Northeastern University

Covid-19 response

During the Covid-19 pandemic, teaching was conducted via online learning, before moving to a combination of online and in-person teaching with reduced admission to classrooms. Free Covid-19 tests are still provided to students.

Campus investment

Over the last few years, several high-profile investments have been made to various facilities at Northeastern. This includes the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC), a research and laboratory facility. Opened in January 2020, this new academic space focuses on drug discovery, robotics, and security research.

Funding for research

An additional USD 50 million of funding went into the Institute for Experiential Artificial Intelligence. Launched in late 2019, the center brings together experts in humanities, law, public policy, machine learning, health, security, and sustainability to develop solutions to worldwide challenges.

There are plans to build further research facilities for Northeastern's work on autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots, which is expected to be completed by 2023.

Northeastern University has been consistently ranked as a top 50 U.S. university for the last seven years by Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

An institution with a heavy focus on experiential learning, the university engages students with the world around them. This is achieved through blending academic learning with professional work, as well as research and placements in locations across the globe.

With co-op learning, students focus on concepts and theories in a classroom environment and then use that knowledge in a real-world setting alongside it. The real-world elements help students to easily understand theoretical learning, while academic learning can be quickly applied to real-world settings when they switch between the two.

Northeastern students have unique opportunities in 148 countries through global co-op programs, internships, and experiental learning. The university also has 3,300 corporate partners worldwide, providing further work placement opportunities. This access to a variety of companies worldwide helps students to develop skills which can be used in the workplace. This includes learning how other cultures approach different topics and enhancing language skills.

Students are taught by influential academics, and over 500 of the faculty have been tenured or tenure-tracked in the last five years. This has led to the university receiving several awards for its faculty research.

Northeastern offers a wide variety of different courses across nine schools and colleges.

The following faculties are available for undergraduates:

• College of Arts, Media, and Design
• Bouve College of Health Sciences
• D'Amore-McKim School of Business
• Khoury College of Computer Sciences
• College of Engineering
• College of Science
• College of Social Sciences and Humanities
• School of Law

The university provides over 250 major options and over 150 combined majors. Students can pursue a single major, a combined major from within the same school, or a combined major across two different schools. More than half of the Northeastern students study a combined major, allowing them to follow their interests and pursuits.

There are also several pre-professional and graduate programs available. This includes Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Veterinary Sciences and Pre-Dentistry.

Due to the intense nature of the academic programs, all applicants, regardless of citizenship, need to provide proof of English proficiency.

Applicants will meet the English proficiency requirement if:

• English is their native language
  
• They have lived in the United States or another English-speaking country and completed four consecutive academic years
  
• An English language proficiency test with suitable scores is submitted directly from a testing agency. Minimum test scores vary between programs and departments.

For students who do not meet the required English proficiency levels, the university runs a Global Pathways program. Helping students improve English language skills, academic credits and progression requirements are awarded upon completion of the program.

International applicants also need to submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) to prove they have sufficient financial support and can cover tuition and living expenses. Once they are enrolled, international students need to submit an I-20 request form, as well as a copy of their passport or permanent residency card.

Specific entry requirements can be found on the course listing for each major/combined major on the Northeastern website. At a minimum, students are expected to have completed four years of English, two years of history, two years of the same foreign language, three years of science and three years of math.

Other colleges will also require further study, such as applicants to the College of Engineering, who must have taken physics, chemistry and precalculus.

Northeastern provides a range of high-class facilities across its multiple locations, including research spaces, libraries, and classrooms. Lots of funding has been invested into specific facilities across the various colleges, including the recently opened USD 225 million research and laboratory complex.

The main Boston campus boasts high-tech classrooms and 30 research centers. It is one of only 12 institutions with Centers of Excellence that are funded by the Department of Homeland Security. Other academic facilities on this flagship campus include 3D labs, a marine science center that is developing robotic technology, and its modern Snell Library.

Helping students to make the most out of studying on campus, there is also plenty of quiet, solo and group study areas, including dedicated collaboration spaces.

The university provides a diverse range of recreational facilities across its various campuses. This includes running over 400 clubs and organizations, including more than 50 sports societies, so there is plenty of options for students to choose from.

On the Boston campus, the Marino Recreation Center, runs personal training sessions, group fitness activities, esports and tournaments, aquatic activities as well as providing spaces for sports clubs.

Additional sporting facilities can be found on the SquashBusters Facility, which has incredible views of the Boston skyline. Recently renovated, it boasts 8 squash courts, dry saunas, 52 workout stations and a multipurpose room. Students can also access the Cabot Physical Education Center, which contains racquetball courts, an indoor track, rowing tanks, a cardiovascular room, and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Dining facilities provide a range of culinary options at affordable prices. Students can grab takeaway food at the Market or one of the nearby chain stores or choose to dine in at multiple cafes and restaurants on campus. Students can also pay for unlimited meal plans each semester for a set fee.

Northeastern has several dedicated support services to help students get the most from their time at the university.

Upon arrival, students are paired with an academic advisor in their field of study. The university also runs an orientation and welcome week at the start of the academic year, helping students to settle into life on campus.

Other academic support resources include tutoring, a writing center, and a specialized bookstore.

The university's Health and Counselling services focus on both physical health and mental wellbeing. It offers several vital services, including:

• Primary care services
• Urgent medical visits
• Referral to clinical care resources in the community
• Mental health support through Find@Northeastern
• Lab tests
• Allergy assessments and treatments
• Programs specifically to support student-athletes

Students can access these services over the phone, in a virtual video call or in-person, although this is currently by appointment only.

Mental health support is available 24/7 through the Find@Northeastern initiative, providing students with immediate help from a licensed mental health professional in the local area. Its dedicated team assists students in locating and scheduling mental health support and provides five free counselling sessions each fall and spring semester.

The university's Disability Resource Center helps students with disabilities and ensures they are supported during their time at Northeastern. Its team can assist with a variety of requirements and disabilities, including:

• AD(H)D
• Asperger's Syndrome (and related disorders)
• Chronic and degenerative issues
• Hearing loss
• Learning disabilities
• Mobility impairments
• Psychiatric disorders
• Traumatic or acquired brain injury
• Visual impairments

Other on-campus student support resources include Housing and Residential Life, Office of University Equity and Compliance, WeCare, and an Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.