Admission to graduate study at the University of Washington provides opportunities for study leading to graduate certificates and master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. The Graduate School is responsible for determining the minimum requirements for admission. These admissions requirements are based on the Washington Student Achievement Council Admissions Standards Policy. Departments may have additional or more stringent requirements. The basic objective of the admission policy of the Graduate School is to admit those students deemed best able to contribute to and benefit from the educational programs and opportunities offered at the University.
Enrollment in a specific graduate certificate or degree program is limited to the number of students for whom faculty, staff, and facilities can provide high quality graduate instruction and research guidance. Each graduate student must be admitted into a specific graduate program; the Graduate School does not permit general graduate enrollment.
3.1.1 Qualifications
A prospective graduate student must have one of the following:
- A baccalaureate degree from a nationally recognized postsecondary institution with institutional accreditation from the following approved accreditation agencies or equivalent for international institutions: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) college or university. The prospective student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point-average on a 4 point scale (or equivalent measures of performance if a graduate of an institution that does not use an alpha-numeric grading or evaluation system) for those credits earned at the institution awarding the bachelor’s degree OR at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.
Note: Students may have earned credits used towards a bachelor’s degree from multiple institutions. The 3.0 grade point average (GPA) requirement only requires that the cumulative GPA be reviewed from the degree granting institution. If a student’s cumulative GPA from the degree granting institution is lower than a 3.0 and the student has credits earned from multiple institutions, the student’s GPA may automatically be recalculated to include additional transcripts. If this recalculation results in a 3.0, the student has met the minimum GPA requirement. If this recalculation does not result in a 3.0, programs can petition the Graduate School for the student to be admitted using Alternate Standards.
- One of the following: a master’s degree, a graduate doctoral degree, or any of the following professional doctoral degrees: Doctor of Dentistry (D.D.S.), Doctor of Law (J.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.). The degree must be from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution, and the prospective student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) calculated from the total cumulative credits.
- An applied baccalaureate degree earned at a Washington community or technical community college. Applied baccalaureate degrees are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the graduate degree program or department for admissions. The prospective student must have either: at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) calculated from the total cumulative credits; or at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits.
Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. No exceptions for this English proficiency requirement will be granted. See Policy 3.2.
The Graduate School does not require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for admission; however, graduate programs may require GRE scores or any other tests related to the applicant’s field for use in the admission review process.
3.1.2 Alternate Standards
3.1.2.1 Alternates to Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements
Programs can petition the Graduate School to admit students who do not meet the minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements under alternate admission standards. Programs petitioning under alternate admissions standards must collect, review and provide to the Graduate School evidence that the student meets a minimum two of the following requirements:
- Satisfactory scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other approved test.
- An analytical essay written by the student which demonstrates critical thinking skills.
- A statement of intent written by the student demonstrating a level of knowledge and intellectual maturity appropriate to the proposed field of graduate study.
- Evidence of successful graduate coursework in the intended field of study or in a closely related field.
- Evidence of professional success in a field relevant to the proposed area of study.
- An admissions interview either in-person or via phone or web.
Note: An analytical essay typically is focused on a student’s academic pursuits and interest, while a statement of intent includes information about a student’s personal journey.
3.1.2.2 Alternates to an Earned Bachelor’s Degree
Programs can petition the Graduate School to admit students who do not have a bachelor’s degree from a nationally recognized postsecondary institution with institutional accreditation, but who have significant professional experience. Programs petitioning under alternate admissions standards must collect, review, and provide to the Graduate School evidence that the student meets the following requirements:
- Evidence of professional success in a field relevant to the proposed area of study
And
- A minimum of two of the following:
- A transcript showing 100 level course work or higher with the achievement of a 3.0 grade point average for at least 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours.
- Evidence of successful graduate coursework in the intended field of study or in a closely related field.
- Satisfactory scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other approved test.
- An analytical essay written by the student which demonstrates critical thinking skills.
- A statement of intent written by the student demonstrating a level of knowledge and intellectual maturity appropriate to the proposed field of graduate study.
- An admissions interview either in-person or via phone or web.
3.1.2.3 Alternate Standards for Doctoral Students Accompanying New Faculty
The Graduate School supports new University of Washington (UW) faculty members by allowing accompanying doctoral students who have begun doctoral work at another institution to be admitted through a special process.
General Policies
Qualified doctoral students accompanying a new University of Washington (UW) faculty hire may be admitted to a UW research-based doctoral program under the following provisions.
- The graduate student has begun a doctoral program at the faculty member’s previous institution and has an established advising and research relationship with the new faculty hire.
- The graduate faculty of the UW program recommend the student as qualified for the UW doctoral program using the program’s standard admissions criteria. This includes endorsement of previously completed coursework that may be applied towards the UW degree, as well as confirmation that the student’s program of study while at UW will be substantial enough to warrant the granting of the UW degree.
- As part of a holistic assessment of the student’s qualifications and academic background, the program determines the content and milestones (e.g., coursework, General Exam) that must be completed at UW. In most circumstances, the student will complete the General Exam at UW.
Application Process
Doctoral students accompanying a new faculty hire are admitted through a special application process. After program faculty have approved admitting the student, the program will direct the student to submit an application for admission. After the student has applied, the program submits a short narrative proposal and accompanying documents to the Graduate School through a petition process.
These submissions should include the following materials:
Submitted with student application:
- A copy of the student’s current transcript.
Submitted with program petition:
- An overview of the student’s progress towards the doctoral degree at the prior institution and at what stage the student will enter the UW doctoral program. Include information on how the student’s remaining work at the University of Washington will constitute a meaningful curricular experience reflective of a UW degree.
- A completion plan for the student, including coursework, exams, and other milestones towards the degree.
- A description of the UW degree requirements that will be waived (coursework, dissertation credits, or other requirements such as graded credits or 500 level credits) and the rationale for waiving the requirements based on work from the prior institution.
- Confirmation that the graduate faculty of the academic unit have approved admitting the student under these special provisions.
Upon approval of the proposal by the Office of Academic Affairs, the student can be admitted, and the requirement waivers outlined in the proposal will be noted in the student’s record for use at the time of graduation from UW.
3.1.3 Admission Procedure
Application for admission is made simultaneously to the Graduate School and to the graduate program. Each department or other unit authorized to offer a graduate certificate or degree program maintains a Graduate Admissions Committee that must include at least three graduate faculty members. This Committee is responsible for the fair and complete evaluation of applicants and is expected to maintain files and to be able to demonstrate that full and fair consideration has been given to each applicant. Students meeting the Graduate School admissions requirements are admitted into programs of study by the Graduate Admissions Committee in the department offering the program. It is the responsibility of each department to ensure that students have met the Graduate School admissions requirements prior to offering admissions. Each department shall inform the Graduate School regarding students granted admissions and students denied admissions.
The Graduate School and each Graduate Admission Committee shall be guided by the following:
- Priority for admission of applicants into a graduate certificate or degree program is based upon the applicant’s apparent ability, as determined by the University, to complete the program with a high level of achievement.
- No practice may discriminate against an individual because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran.
- Sustained efforts shall be made to recruit qualified applicants who are members of groups that are underrepresented in certain disciplines.
- All applicants to a certificate- or degree-offering unit shall be processed through the same set of procedures to assure that all applicants are evaluated on the applicant’s individual merits.
- Tests and criteria for admission should relate to the actual requirements of the graduate program. Reasonable accommodation for testing conditions may be made to compensate for relevant disabilities.
- Additional factors may be used in developing a pool of qualified applicants for admission to the Graduate School. Weights given these and other factors may vary among graduate programs. No factor will confer admission on an academically unqualified applicant. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Grades earned, especially for subjects in or closely related to the field of the applicant’s proposed graduate work.
- Scores on the Graduate Record Examination Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Tests, on the GRE Advanced Test, on other tests related to the applicant’s field, and on other aptitude tests which may be required.
- Personal interviews of the applicant by the Department Admissions Committee.
- The career objectives of the applicant and the extent to which the graduate certificate or degree program may be expected to prepare the applicant for those objectives.
- Written and oral recommendations from persons who are qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic record and promise.
- The applicant’s degree objective, i.e. a certificate, a stacked degree, Master’s degree, Doctoral degree, or a Master’s followed by a Doctoral degree.
- Activities or accomplishments; educational goals; prior employment experience; living experiences, such as growing up in a disadvantaged or unusual environment; special talents.
- Academic accomplishments in light of the applicant’s life experiences and special circumstances. These experiences and circumstances may include, but are not limited to disabilities; low family income; first generation to attend college; need to work during college; disadvantaged social or educational environment; difficult personal and family situation or circumstances; and refugee status or veteran status.
3.1.4 Enrollment Confirmation on Behalf of a Student
Programs can petition the Graduate School to confirm enrollment on behalf of a student without paying the ECD (enrollment confirmation deposit). This petition cannot be requested for applicants planning to attend on an F1 or J1 visa.
For those whose petition has been approved, an ECD will not be applied toward their tuition and fees assessed for the quarter in which they have been admitted. The student is responsible for all tuition and fees (See the Office of the University Registrar for more information about an ECD).
3.1.4.1 Criteria
The department must:
- Have extended an offer of admission to the student and informed the Graduate School that the student has been granted admission (see Policy 3.1.3).
- Submit the petition request by the day prior to the start of the admit term.
A prospective student must meet one of the following criteria:
- The student participated in a pipeline program used by the department to recruit students.
- The student meets the Graduate School’s published criteria for an application fee waiver.
If a student does not meet at least one of the Graduate School’s criteria, the department may request an exception for enrollment confirmation on behalf of the student based on specific extenuating circumstances. The department should provide as much detail as possible in the petition when requesting an exception.
3.1.4.2 Veterans Benefits
U.S. military veterans, service members, or their dependents using a VA benefit may be eligible. Admitted students must contact the Veterans Education Benefits Office (veteran@uw.edu) for guidance.
Policy 3.1 revised: August 2011, March 2019; March 2022; April 2022; October 2024
Policy 3.1.2.3 revised: February 2023; October 2024
Policy 3.1.1 revised: July 2023
Policy 3.1.4 added: November 2023
Policy 3.1.4.1 revised February 2024; March 2024