International Law Students
Applying for financial aid, including scholarship/fellowship funding, is separate from the admissions process. The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid determines scholarship/fellowship awards, while the Chicago Office of Financial Aid packages loan funding.
The information on this page goes over how students will apply for institutional scholarship/fellowship funding as well as private student loan funding. Please note that students who are interested in obtaining a private student loan must typically have a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner on the loan.
Student financial aid applications are due by the dates listed below (or, if admitted after these dates, within seven days of admission).
Jump to your program:
jd (including early decision, transfer, and 2-year) ELLM in Chicago LLM and Tax-LLMLLM IHRfull-time residential MSLPart-time residential and online MSL
All JD
NOTE: Early Decision, transfer JD, and 2-Year JD students should contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid to request a PDF copy of our short-form University Aid Application in place of the more in-depth Law Entering University Aid Application. Be sure to note to our office that you are an Early Decision, transfer JD, or 2-Year JD student.
1. Complete the Law Entering University Application
Due Date: March 3, 2025
The Law Entering University Aid Application will be available online in mid-to-late fall. The application can take up to 45 minutes to complete.
The application must be completed in a single session as you will not be able to save and return to the application after starting it.- Complete the parent section(s) if you are required based on your age, marital or veteran status and wish to be considered for institutional scholarship funding.
- If your parents are currently separated or were divorced after September 1, 2021, submit financial information for both parents; if they were divorced before that date, submit information for your custodial parent only. If your custodial parent has remarried, submit your stepparent's information as well.
- Students under the age of 26 (or who will not be 26 by August 1, 2025) must provide parental information if they wish to be considered for institutional need-based grants.
- Exceptions to requirements for parental information:
- If you are married, and your spouse is NOT a student, you only need to submit your and your spouse's information. If your spouse is a student, you will still need to submit your parents' information.
- If you are active duty military or a veteran, you do not need to submit your parents' information.
- All other exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Financial Aid and are extremely rare.
- Exceptions to requirements for parental information:
- To complete the application, you will need:
- A copy of your (the student) 2023 federal or foreign tax return
- A copy of your parent(s) 2023 federal or foreign tax return, if you are considered NU Dependent
- Information about your assets and your parent(s) assets, including investments, businesses, homes, trusts, and vehicles.
- All figures reported on the University Aid Application should be reported in whole US Dollars. Please do not use decimals or commas. Individuals with foreign income should convert currency to USD and note the conversion rate in the special circumstances section in the student section of the form.
2.Submit additional items to our office
Priority Deadline: March 3 or within 7 days of admission
Submit all items to our secure document upload portal. Please note that CAESAR will be updated to reflect received documents within 3-5 business days of submission.
Student income information
- If you filed an Income Tax return for 2023, submit signed copies of your 2023 Federal Income Tax return and W-2 forms.
- If you have not yet filed or were not required to file your 2023 Federal Income Tax return download and complete the 2025-26 Verification of Student (and Spouse) Income form.
- Please also submit a copy of your 2022 Federal Income Tax return and 2023 W-2 forms along with the Verification of Student (and Spouse) Income form.
- If you will be married by October 2025, you must also submit a copy of your spouse's 2023 Federal Income Tax return.
- If you did not file a US return, submit signed copies of your country's tax forms for the most recent tax year. If your country does not have an annual tax form, please submit a signed wage statement from your employer(s) verifying income. All tax or earnings documents require official translation into English and must be converted to U.S. Dollars. If converted to U.S. Dollars, the conversion rate must also be included.
Parental income information
Students under the age of 26 (or who will not be 26 by August 1, 2025) or do not meet other criteria to waive parent data must provide:
- Submit signed copies of your parents' 2023 Federal Income Tax return and W-2 forms.
- If your parents have not yet filed or were not required to file their 2023 Federal Income Tax return, download and complete the 2025-26 Verification of Parents' Income form
- Please submit a copy of their 2022 Federal Income Tax return and 2023 W-2 forms along with the Verification of Parent's Income form.
- If your parents did not file a US return, submit signed copies of your parents’ country's tax forms for the most recent tax year. If your country does not have an annual tax form, please submit a signed wage statement from your parents’ employer(s) verifying income. All tax or earnings documents require official translation into English and must be converted to U.S. Dollars. If converted to U.S. Dollars, the conversion rate must also be included.
- Students age 26 or older on or before August 1, 2025 are not required to submit this information.
Northwestern Dependents with divorced parents may need to submit additional tax returns:
- If your parents are currently separated or were divorced after September 1, 2021, submit tax returns for both parents.
- If your parents were divorced before September 1, 2021 submit a tax return for your custodial parent only. If your custodial parent has remarried, submit your stepparent's tax return as well.
The Law Entering University Aid Application is used to assist in determining eligibility for institutional scholarships. If you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding, but do wish to apply only for private student loans, then you only need to complete the Chicago Office of Financial Aid's short-form University Aid Application. The short-form University Aid Application is different from the more in-depth Law Entering University Aid Application noted above. In this case, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid to request that our short-form University Aid Application be emailed to you.
2.Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your aid eligibility notice email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid releases scholarship notifications throughout the spring, starting in late March. Preliminary financial aid packages are released by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid before the relevant tuition deposit deadline, provided that students have applied for financial aid by the application deadline.
Official financial aid packages are sent via email over the summer, but only if a student submits a tuition deposit. Once you receive notification, you must accept or decline the loan assistance offered to you. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
4. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private student loan as part of your financial aid eligibility, you must complete the application and be approved for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your financial aid eligibility notification email.
JD-MBA
1. Complete the Law Entering University Aid Application
Deadlines:
- Round 1 admits: November 12, 2024
- Round 2 admits: March 3, 2025
- Round 3 admits: April 19, 2025
The University Aid Application can be completed online via the link provided to you by admissions. Northwestern Law considers all JD-MBA applicants independent so parental information is not required. However, if you are married, spousal information must be submitted on the Law Entering University Aid Application.
The Law Entering University Aid Application is used to assist in determining eligibility for institutional scholarships. If you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding, but do wish to apply only for private student loans, then you only need to complete the Chicago Office of Financial Aid's short-form University Aid Application. The short-form University Aid Application is different from the more in-depth Law Entering University Aid Application noted above. In this case, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid to request that our short-form University Aid Application be emailed to you.
2. Submit copies of 2023 tax returns
- Tax documents can be uploaded via our document upload site.
- Students must submit a copy of their personal tax return and parental taxes if parent data is required on the university aid application.
- If your tax returns are reported in foreign currency, you must provide a report that converts the currency to USD and notes the conversion rate used.
3.Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your official financial aid eligibility notification email in the early summer.
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
Scholarship award notices are typically sent out via email by the Admissions Office at the time of admission, provided that students met the above stated financial aid application deadline. Preliminary financial aid packages are released by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid before the relevant tuition deposit deadline. Once the preliminary package is released, no additional steps are needed with regards to financial aid until you receive your official financial aid package notification email from the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
Official packages are sent via email during the summer before classes begin, but only if a student submits a tuition deposit. Once you receive notification that your official package is ready to review in CAESAR, you must accept or decline your financial aid award. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
4. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private student loan as part of your financial aid eligibility, you must complete the application and be approved for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your financial aid eligibility notification email.
ELLM in Chicago
1. Submit the University Aid Application via CAESAR
Deadline: April 1, 2025
Students may access the electronic 2025-26 University Aid Application via their "To Do" list in CAESAR on or after March 15, 2025. Your Task can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
2.Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your financial aid eligibility notification email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
All students admitted to the ELLM in Chicago program will be considered for fellowships on the basis of academic merit. No separate financial aid application is required to be considered for a fellowship. The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid releases fellowship notifications throughout the spring.
Official financial aid packages are sent via email on a rolling basis by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid beginning in mid-April, but only if a student submits a tuition deposit. Your financial aid package may include a combination of private student loans.
Once you receive the official notification, you must accept or decline any loan assistance offered to you. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
3. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private student loan as part of your financial aid eligibility, you must complete the application and be approved for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your financial aid eligibility notification email.
LLM and Tax-LLM
1. Submit the University Aid Application via CAESAR
Deadline: May 1, 2025
Students may access the electronic 2025-26 University Aid Application via their To-Do list in CAESAR on or after March 15, 2025. Your "To-Do List" can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
2. Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your financial aid eligibility notification email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
All students admitted to the LLM and LLM in Taxation programs will be considered for fellowships on the basis of academic merit. No separate financial aid application is required to be considered for a scholarship. The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid releases fellowship notifications throughout the spring.
Official financial aid packages are sent via email on a rolling basis by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid beginning in early summer, but only if a student submits a tuition deposit. If you have demonstrated institutional financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of private student loans.
Once you receive notification, you must accept or decline any loan assistance offered to you. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
3. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private student loan as part of your financial aid eligibility, you must complete the application and be approved for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your financial aid eligibility notification email.
LLM IHR
The institutional fellowship application process for LLM IHR applicants (step 1 below) is separate from the private student loan application process (step 2 below). Bear in mind that the due dates for the Admission Office's fellowship application may be different than the due date of the Chicago Office of Financial Aid's University Aid Application.
1. Complete the Fellowship Application through the Admissions Office
Deadline: January 31, 2025
The Fellowship Application is available on the Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid's Admitted Student website. This site is linked in your decision letter under "Financial Aid". If you have any questions about completing the Fellowship Application, please contact the Admissions Office.
2. Submit the University Aid Application via CAESAR
Deadline: May 1, 2025
Students may access the electronic 2025-26 University Aid Application via their To-Do list in CAESAR on or after March 15, 2025. Your "To-Do List" can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
3. Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your financial aid eligibility notification email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid releases fellowship notifications throughout the spring.
Official financial aid packages are sent via email on a rolling basis by the Chicago Office of Financial Aid beginning in early summer, but only if a student submits a tuition deposit. Your financial aid package may also include a combination of private student loans.
Once you receive notification, you must accept or decline any loan assistance offered to you. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
4. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private student loan as part of your financial aid eligibility, you must complete the application and be approved for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your financial aid eligibility notification email.
Full-Time Residential MSL
The institutional fellowship application process for full-time residential MSL applicants (step 1 below) is separate from the private student loan application process (step 2 below). Bear in mind that the due dates for the Admission Office's scholarship application may be different than the due date of the Chicago Office of Financial Aid's University Aid Application.
1. Complete the Scholarship Application through the Admissions Office
Deadline: Indicated in your financial aid email from Admissions
The Scholarship Application is available on the Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid's Admitted Student website. This site is linked in your decision letter under "Financial Aid". If you have any questions about completing the Fellowship Application, please contact the Admissions Office.
2. Submit the University Aid Application via CAESAR
Deadline: July 1, 2025
Students may access the electronic 2025-26 University Aid Application via their To-Do list in CAESAR on or after March 15, 2025, or within 2 business days of when you were admitted. Your "To-Do List" can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation. If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.
3. Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your financial aid eligibility notification email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
The Law School Office of Admissions and Financial Aid releases scholarship notifications throughout the spring.
The Chicago Office of Financial Aid reviews all financial aid applications in the order in which they are received. Official packages are sent out via email on a rolling basis beginning in early summer or within 4-6 weeks of when you applied, whichever is later. If you have demonstrated institutional financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of private student loans.
Once you receive notification, you must accept or decline your financial aid award. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
4. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private loan on your award notice, you must complete the application for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your Award Notification email.
Part-Time Residential and Online MSL
Part-time residential and online MSL students are not eligible for institutional scholarship funding.
1. Submit the University Aid Application via CAESAR
Deadlines:
- Residential MSL students and Online MSL students starting in Fall 2025: July 1, 2025 (or, if admitted after this date, within two weeks of admission)
- Online MSL students starting in Spring 2026: November 3, 2025 (or, if admitted after this date, within two weeks of admission)
Students may access the electronic 2025-26 University Aid Application via their To-Do list in CAESAR on or after March 15, 2025, or typically within two business days of being admitted. Your "To-Do List" can be reviewed in CAESAR through either the "Tasks" tile on the homepage, or by clicking on the "Financial Aid" tile from the homepage and then selecting "To-Do List" from the left-hand navigation.
If you are unable to access this document via your To-Do list by March 15, 2025 or within two business days of when you received your CAESAR log-in information from Admissions, please contact the Chicago Office of Financial Aid.2. Review financial aid package and accept or decline loan assistance offered to you.
Deadline: As soon as possible after you receive your award notice email
After you submit all application materials, Northwestern will determine your aid package. Learn more about how aid is determined.
The Chicago Office of Financial Aid reviews all financial aid applications in the order in which they are received. Official packages are sent out via email on a rolling basis beginning in early summer or within 4-6 weeks of when you applied, whichever is later. If you have demonstrated institutional financial need, your financial aid package may include a combination of private student loans.
Once you receive notification, you must accept or decline your financial aid award. Learn more about the steps to accept or decline.
3. Apply for a private loan via your lender's website
If you have been offered a private international loan on your award notice, you must complete the application for the loan program of your choice through the lender's website. This online application must be completed each academic year in order to receive funds for this loan. Be advised that international students interested in obtaining a private student loan may need a credit-worthy US citizen/permanent resident cosigner. Additional information about this process will be included on your Award Notification email.