Graduate Admissions

Spring admission is available for the following programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Cultural Entrepreneurship
• Graduate Certificate in Experience Design
• Graduate Certificate in Game Experience Design
• Graduate Certificate in Game Science
• Graduate Certificate in Information Design and Visualization
• MS in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship

Please contact the program coordinator for details regarding the modified course sequence for students enrolling in the spring.

November 1: Final deadline for international applicants (master’s and certificate programs)

December 1: Final deadline for domestic applicants (master’s, certificate and special student/non-degree programs)

December 1:  Final deadline for the PhD in Interdisciplinary Design and Media (all applicants)

January 15:  Priority deadline for the Master of Architecture program

February 1:  Priority deadline for all other master’s programs

• MS in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship
• MFA and MS in Design
• MS in Extended Realities
• MS in Game Science and Design
• MS in Media Innovation and Data Communication
• MS in Media, Technology, and Ethics

Applicants who submit completed applications by February 1 will receive priority consideration for scholarships and other funding.

June 15: Final deadline for international applicants out-of-country (master’s and certificate programs)

July 1: Final deadline for international applicants in-country (master’s and certificate programs)

August 1: Final deadline for domestic applicants (master’s, certificate and special student/non-degree programs)

MS in Information Design and Data Visualization in Vancouver, BC

February 1:  Priority deadline – applicants who submit completed applications by February 1 will receive priority consideration for scholarships and other funding.

June 15: Final deadline for international applicants out-of-country

July 1: Final deadline for international applicants in-country

August 1: Final deadline for domestic applicants

For applicants to our Canadian campus, students are considered domestic if they have:

• Canadian Citizenship
• Dual Citizenship with Canada
• Canadian Permanent Residency

If the above doesn’t apply, the student is considered international.

Current Northeastern BS in Architecture Seniors: The internal application for current students is available here. Only students transitioning directly from the BS program may apply via this form. Completed application forms should be submitted by February 1.

Please note, once you submit the initial form, the application activation email may be sent to the spam folder of your other/personal email address.

Northeastern BS in Architecture Alumni: 

Students who have taken time off after graduating from the BS program must submit all of the application materials listed above. Please note that your personal statement should not exceed one page and that one of your three reference letters should be academic.

Additionally, students who graduated prior to 2022 are required to provide work samples that demonstrate proficiency in software such as Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and Rhino or SketchUp. PDFs of one student project and one professional project should be submitted.

External Candidates: 

For consideration for the 2-year program, applicants must submit a portfolio. Placement in the 2-year program is at the discretion of the admissions committee, and decisions are made based on a comprehensive review of portfolio quality and previous coursework in areas of design studios, architectural history, and building technology courses such as structural systems, environmental systems, and tectonics or building materials and assemblies.

Portfolio is optional for applicants to the 3-year program.

Applicants may be required to submit evidence of course equivalencies prior to matriculation for course placement.

Applicants must have taken one semester of college-level physics and one semester of college-level calculus. Students who enter the program without physics and calculus have one year from the date of matriculation to complete and pass these courses, which can be taken outside Northeastern (failure to do so may impede progress in the program).

Portfolio Guidelines

The committee will be reviewing your portfolio not only for technical proficiencies but equally importantly for evidence of your depth of thinking and approach to problem solving. Please be sure to show projects that are most representative of your abilities and interests.

The portfolio should be one PDF file and must include the following (approximately 25 pages):

• A cover page and resume.
• Academic projects: It is helpful to include the course name, a brief synopsis of the design problem, and your role in group work where applicable. Design studio work as well as projects from technology courses (structures, tectonics, environmental systems) are welcome.
• Professional projects: Please list the firm and a summary of your role on the project.
• Other creative work, such as painting, drawing, photography, etc.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the MS in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship are required to submit all application documents detailed above. Two letters of recommendation are required.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general requirements, applicants to the MS in Design must submit a portfolio.

Master of Science (MS):  Minimum of 3 pieces required

The application portfolio should consist of recent original work that demonstrates design or other relevant project-based experience. Your portfolio should, if possible, include work that is focused primarily in the area in which you will focus your graduate study; however, related work is acceptable. Portfolios can include, but are not limited to:

• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects
• Visualization work (infographics, maps, diagrams or charts)
• Screenshots from websites or interactive applications
• Data analyses
• Coding or software development documentation
• Design projects (concept sketches, prototypes or results)
• Professional projects
• Research projects (analytical: quantitative or qualitative; ethnographic)
• Creative work from other disciplines (Art, Graphic Design, Architecture, Journalism, Photography or Film)
• State of the art or position papers

Provide authorship information (including but not limited to the role you took on within any team project and a brief description of your contribution to it), year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project. Documents can be a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file. As part of the required documents you can include multiple aspects of the same project.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants to the XR + Design, XR + Games and XR + Media concentrations must submit a portfolio of their work.

The application portfolio should consist of 1-5 pieces of recent original work that demonstrate design or other relevant project-based experience. Your portfolio should ideally include work that is focused on extended reality; however, any past work that you are proud of is acceptable and will receive full consideration. Portfolios can include, but are not limited to:

• Videos of AR, VR, or MR applications with a short description
• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Concept sketches and images
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects
• Coding/web design
• A brief introductory video highlighting your interest in the field of extended reality
• Creative work from other disciplines (photography, drawing, and other art forms)

Provide authorship information (including but not limited to the role you took on within any team project and a brief description of your contribution to it), year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project. Materials can include video, a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file.

Please note that applicants to the MS in Extended Realities program must only provide two letters of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants to the MS in Game Science and Design program must submit a portfolio of their work.

The application portfolio should consist of 1-5 pieces of recent original work that demonstrate design or other relevant project-based experience. Your portfolio should ideally include work that is focused on game science or game design; however, any past work that you are proud of is acceptable and will receive full consideration. Portfolios can include, but are not limited to:

• Gameplay videos with a short description
• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Concept sketches and images
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects
• Coding/web design
• A brief introductory video highlighting your interest in the field of game science and design
• Creative work from other disciplines (photography, drawing, and other art forms)

Provide authorship information (including but not limited to the role you took on within any team project and a brief description of your contribution to it), year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project. Materials can include video, a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file.

The following item is optional:

• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test scores (our institution code for score reporting purposes is 3682).

Candidates for the MS in Game Science and Design program come from various fields including, but not limited to, Computer Science, Information Science, Informatics, Engineering, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Social Science, Interaction Design, and Game Design.

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants to the MS in Information Design and Data Visualization must submit work samples and a research statement as detailed below.

Applicants to the MS in Media Innovation and Data Communication program are required to submit the general application requirements detailed above.

Applications to Northeastern’s School of Journalism are judged on a number of factors. Although an applicant’s academic history is important, the School is also looking for evidence of commitment to journalism. Previous professional experience will be taken into consideration, as well as interesting life experiences and perspectives. In short, we want our students to be curious, engaged and eager to enter our profession with a sense of purpose.

An informative, smartly written, well-rounded, and interesting personal statement is critical to your application. It is your first writing sample. It should speak to who you are, what you plan to study and why you want to attend our program. You also have the option to submit an academic or professional writing sample, or a portfolio of work samples from an academic or professional project.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the MS in Media, Technology, and Ethics program are required to submit the general application requirements detailed above.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the graduate certificate programs in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship are required to submit all general application requirements detailed above.

Please note that applicants to the graduate certificates must only provide one letter of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general requirements, applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Experience Design must submit work samples.

Graduate Certificate:  1 – 3 documents

The work samples should consist of recent original work that demonstrates design or other relevant project-based experience.  Work samples can include, but are not limited to:

• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Ethnographic research projects
• Data visualizations, infographics, maps
• Concept sketches and images
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects

Provide authorship information, year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project. Documents can be a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file. As part of the required documents you can include multiple aspects of the same project.

Please note that applicants to the graduate certificate program must only provide one letter of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the graduate certificate programs in Game Experience Design and Game Science are required to submit all general application requirements detailed above. Additionally, you are encouraged to include a description of any experience you have in the games field in your personal statement.

Please note that applicants to the graduate certificates must only provide one letter of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Prospective students interested in taking a course before applying to a CAMD master’s program can apply via the part-time Special Student/Non-degree track. Applicants to the Special Student/Non-degree track are required to submit all general application requirements detailed above with the exception of the recommendation letters.

Special students are enrolled on a part-time basis and cannot exceed more than six credits per semester. A maximum of twelve credits over time may be earned prior to applying to a degree program.

The Special Student/Non-degree track does not meet international student visa requirements and is not eligible for scholarship or financial aid consideration.

Applicants who have received or will be receiving a degree from an institution outside the United States are required to submit all transcripts, as well as certified English translations, with their application. Accepted students who plan to enroll at CAMD are further required to submit official documentation. Please see details below:

Online Application

Please upload copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts and diplomas (if available), as well as certified English translations of all documents, to the online application portal.  Further details regarding the documentation that will be required to complete the Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) is available here.

Official Documents

Enrolling students must submit their final, official transcript/mark sheets and degree certificate within 30 days from the start of their first academic term. Failure to complete this requirement will result in a registration hold being placed on the student’s account preventing future term course registration.

Accepted international applicants planning to enroll at CAMD must submit a completed I-20 Request Form at least 16 weeks prior to the start of classes. Students cannot receive visa application forms, required to register for courses, unless they file the e-form certifying that they have enough financial support to cover all educational and living expenses.

International applicants already in the United States must also submit a copy of their current SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 form, current visa, I-94 card (front and back), identity page of a valid foreign passport, and an Office of Global Services Transfer-In Form. If you do not require an I-20 or DS-2019, please complete the Data Form.

These merit-based scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and are intended to support superior academic achievement at Northeastern. GSS awards are determined on the basis of departmental recommendations and are offered as a percentage tuition reduction.

Admitted full-time master’s students are automatically considered for GSS funding as part of the graduate program application review.  Submission of additional documentation is not necessary.

Tuition reductions typically range from 15% to 60%; however, may include up to full tuition coverage for qualified full-time master’s students. The average tuition reduction is 25%.

Northeastern University offers a 25 percent graduate tuition reduction to Northeastern alumni across more than 100 master’s and certificate programs.

Assistantships are compensated as hourly pay and can take the form of research, teaching, and administrative roles within a student’s academic department. Students are eligible to apply for available assistantship positions after completing at least one semester of their graduate program.

The MLK Jr. Graduate Fellowships are administered through the African-American Institute. These awards are offered annually to African-American students in full-time graduate programs as long as the student demonstrates satisfactory academic progress and financial need as determined by Student Financial Services. Applicants must complete the financial aid process, as well as an application available from the African-American Institute.

Visit Northeastern’s Office of Student Financial Services for information regarding other types of financial aid, including loans, student employment, and outside scholarships.