Overview

Education

The Earth and Planetary Sciences program at Northwestern University is disciplinarily and methodologically diverse, and provides state-of-the-art facilities, including analytical, experimental, and computational laboratories.

Faculty expertise spans climate science and modeling, geobiology, microbial ecology, paleoclimate, paleolimnology, paleoceanography, sedimentary geology, stratigraphy, rock physics, mineral physics, aqueous and isotope geochemistry, geophysics, seismology, geodynamics, petrology, and tectonics.

The department’s size fosters individualized attention, strong professional bonds, and diverse opportunities for participation in laboratory and/or field work and working with more than one faculty advisor. Within their first quarter, entering students develop research projects and individualized training programs with their research advisor(s) of choice.

Students who have majored in a natural science like biology, physics, or chemistry, or in engineering or an affiliated STEM discipline are equally welcome as Earth and/or environmental science graduates and will be provided opportunities to strengthen their background in Earth and planetary sciences.

Programme Structure

Areas:

Climate science and modeling

Geobiology

Microbial ecology

Paleoclimate

Paleolimnology

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 108 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-16 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

16 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Evanston, United States

Disciplines

Earth Sciences Natural Sciences Environmental Sciences View 32 other PhDs in Natural Sciences in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

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Other requirements

General requirements

Admitted students must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree — or an equivalent non-U.S. degree — from a regionally accredited institution.

TGS will accept applications from international students with 3-year bachelor's degrees.

You may be considered for admission before you finish your undergraduate degree, but you must complete that degree before you enroll at Northwestern.

In general, to apply to The Graduate School (TGS), you will be required to:

Submit an application online.

Pay an online application fee by credit card.

Submit your Statement of Purpose.

Upload your transcript or academic record.

Submit your test scores (if required by your admitting program).

Upload two to three Letters of Recommendation.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Out-of-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

9344 USD / year

≈ 9344 USD / year

Living costs

Evanston

United States

1100 - 1500 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Education

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Evanston

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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