Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to your most frequently asked questions, ranging from admissions to our co-op program.

Northeastern is a top research institution with inspired professors, an unmatched co-op program, and an extensive global network. Students who attend Northeastern’s College of Science can use these opportunities to create a unique college experience that prepares them for any path they choose to forge.

Some colleges are in college towns. Boston is a college city. Every September, the average age of Boston dips with the influx of bright students from all over the world. In Boston, you don’t just go to college. You are immersed in it. This is especially true at Northeastern, which lies in the heart of Boston, just a short walk away from historic landmarks like Copley Square and Fenway Park.

To apply for undergraduate admission, fill out the Common Application or the Coalition Application by the application deadline.

To apply to our graduate programs, the application requirements and required materials can be found here.

For undergraduates, the deadline for Early Decision I or Early Action is November 1, the deadline for Early Decision II or Regular Decision is January 1, and the deadline for Transfer Applicants is October 1 for spring applicants and April 1 for fall applicants.

For our graduate programs, application deadlines vary. See here for a list of application deadlines by the program.

Undergraduate students may only apply for the spring semester as transfer students. Most of our graduate programs accept transfer students. More information.

For undergraduate applications, once you have applied to Northeastern, you will receive an email with your Northeastern University ID number (NU ID) and instructions on how to set up your Application Status Check account. Through the Application Status Check, you will be able to verify your personal information, view the required materials, and check on deadlines.

Graduate program applicants can check the status of their program once it is submitted through their application portal.

Students who complete AP or IB exams through high school or college-level courses at an accredited institution prior to matriculation may transfer their credits. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions facilitates the transfer credit evaluation in partnership with the Northeastern academic departments. An up-to-date list of undergraduate transfer credit policies and equivalencies can be found here.

Graduate students may petition to transfer credit after they have been admitted to a COS program.  More information on the graduate transfer credit policy can be found here.

The average class size at Northeastern is 20.

Online, live cast, and hybrid options are available for certain courses (lab courses are not offered online). Availability varies by semester. Please see the schedule of classes for class availability.

Once they matriculate, students are expected to complete all course work for their degree at Northeastern, at an approved Northeastern partner, or at an approved study-abroad program. If Northeastern does not offer a course that is deemed important for a student’s education, or the student cannot take the course at Northeastern but it is required for graduation, the student may petition the College of Science for permission to take a course at another accredited institution.

The College of Science offices are located in Richards Hall, on the west side of the Krentzman Quad. Fun fact: Richards Hall is at 360 Huntington Avenue, the official address of Northeastern University.

From Northeastern, you can get almost anywhere in the city via public transportation. The Green Line and the Orange Line both stop at Northeastern. There are multiple bus connections on and around campus. If you want to get out of Boston, the Commuter Rail can take you to neighboring cities and towns like Salem and Worcester.

Learn more about the COS diversity and equity efforts here.

The COS is led by Dean Hazel Sive and others. Learn more about them here.

Meet our COS staff here.

Meet our COS faculty here.

There are many opportunities for undergraduate research. These include research co-ops, part-time volunteer and work-study positions in our many on-campus labs, and a variety of lab courses. Students may even pursue their own research as undergraduates at Northeastern.

Northeastern has over 500 clubs, including a wide selection of science clubs. Some are department-specific, like the Biology Club, while others are interdisciplinary, like NU Sci, Northeastern’s student-run science magazine. For a complete list of student clubs affiliated with the College of Science, see here. If we don’t yet have what you’re looking for, you can always start your own club!

Northeastern offers free peer tutoring. Talk to your academic advisor or visit the website to sign up.

Every student is assigned an academic advisor based on their major. You will be notified of your academic advisor at the beginning of the semester. You can also view your advisor and make appointments through myNortheastern.

Complete and submit a petition by the appropriate deadline, listed here. If you would like to discuss your potential major, meet with an advisor in the major.

Learn more about scholarship and achievement here.

Learn more about tuition and other costs here.

Northeastern offers a full complement of financial assistance from federal, state, and institutional sources, including grants, loans, scholarships, and work awards to eligible students at all levels. For more information, visit the Student Financial Services site.

The Department of Employer Engagement and Career Design offers extensive resources, such as advising and events to help students with job search and career development, and Nucareers, Northeastern’s database of career and cooperative education job opportunities. For a full list of career services, see here.

First and second year students are generally required to live in dorms. In their third year, students may opt to continue living on-campus or move into an off-campus apartment. For more information, please see the housing website.

On campus housing is not available for graduate students, however the Off-Campus Student Services Office has numerous resources available to assist with your search.  More information on their services can be found here.

There are many opportunities to go abroad at Northeastern. Students may take part in the award-winning Dialogue of Civilizations program, participate in a traditional Study Abroad semester, or complete a Global Co-op .

The Disability Research Center offers a variety of resources, such as the Learning Disabilities Program. Specific accommodations depend on the individual student. Learn more here.

Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a “co-op,” provides academic credit for structured job experience. Cooperative education is taking on new importance in helping young people to make the school-to-work transition, service learning, and experiential learning initiatives. Learn more here.

Students are not required to take part in co-op (except for select professional master’s programs). However, most of our students do participate in this great opportunity.

Opportunities in the co-op program range from biotech companies to food waste elimination start-ups, from aquariums to wildlife reservations, from beer brewing to volcanoes, and everything in between. If none of the already established co-ops are exactly what you’re looking for, you can even make your own co-op. To learn more about co-op and see past examples, see our co-op page.

Students at Northeastern make an academic plan with their advisor that determines when they will go on co-op. The semester before their co-op, students apply to positions. The application process is like applying for a full-time job: students submit their resumes and any other necessary documents to the company they are applying to and go through the interview process. Before their first co-op, students take a class to help them with this process.

Yes. Find out more about service-learning here.

For undergraduate admissions questions, call 617.373.2200 or email [email protected].For graduate admissions questions, call 617.373.4275 or email [email protected].To contact a specific person, please use our directory.

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