For Graduate Students
All undergraduate language courses are available to graduate students. Graduate students who plan to continue studying a language at Northwestern should contact the placement coordinator of the department/program where the language is offered, and find an appropriate language course well in advance of their registration time period.
Graduate students can also register in the language courses offered through the School of Professional Studies upon consulting with their academic advisers. They are also encouraged to read the policies related to cross school registration if interested in enrolling in courses outside the Graduate School.
Graduate students can also study languages not taught at Northwestern.
English Language Study
Funding
DeCoster Grant for Language Study for Graduate Students by Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences: The DeCoster Grant is offered to graduate students enrolled in Weinberg graduate programs in Humanities and Social Sciences who intend to study a language relevant to their research on Latin America and/or Spain, including but not limited to: Portuguese, Spanish, Quechua, Nahuatl, Guarani, Catalan, Basque, Japanese, Korean, Yoruba, Haitian Creole, etc. Applicants must demonstrate that the language is central to their research in said geographical area. Before submitting the application, applicants must have consulted their advisor as an advisor’s letter is required.
Summer Language Funding by Buffett Institute for Global Affairs: The Buffett Institute’s Summer Language Training Award assists PhD students in years 1-3 with expenses related to language training necessary for their dissertation research. Grants are to help defray expenses PhD students incur when pursuing language instruction not available at Northwestern.
Summer Language Grant by the Graduate School: The Summer Language Grant (SLG) assists PhD students with expenses related to language training necessary for their dissertation research. Grants are made to help defray expenses incurred pursuing language instruction not available at Northwestern or via the traveling scholar programs. Applicants must exhaust efforts to address needs locally or through Northwestern course offerings, the Traveling Scholar Program or the Chicago Metropolitan Exchange Program. See also the policy on taking courses at other universities.
Fulbright U.S Student Program: The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding. Grant lengths and dates vary by award. Please consult the specific award description for details.
Graduate Teaching Fellows: Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTFs) are a select group of advanced graduate students with a demonstrated commitment to student learning in their discipline. GTFs develop quarterly teaching events in their department aimed at graduate student professional development. For the broader campus community, they also lead interdisciplinary workshops on learning and teaching at Searle. GTFs are a critically important part of the campus community through their contributions to supporting graduate student learning and teaching at Northwestern.