How to Apply
Prospective students for College of Science Master’s, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate or other Graduate level programs must apply online, where you can check the status of your application at any time.
Candidates must meet one of the following pre-requisites prior to being accepted into a program and must supply official confirmation:
- Have received a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
- Have received a master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
- Have received a first professional degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
- Be an undergraduate enrolled in a PlusOne program at Northeastern University

Questions?
Visit the Admissions Support Center or contact admissions.
Application Materials Required for Graduate Programs
Master’s, PhD, Graduate Certificates and Special Students
An application for admission and all required application materials must be received by published deadlines.
All programs require a completed online application.
Application Fee – $75
Graduate Certificates – not required
Special Student – not required
Master’s Degree – required
PhD – required
Letters of Recommendation for degree programs should be submitted via your online application.
- Master’s Degree – 2 Letters required
- MS Marine Biology – 3 letters required
- Graduate Certificates – 0 letters required
- PhD – 3 Letters required
- Special Student – 0 letters required
GRE General Scores (Institution code is 3682, valid for 5 years).
- Master’s Degree – NOT required
- Graduate Certificates – NOT required
- PhD – GRE General Test recommended but not required, GRE Subject Test for Physics and Math recommended but not required
- Special Student – NOT required
You may be required to include a personal statement with your application.
- Master’s Degree – required
- Graduate Certificates – required
- PhD – required
- Special Student – NOT required
Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended should be uploaded as part of your online application for all programs. To upload unofficial transcripts to your application properly follow the below steps:
- Create scanned versions of your transcripts in PDF format (up to 500 KB in size)
- When prompted to do so in the application, upload and attach transcripts to the online application
- Requirements:
- Scanned transcripts must be readable and include all courses, grades, (i.e. marks, scores, etc.) and credits completed to date.
- If a transcript(s) and/or degree certificate(s) are issued in a language other than English, an English translation must accompany the native language documents. An English translation only will not be deemed sufficient. For those who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree program, a minimum of six semesters of course, grade, and credit information must be present; for those who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree program, a minimum of four semesters must be present.
- Include the reverse side of the transcript when uploading to your application. Any additional grading scale information or transcript legends included on the transcript should also be included in the scanned copy. Typically such grading scale information is on the backside of the documents or is on a separate page.
- For applicants who have obtained credentials from China, the degree certificate and graduation certificate are required.
- For applicants who have obtained credentials from India, semester mark sheets and degree certificate(s)/provisional certificate(s) are required in addition to the consolidated transcript. If semester mark sheets are unavailable, an official communication on institutional letterhead must accompany the consolidated transcript indicating any retakes/backlogs associated with the program.
- For applicants who have completed credentials from Europe or Bologna Signatories, please upload the Diploma Supplement in addition to any other records issued by the institution. This shall include the program name, courses completed, length of study, etc. For those who have completed the program, no additional certificate is required if indicated as awarded on the supplement.
- For students whose degree program is currently in progress, if the degree program is not indicated on the transcript provided, please upload an official Enrollment Verification. This will be a letter issued from your institution on letterhead that will include the following: Name, degree program currently enrolled in, and expected graduation date.
Official transcripts, in certified English translation, if from an institution outside of the United States, are required of all enrolled students by the first day of the entry term and must be mailed directly from the institution in a mailed and sealed envelope to:
Northeastern University – College of Science
Graduate Application Processing Center
P.O. Box 1418
Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
Proof of English Proficiency is required for all applicants and for all programs (from one of the following):
Degree earned or in progress at an U.S. institution*
– or –
Degree earned or in progress at an institution where English is the only medium of instruction
– or –
Official exam scores from either the TOEFL iBT( (institution code is 3682), IELTS, PTE exam or Duolingo English Test. Scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. Please refer to individual program requirements.
Note: We accept unofficial test scores for the application to be reviewed. Review of your application will not be delayed if your Verified English Language Proficiency scores have not been received. Should you be accepted into the program, we require your Verified Test Scores are received by the first day of the entry term to finalize admission.
You may be required to include a resumé with your online application.
- Master’s Degree – required
- Graduate Certificates – NOT required
- PhD – required
- Special Student – NOT required
Applicants to the Master of Science in Cell and Gene Therapies, Master of Science in Biotechnology and Biotechnology Graduate Certificates, please complete the required pre-requisite form located under the College of Science Supplemental Section.
Master’s Degree Applicants:
- Fall Domestic: August 15
- Spring Domestic: December 1
- Fall International: July 1
- Spring International: November 1
- International currently on a F1 visa in the US:
- Fall: July 15
- Spring: November 15
- **Fall intake only for MS Physics, MS Applied Physics and Engineering, and
- MS Marine Biology: January 1
- Toronto Campus Deadlines
Graduate Certificate Applicants:
- Fall Domestic: August 15
- Spring Domestic: December 1
- Fall International: July 1
- Spring International: November 1 (F1 compliant certificates only)
- International currently on a F1 visa in the US:
- Fall: July 15
- Spring: November 15 (F1 compliant certificates only)
PhD Applicants:
- Fall admissions only
- Priority deadline for completed applications: December 1
- Rolling admissions until March 15. Check with department to see if there is availability
Special Student Applicants:
- Fall: August 15
- Spring: December 1
PhD Funding
- Information on graduate assistantships, stipend graduate assistantships, and fellowships
- Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees may be obtained on the Student Financial Services website. They are subject to revision by the University’s President and the Board of Trustees.
Financial Aid
- Domestic students taking 6 or more credits (or a full-time standalone course) may qualify to receive need-based federal financial aid. Visit the Student Financial Services website for more information about applying for financial aid.
- International students are not eligible for need-based financial assistance from the federal government. However, they can explore supplemental loans and on-campus employment.
Scholarships
Applicants with Previous Northeastern Affiliation:
- Eligible applicants who meet the criteria specified by the three scholarships below are automatically awarded the applicable scholarship when they are accepted into an eligible graduate degree or certificate program. There is no special application required.
Northeastern-Sponsored Scholarships:
Scholarships available outside of Northeastern
Military
- U.S. veterans and active duty service members can learn more about education benefits on the Northeastern University website.
On-Campus Employment
- Domestic and eligible international students may work on-campus to help fund their education. Visit the Office of Student Employment, Graduate Assistantships & Fellowships website for more information.
- International students: More information about working on-campus can be found on the Office of Global Services website.
- NU Student Temps: Northeastern offers an on-campus temporary staffing service whose purpose is to connect employers with talented and ambitious students with an emphasis on hiring our international student population.
Application Materials Required for PlusOne Programs
First visit the PlusOne page to review the program(s) for which you are eligible.
The PlusOne application will be available in July, do not apply at this time. Additional information will be forthcoming.
US students
Fall: August 15
Spring: December 1
MS Marine Biology (Three Seas) PlusOne Summer II Semester: December 1
International students currently on a F1 visa in the US
Fall: July 15
Spring: November 15
MS Chemistry – Submit a letter of recommendation from thesis advisor confirming support of the thesis project
MS Biotechnology – Complete the pre-requisite form located in the College of Science Supplemental Section
MS Biotechnology PlusOne (CPS) – If you have completed an Associate’s Degree prior to entering Northeastern University, upload the Associate Degree transcripts to the online application.
All materials submitted for admission consideration become University property and will not be returned to the applicant.
The College of Science reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission at any time prior to or after enrollment if one or more of the following occur:
- There is a discrepancy between the unofficial or self-reported transcript and/or test scores submitted at the time of application and the official transcripts and/or test scores received by the College of Science.
- Applicant does not submit a final transcript showing conferral of a bachelor’s, master’s, first professional, or equivalent degree from an accredited institution within 30 days of matriculation.
- Applicant fails to meet the deadlines and/or other credential requirements of the degree program to which the applicant applied.