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Policy 3.1: Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate study at the University of Washington provides opportunities for study leading to graduate certificates, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. The objective of the admissions 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 available facilities resources 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.

The Graduate School is responsible for determining the minimum requirements for admission which are based on the Washington Student Achievement Council Admission Standards Policy.

Departments may have additional or more stringent requirements and must clearly communicate those qualifications in their prospective student-facing materials. 

[Note: This policy is strictly intended to guide academic programs in setting admissions criteria. Prospective students should consult individual program materials to determine their eligibility. See also: Graduate School Admissions website]

3.1.1 Qualifications

A prospective graduate student must have one of the following:

  • A baccalaureate degree meeting the requirements below, with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (or equivalent; see footnote at the end of this document for details on GPA). [Note: The policy below on qualified bachelor’s degrees is effective beginning with the Autumn 2027 admissions cycle. The effective policy up that point can be found at the bottom of this document].
    • A 3- or 4-year baccalaureate from a nationally recognized postsecondary institution in the United States (U.S.) with institutional accreditation from the following approved accreditation agencies: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC); Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); 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, or
    • A 3- or 4-year baccalaureate degree from a university recognized by the appropriate national authority (e.g., Ministry of Education) and determined by the UW to be comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. institution, in a country with 13 years of pre-university formal education, or
    • A 4-year baccalaureate degree from a university recognized by the appropriate national authority (e.g., Ministry of Education) and determined by the UW to be comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. institution, in a country with 12 years of pre-university formal education, or
    • A 3-year baccalaureate and a 1-year postgraduate diploma from a university recognized by the appropriate national authority (e.g., Ministry of Education) and determined by the UW to be comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. institution, in a country with 12 years of pre-university formal education, or
    • With program-level approval, a 3-year baccalaureate that does not meet the above conditions but would qualify a student for admission to academic graduate programs in the country in which it was earned.
  • A master’s degree, an educational specialist degree, a graduate doctoral degree (practice or research), or a professional doctoral degree. 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 a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0-point scale) calculated from the total cumulative credits.
  • An applied baccalaureate degree earned at a Washington community or technical 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 4.0-point scale) calculated from the total cumulative credits; or at least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0-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 Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements.

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 may 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 admission standards must collect, review and provide to the Graduate School evidence that the student meets a minimum of two of the following requirements:

  • Satisfactory scores on the GRE, GMAT, or other approved tests.
  • An analytical essay written by the student demonstrating 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 videoconference.

[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 may 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:

  1. Evidence of significant professional success in a field relevant to the proposed area of study, and
  2. 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 tests.
    • An analytical essay written by the student demonstrating 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.

Programs may not submit petitions for students who were admitted with the expectation of completing a qualifying bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment and who fail to provide evidence of having met that expectation.

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.

3.1.2.3.1 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.

    3.1.2.3.2 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.

    Student and program submissions must 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 may 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 to the University of Washington is made simultaneously to the Graduate School and to the graduate program. Each department or other unit authorized to offer a graduate certificate (open to applicants not currently enrolled in a degree program) or degree program maintains a graduate admissions committee that must include at least three faculty members with graduate faculty status. 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 admission requirements are admitted into programs of study by the graduate admissions committee in the department offering the program.

    Each department is responsible for ensuring that students have met the Graduate School admission requirements prior to offering admission. Each department shall inform the Graduate School regarding students granted admission and students denied admission.

    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 of Washington, to complete the program with a high level of achievement.  To ensure this, programs should, in non-technical language on their admissions page:
      • Describe the expectations of each required component of the application.
      • Describe expectations for how AI can and cannot be used in the preparation of application materials.
    • No admissions practice may discriminate against an individual because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran, including disabled or Vietnam-era veterans.
    • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in application review processes must:
      • Not involve processes or software that violate FERPA, record retentions, or institutional data privacy policies, or that share applicant data with third parties.
      • Not involve subjective judgement, nor subvert human judgement, of student success or potential.
      • Not involve directly ranking, selecting, or eliminating candidates.
      • Be communicated to applicants on the program’s application page.
      • Be reviewed by the admissions committee on an annual basis to assess potential bias, privacy, and intellectual property issues.
      • [See Also: Guidance on the Use of AI for Graduate Admissions Committees]
    • Sustained efforts shall be made to recruit a qualified and geographically, socioeconomically, and experientially broad applicant pool.
    • All applicants to a certificate- or degree-offering unit shall be processed through the same set of procedures to ensure 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 (GRE) 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.
      • 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.
      • Academic accomplishments evaluated in the context of the applicant’s life experiences that may have impacted their educational journey.
      • Activities or accomplishments, educational goals, prior employment experience, special talents, and lived experiences.

    3.1.3.1 Admissions for Currently Enrolled Graduate Students

    To ensure fair and complete evaluation of all applicants, the following section outlines the limited circumstances in which currently enrolled graduate students can be enrolled in additional programs without using the Graduate School’s standard admission process or application portal. For all admissions actions described in this section, programs must ensure that admission criteria and procedures for these actions align with the principles in Section 3.1.3 and are consistently communicated and applied.

    3.1.3.1.1 Program Enrollment that may Occur at Any Time

    Programs may at any time allow graduate students enrolled and registered for credit in a UW graduate degree program to enroll in the following categories of program without applying through the Graduate School’s standard admissions process:

    1. An option within the same degree program (see Policy 1.3).
    2. A graduate certificate that is open only to students currently enrolled in UW graduate degree programs.
    3. (For enrolled doctoral students) An en route or exit master’s degree, either within the same program or identified as such in the master’s program proposal.

    3.1.3.1.2 Program Enrollment Reviewed Alongside External Applicants

    Programs may enroll students based on application materials submitted directly to the program (outside the Graduate School admissions portal) from graduate students currently enrolled and registered for credit in a UW graduate degree program for the following categories of program:

    1. A PhD degree in a program in which the student is currently enrolled as a master’s student.
    2. A graduate certificate that is also open to external applicants.

    Under these conditions:

    • Materials must be submitted by the due date for program applications posted in the Graduate School admissions portal.
    • Submitted materials must be reviewed alongside materials received through the Graduate School admissions portal.
    • The program must submit a list of accepted enrolled students during the same period they submit decisions for applications received through the Graduate School admissions portal.

    Outside the application timeline, programs may petition the Graduate School to enroll students into these categories of program only when:

    1. The student was unable to apply during the program’s application cycle due to circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., timing, personal or professional constraints).
    2. The admissions committee has reviewed materials substantially equivalent to a completed application and has evaluated the student against the most recent applicant pool.

    3.1.4 Enrollment Confirmation on Behalf of a Student

    Programs may petition the Graduate School to confirm enrollment on behalf of a student without paying the enrollment confirmation deposit (ECD). 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 the Enrollment Confirmation Deposit Refund Policy).

    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 an Enrollment Confirmation Petition [in Slate] 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 Application Fee Waivers.

    If a student does not meet the Graduate School’s criteria, the department may submit an Enrollment Confirmation Petition on behalf of the student. The circumstances should be described in as much detail as possible.

    3.1.4.2 Veterans Benefits

    U.S. military veterans, active service members, and their dependents who plan to use VA education benefits should contact the Veterans Education Benefits Office (veteran@uw.edu) for guidance on eligibility and next steps.

    Notes

    Note on GPA requirements in Policy 3.1.1: The prospective student must have at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0-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 4.0-point scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.

    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 nationally accredited 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 may petition the Graduate School for the student to be admitted using Alternate Standards.

    Qualifying Bachelor’s Policy prior to Autumn 2027:

    • 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.

    Policy 3.1 revised: August 2011, March 2019; March 2022; April 2022; October 2024; October 2025; April 2026

    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; April 2025