Application Deadlines
- Fall quarter: July 15, 2023
- Winter quarter: October 15, 2023
- Spring quarter: January 15, 2024
- Summer quarter: April 15, 2024
Academic Calendar
Below you will find important dates for graduate programs at SPS. Prospective students should note the application deadlines, and current students can find quarter start dates and registration deadlines on our calendar. For more information on the refund schedule, please see the Refund Schedule at the Student Finance website where you can also utilize the Withdrawal Calculator.
Graduate Quarter Start Dates
2023–24 Academic Year
- Fall quarter: September 19, 2023
- Winter quarter: January 3, 2024
- Spring quarter: March 25, 2024
- Summer quarter: June 17, 2024
Applications are accepted year round and are reviewed by the faculty admissions committee once per quarter. The exceptions are the full-time Accelerated MA in Public Policy and Administration and Accelerated MS in Data Science programs which review applications in December and January for the following fall quarter program start. Applicants will be notified of their admission status approximately four weeks after the deadline.
2023–24 Academic and Holiday Calendar
Archived academic calendars from previous years can be found here.
September 2023 |
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1 |
Friday |
August 2023 degrees awarded. |
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4 |
Monday |
Labor Day; Northwestern University closed |
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5 |
Tuesday |
Deadline to submit the Intent to Register form (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Fall Quarter registration by 5pm. Please visit the Canvas course site for your program for guidelines on proposals for independent studies, practicum, and thesis. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses. |
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18 |
Monday |
Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition. |
|
19 |
Tuesday |
Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin. |
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25 |
Monday |
End of Fall Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date. |
October 2023 |
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13 |
Friday |
Application for readmission for Winter Quarter due. Application for admission for Winter Quarter due. |
|
27 |
Friday |
Last day to drop a Fall course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript) Last day to submit a Graduation Application for December graduation |
November 2023 |
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13 |
Monday |
Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR. |
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22 |
Wednesday |
Thanksgiving Break begins at 6PM (No sync sessions for online classes). |
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23 |
Thursday |
Thanksgiving Break (No sync sessions for online classes). |
|
24 |
Friday |
Thanksgiving Break (No sync sessions for online classes). |
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25 |
Saturday |
Thanksgiving Break (No sync sessions for online classes). |
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26 |
Sunday |
Thanksgiving Break (No sync sessions for online classes). |
December 2023 |
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|
8 |
Friday |
All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a December degree. |
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9 |
Saturday |
Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates). |
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11 |
Monday |
Fall quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm. Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Winter Quarter registration by 5pm. Please visit the Canvas course site for your program for guidelines on proposals for independent studies, practicum, and thesis. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses. |
|
15 |
Friday |
December 2023 degrees awarded. |
| 22 | Friday | Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
| 25 | Monday | Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
| 26 | Tuesday | Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
| 27 | Wednesday | Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
| 28 | Thursday | Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
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29 |
Friday |
Winter Recess, Northwestern University closed |
January 2024 |
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|
1 |
Monday |
New Year's Day, Northwestern University closed |
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2 |
Tuesday |
Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition. |
|
3 |
Wednesday |
Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin. |
|
9 |
Tuesday |
End of Winter Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date. |
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12 |
Friday |
Application for readmission for Spring Quarter due. Application for admission for Spring Quarter due. |
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15 |
Monday |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes). |
February 2024 |
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2 |
Friday |
Last day to submit a Graduation Application for March graduation |
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9 |
Friday |
Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript) |
|
19 |
Monday |
Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR. |
March 2024 |
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|
8 |
Friday |
All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree. |
|
11 |
Monday |
Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Spring Quarter registration by 5pm. Please visit the Canvas course site for your program for guidelines on proposals for independent studies, practicum, and thesis. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses. |
|
16 |
Saturday |
Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates) |
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18 |
Monday |
Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm. |
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22 |
Friday |
March 2024 degrees awarded. |
|
24 |
Sunday |
Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition. |
|
25 |
Monday |
Spring Quarter SPS on-ground and online classes begin |
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29 |
Friday |
End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date. |
April 2024 |
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5 |
Friday |
Last day to submit a Graduation Application for June graduation. |
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8 |
Monday |
Registration for Summer Quarter begins. |
| 15 | Monday |
Application for program transfer for Summer Quarter due. Application for readmission for Summer Quarter due. Application for admission for Summer Quarter due. |
May 2024 |
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3 |
Friday |
Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript). |
|
10 |
Friday |
All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree. |
|
27 |
Monday |
Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes). |
June 2024 |
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|
3 |
Monday |
Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Summer Quarter by 5pm. Please visit the Canvas course site for your program for guidelines on proposals for independent studies, practicum, and thesis. Deadline to submit Graduate Change of Registration form for non-SPS (WCAS) courses. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses. |
|
8 |
Saturday |
School of Professional Studies Convocation Ceremony |
|
9 |
Sunday |
Commencement for all Northwestern graduates |
|
11 |
Tuesday |
Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm. |
|
14 |
Friday |
June 2024 degrees awarded. |
|
16 |
Sunday |
Students who drop a Summer class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition. |
|
17 |
Monday |
Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin. |
|
19 |
Wednesday |
Juneteenth; Northwestern University closed (No sync sessions for online classes). |
|
21 |
Friday |
End of Summer Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date. |
July 2024 |
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4 |
Thursday |
Independence Day; Northwestern University closed (no sync sessions for online classes). |
|
12 |
Friday |
Last day to submit a Graduation Application for August graduation |
|
15 |
Monday |
Application for program transfer for Fall Quarter due. Application for readmission for Fall Quarter due. Application for admission for Fall Quarter due. Registration for Fall 2024 quarter opens in CAESAR. |
|
26 |
Friday |
Last day to drop a summer course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript). |
August 2024 |
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|
9 |
Friday |
All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree. |
|
25 |
Sunday |
Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes.
|
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27 |
Tuesday |
Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm. |
|
30 |
Friday |
August 2024 degrees awarded. |