1 February 2027
- MA in Sound Arts and Industries Priority Deadline: 15 January 2027
- MA in Sound Arts and Industries Final Deadline: 15 June 2027
- Undergraduate Decision Release — Early Decision: December 2026
- Undergraduate Decision Release — Regular Decision: March 2027
- Undergraduate Start: September 2027
Location
Northwestern University — Evanston, Illinois, United States
Additional Details
Northwestern's undergraduate Radio/Television/Film major awards a BA and requires 12 major courses, combining introductory and advanced study in media production, analysis and related fields.
The MA in Sound Arts and Industries is a one-year, full-time, in-person program comprising four quarters.
Graduate admission is not centrally standardized across the School of Communication: individual programs control their own application requirements, procedures and deadlines. Applicants should therefore use the program-specific admissions page for programs other than the undergraduate application and the MA in Sound Arts and Industries.