Northwestern University
Graduate Student Workers
Benefit Plans

We are pleased to offer subsidized dental and vision insurance plans to qualifying graduate students, consistent with the terms of the ratified collective bargaining agreement between Northwestern University and NUGW-UE Local 1122.

Northwestern has shared this link with graduate students who are both:

1. New students (i.e., beginning their studies in the Winter or Spring quarter of calendar year 2026) who will be enrolled full-time (i.e., 3 units or more) in a fully funded PhD, MFA, or DMA program for the duration of the entire Spring Quarter.

And

1. PhD or TGS MFA or DMA students who are registered full-time (3-4 units) in a fully funded registration in the TGS or DMA career (e.g., not registered in TGS 512, TGS 514, or other unfunded registrations). 

If you received this link directly from Northwestern, you are potentially eligible to enroll through this site. If you did not, and you do not satisfy each of the above requirements, you should not enroll via this page. Eligibility for this plan will be verified and enrollment canceled for those who do not qualify, which may result in out-of-pocket expenses for any claims processed.

Members who were enrolled in a qualifying graduate program in the Fall, and missed the enrollment period, are not eligible to enroll in the subsidized plan at this time but may enroll in a non-subsidized plan by visiting the Northwestern Student Insurance Plans website.

You are not required to participate in the Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP) to enroll in vision and/or dental insurance.

Students may add their spouse and dependents to the dental and vision insurance for an additional cost. If you would like to add your family members, you may do so during the enrollment period or you can call or email our Student Support Team for assistance. 

If you would like dental and vision insurance and do not qualify under the bargaining agreement, you may enroll in the dental and vision plans offered to all Northwestern students by visiting the Northwestern Student Insurance Plans website.