2-3 weeks after you’ve accepted your spot in the Institute, we will send your NetID and a validation code, as soon as we receive them from the IT department. Your validation code expires one week after we send it to you.

Unless you are applying for Financial Aid, your are required to submit a non-refundable, $1,000 deposit to secure your spot as soon as you have activated your student account.

• The deposit is applied to your summer tuition bill
• Log into CAESAR, Northwestern’s platform for student billing. You will log in using your NetID and the password you set after activating your student account.
  • Students can setup a guest account for their parents to pay their bill, but many parents simply log in as the student.
• Northwestern does not set up deposits for our summer programs, meaning you will make this payment on your student account before you are enrolled and, therefore, before you will see a bill on your account.
• Instructions for submitting payment- You will need to manually enter the amount of $1,000 while following the below instructions:
  • Viewing or Paying Tuition with Domestic Funds
  • Viewing or Paying Tuition with International Funds
• If you are applying for financial aid, you may be required to submit a discounted deposit. Details will be included in your financial aid award notification letter in FACTS, but the instructions for doing so are the same as described above.
• Your remaining tuition will be due May 22, and your bill will be posted on May 2 with your deposit (and any other payments made) applied.

Your Student Handbook is your guide to the summer. This is also referred to as your “Info Packet.” Everything from arrival information, to packing lists, to important policies are included. Familiarize yourself with its content, and you should have a very good idea of what to expect this summer.

Access the Student Handbook here

These forms are required to consider your registration fully complete. We must receive these forms by May 22, 2026. Any major delay may jeopardize your spot, so please communicate any questions or concerns you have with us early and often.

• Health Record Form
  • Please click the link above to fill out and submit your Health Record Information, Vaccine History, Allergies, Dietary Restrictions, Medication List, etc.  You should allow approximately 30 minutes to complete this form. The privacy of our students is our utmost priority.  This information is shared only with the NHSI Director, Division Director, and Dorm Director who directly cares for your student, as this form provides crucial information that allows us to understand your student’s health history.
• Signed Agreement Forms (to be sent via DocuSign before the end of March)
  • Both the student and the primary parent will receive unique links via DocuSign to sign these forms. You must both access the forms via those unique links in your email, just like you did for the acceptance letter.
    • Standard Operating Procedures and Rules
    • NU Medicine Consent for Minors
    • Permission to Treat & Transport Minors
    • Photo & Likeness Approval
    • Communicable Disease Parent Waiver
    • Communicable Disease Student Agreement
    • Community Guidelines
• Roommate Form
  • The roommate survey helps us facilitate your room placement. Our goal is to assign you a room with someone you will be compatible with.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about room assignments, please be sure to note this on the form, or you can send us an email.
  • Students can request to room with someone they know; HOWEVER, both students must request each other on this form, and that request is not guaranteed to be granted.
• Summer Program Dietary Needs Form (Only if you have dietary restrictions related to allergies or religious practices. Vegans/Vegetarians and those who avoid red meat should NOT  submit this form.)
  • This link takes you to a form that goes to the campus dietician within Residential Services.
  • Please submit this form if you have any dietary restrictions due to allergies or religious affiliations that are not already accommodated as outlined in the Student Handbook – do not complete this form for vegetarian/vegan dietary restrictions or avoiding red meat as those are already accommodated at every meal.
  • The NHSI Office does not receive your responses to this form, so please be sure to include any dietary restrictions in your Health Record Form as well.

We require a headshot or photograph of yourself. The faculty will use this to learn your name ahead of the program. This is also due May 22.

In early June, students will receive the 2026 Elective Catalog & Preference form, so that you can review what courses will be offered to you this summer and submit your preferences.

Aside from those limitations, please let your creativity go wild!

Take a look at some of the student films from previous years on our website. These films will give you an idea of what is possible in terms of location, special effects, and cast size.

The ability to communicate with our international students and families is paramount to your success and wellbeing in the institute. Please ensure you and your family are prepared with the below items.

• Contact Information
  • Student Cell Phone
    • Students must have a cell phone with service in the US while on campus. You cannot rely on WiFi. You will be asked to confirm your phone number when you arrive to check into the program. 
    • WE CANNOT CALL AN INTERNATIONAL NUMBER, even if it has service in the US. If you do not have a US Cell phone number, here are your options: 1) You can purchase a cell phone and a temporary service plan in downtown Evanston at any of the mobile stores, Target, or CVS OR 2) You can download the app WhatsApp, and provide us with that phone number. We will then call you through WhatsApp if we need to contact you.
  • Parent/Guardian Contact
    • We must be able to reach a parent/guardian in case of emergency.
    • If you as the parent/guardian do not have a US cell phone number, please download WhatsApp and provide us with that contact information on the Health Record form or via email.
  • Emergency Contact
    • If, while attending the NHSI, a student is experiencing a medical, psychological, or other health-related concern that exceeds the NHSI’s ability to ensure their safety – or the safety of other NHSI students or staff – the student’s parents/guardians will be notified and will need to arrange for an adult to check the student out of the program within 24 hours.
    • You must provide us with a contact in the United States who speaks English that can be reached in case of an emergency of this nature. Please provide this contact information on the Permission to Treat & Transport form and on the Health Record form.
• Health Insurance
  • All international students are automatically enrolled in Northwestern’s Visiting Scholar Plan, the cost of which is $7.93 per day. Once enrolled, you will be billed for this plan through your student CAESAR account. Coverage is applied June 28-August 1. Students cannot check into the Institute until their Health Insurance balance is paid in CAESAR.
  • The Visiting Scholar Plan ensures that students have health insurance coverage that will be accepted at all local clinics and hospitals should your student require any medical care while they are on campus.
  • Students must also carry a credit card or debit card to cover incidental medical costs (such as co-payments required at medical visits).
• B-2 Tourism Visa
  • All NHSI programs are taken as non-credit. International students only need a B-2 Toursim Visa, which covers “Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree.”
  • Neither a Student Visa nor an I-20 are necessary.