Undergraduate Application & Timeline

Click on the links below to start your Bienen School Supplement and review detailed application instructions from the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Start your Bienen School Supplement
View All Northwestern University Requirements
See Complete Requirements for International Applicants

Undergraduate Application Checklist

All prescreening recordings and music program requirements should be uploaded to the Bienen School of Music Supplement.

We recommend separating each prescreening selection into individual files. Alternatively, within the Bienen School Supplement, you are also welcome to input a link to a video uploaded to an external website such as YouTube or Vimeo. 

Do not mail any materials to the Bienen School of Music; items that are mailed to the Bienen School of Music will not be returned.

Fall 2025 First-Year Early Decision Timeline

August 16
Bienen School Supplement available online
October 15
ALL ED and QuestBridge applicants: Bienen School Supplement submission deadline (this includes prescreening materials if applicable, BA materials, and BM composition portfolios)
November 1
Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir Application due through Northwestern
November 15
On-campus QuestBridge auditions must be completed
November 25
On-campus ED auditions must be completed
Mid-December
Northwestern admission decision released
February 1
Enrollment deposit due

NOTE: Finalists from the QuestBridge application process applying to the Bienen School must submit prescreening materials by October 15, 2024 and complete their performance audition (if applicable) before November 15, 2024, regardless of whether applying Early or Regular Decision.

Fall 2025 First-Year Regular Decision Timeline

August 16
Bienen School Supplement available online
December 1
ALL RD applicants: Bienen School Supplement submission deadline (this includes prescreening materials if applicable, BA materials, and BM composition portfolios)
January 2
Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir Application due through Northwestern
February 7-16
On-campus auditions
Late March
Northwestern admission decision released
May 1
Enrollment deposit due

NOTE: Bienen School transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to apply via Northwestern’s Regular Decision round. Application and audition deadlines may be found above. Transfer applicants who do not submit a Bienen School Supplement by December 1 will need to wait until after March 15 to schedule a live audition.

Fall 2025 Transfer Applicant Timeline

March 15
Bienen School Supplement due (this includes prescreening materials if applicable, BA materials, and BM composition portfolios)
March 15
Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir Application and all supplemental materials due
April
On-campus auditions (held on an ad-hoc basis)
May
Northwestern admission decision released

Dual Degree and Double Major Applicants

Applicants interested in pursuing a double major or dual degree should indicate this on the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir Application. 

When you apply for a double major or dual degree and complete all requirements, you will receive a single admission decision from Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission. This decision will include information on which school(s) you have been accepted to within Northwestern University, including the Bienen School of Music. Northwestern offers dual degrees with the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; the McCormick School of Engineering; the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications; the School of Communication; and the School of Education and Social Policy.

Learn more about Dual Degrees and Double Majors

International Applicants

See Complete Requirements for International Applicants

International applicants to Northwestern include citizens of foreign countries in foreign education systems, citizens of foreign countries in the United States educational system, and United States citizens studying abroad. All applicants to Northwestern, international and domestic, apply using the same process and timeline. International applicants must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency. An evaluation of English proficiency includes reviewing all test scores, grades in classes taught in English, writing samples, and comments by recommenders. International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit exam results from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET). Northwestern does not accept scores from English proficiency exams not listed above, including the TOEFL Institutional Testing Program (ITP).