Asian Languages and Cultures at Northwestern University

Programme overview

The major combines language study in Chinese, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese or Korean with humanities courses on the history, literature and culture of an area of focus. Students choose a single language and area focus (China, Japan, Korea, South Asia) or a comparative focus.

Faculty: Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Department of Asian Languages and Cultures | Study mode: full-time | Location: Evanston, IL, United States

What you will study

The major totals 15 units: six language courses (three at second-year level plus three at third-year level, or three in an additional Asian language for the comparative focus), eight ASIAN_LC courses at the 200 and 300 level, and the fall senior seminar ASIAN_LC 397.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Northwestern undergraduate first-year applicants: Common Application or Coalition with Scoir plus the Northwestern supplement and writing supplements; official secondary school transcripts and school report; one counselor recommendation and at least one teacher recommendation; SAT/ACT scores optional; $75 application fee or fee waiver. Applicants whose first or primary language is not English, or whose secondary schooling was not in English, submit Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) or TOEFL iBT results. Deadlines: Early Decision Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 4, 2027. Major prerequisite: a first year of language courses or equivalent proficiency for the single-language focus; none for the comparative focus.

Requirements published at faculty level.

USD 71,802 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for 2026-27 (full-time $23,934 per quarter, fall/winter/spring); a single rate for all full-time undergraduate degree programmes; excludes room and board, student health, activity and athletics fees and health insurance. Source

Undergraduate terms run fall, winter and spring (quarter system); first-year applicants apply through Early Decision, Regular Decision or QuestBridge.

First-year deadlines for 2026-27: QuestBridge October 1, 2026; Early Decision November 1, 2026 (decisions December 2026); Regular Decision January 4, 2027 (decisions March 2027). Transfer: Early Decision March 1, 2027; Regular Decision April 1, 2027 (priority deadline for Bienen transfer applicants January 4, 2027).

Apply through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir (QuestBridge for QuestBridge applicants). The nonrefundable application fee is $75 or a fee waiver. Northwestern is test-optional and does not require SAT or ACT scores.

Graduate applications for 2026-27 open September 15, 2026; deadlines vary by programme. The Graduate School application fee is $95 and nonrefundable, paid by credit or debit card.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/

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