QUESTIONS
- The education system in the U.S. is different than in my country. Can you explain undergraduate studies? Am I a freshman, transfer, or postbaccalaureate student?
- I currently attend a college or university in the U.S., so am I an international student or a transfer student? Which application deadline do I follow?
- What does it take to gain admission to the UW?
- When does the UW accept new students?
- What are the application deadlines?
- How do I apply to the University of Washington?
- How do I apply for admission to a specific department, for example, Business or Engineering?
- How can I check the status of my application or know what documents you have received?
- How and when will I be notified of the admission decision?
- Can I defer (postpone) my offer of admission?
- Why was I offered admission to the College of Arts and Sciences as a pre-major instead of the major/department that I requested on the application?
- Do I have to attend the Welcome Week for international students AND an Advising & Orientation Session?
- When will I receive my Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) for studies at the UW?
1. The education system in the U.S. is different than in my country. Can you explain undergraduate studies? Am I a freshman, transfer, or postbaccalaureate student?
Study at the undergraduate level in the U.S. leads to the first university degree, the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science. The bachelor’s degree is generally four years of study, which includes general studies as well as specific studies in your academic area of interest. Students seeking undergraduate studies have either completed secondary school or are planning to transfer from another institution but have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree. A four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from other countries is required for further study at the graduate level.
- An international freshman is someone who has completed or will complete secondary school, but has not yet attended any college or university. If a student is taking college-level courses while attending high school, that student would still be considered an international freshman for admission to the University.
- An international transfer student is someone who is attending or has attended any post-secondary institution but who has not yet completed a four-year bachelor’s degree. If you are planning to enroll at any college or university before attending the UW, even if it is for one term only, you will be considered an international transfer applicant.
- International Postbaccalaureates have completed or will complete a four-year bachelor’s degree considered equivalent to a U.S. degree. Students who will have a bachelor’s degree before enrolling at the UW may not be considered a transfer student.
2. I currently attend a college or university in the U.S., so am I an international student or a transfer student? Which application deadline do I follow?
If you need a student visa to study in the U.S. or you have another type of non-immigrant visa, you are considered an international transfer student for admission to the University. Even if you are currently attending a U.S. college or university, you are considered an international student if you do not have a permanent immigration status in the U.S. All international students need to submit a complete international student application by the January 15 application deadline.
3. What does it take to gain admission to the UW?
All international students must meet the minimum English proficiency requirement and satisfy the minimum academic distribution requirements.
In selecting students for admission to the University, we consider many factors in a comprehensive review process. Although a student’s overall grades are a very important part of our admission review, we also consider the rigor of a student’s curriculum, the education system a student has been enrolled in, test scores, activities and accomplishments, educational goals, academic preparation, special talents, and a student’s personal background as seen through the personal statement.
Admission will be offered to as many highly qualified students as space allows. It is impossible to say exactly what makes a strong application since it is generally a combination of all the admission factors that we consider. Read more about admission for international students
4. When does the UW accept new students?
We accept new international student applications for either summer or autumn quarters. Due to space limitations, we are unable to consider international students for either winter or spring quarters. This policy includes international students who are currently attending school in the U.S.
5. What are the application deadlines?
The University of Washington accepts new international student applications for either summer or autumn quarters. The application deadline for all international applicants, international freshman, international transfer, and international postbaccalaureates, is January 15. The application deadline is the same for all international students currently attending school in the U.S.
We do not accept international student applications for winter or spring quarters.
6. How do I apply to the University of Washington?
Complete the international student application and submit it by the January 15 application deadline. There are three options for applying to the UW – apply online or download a portable data file (PDF) copy of the application, or request that a paper copy of the application be mailed to you. Although we encourage students to apply online, we will review all applications equally, regardless of which type of application is submitted.
Please apply only one time. Do not submit more than one application. If you apply online, please do not submit a paper copy of your application. Duplicate applications slow down the admissions process and may cause additional delays in the admission review.
7. How do I apply for admission to a specific department, for example, Business or Engineering?
Admission to some UW majors is competitive and requires a separate application for admission to the specific program. Many of our majors, including the competitive majors, also have required courses that must be completed before you can be eligible for department admission. To explore the various majors at the UW and the admission requirements for those majors, go to the University Catalog.
8. How can I check the status of my application or know what documents you have received?
Once your application has been received and processed, we will mail you an acknowledgment letter to verify that your application was received. This letter will include instructions and a password so that you can set up a MyUW account to check your application status online. You will be able to see basic information about your application and review the personal data we have on file for you, including your mailing address. You will also be able to see a list of transcripts and test scores that we have received so far. The online status check does NOT list the documents you are missing nor does it list the Statement of Financial Responsibility that is required for international students.
9. How and when will I be notified of the admission decision?
All applicants will be notified in writing of the final admission decision. Whether you are offered admission or not offered admission, you will receive written notification. Notification will be sent to the applicant’s mailing address via postal mail. International freshman applicants will be notified between February and early April. International transfer and postbaccalaureate applicants will be notified between May and July. Applicants can check their application status online to see whether an admission decision has been made. Once a decision has been made, written notification will be sent to your mailing address. Depending on your mailing address and where you live, it may take 1-3 weeks for the mail to reach you. For security reasons, we are unable to give out admission decisions over the telephone.
More information about the notification process
10. Can I defer (postpone) my offer of admission?
No, you cannot defer your admission to the UW. Due to the highly competitive nature of international admission, we are unable to postpone or defer an offer of admission. Your offer of admission is only valid for the quarter for which you applied.
If you are unable to attend the UW at this time but would like to enroll for a future quarter, you must file a new application with the Office of Admissions by the next available application closing date. Because admission criteria fluctuate each year, an offer of admission does not guarantee readmission for any other term.
11. Why was I offered admission to the College of Arts and Sciences as a pre-major instead of the major/department that I requested on the application?
Most freshmen enter the University as pre-majors, either because they have not decided on a major or because they have not met all of the prerequisites for admission to a specific program. If you requested a major that has prerequisites you have not completed or it requires that you enroll at the University before applying to the major, your classification has been changed to pre-major. All pre-majors are part of the College of Arts & Sciences until you are eligible to formally declare your major. If you have questions about applying to a major, visit Choosing a Major or see an academic adviser in the Gateway Center once school begins.
12. Do I have to attend the Welcome Week for international students AND an Advising & Orientation Session?
Yes. The University’s Board of Regents mandates the international student orientation program. It is expected that all new international students admitted to the UW will attend the orientation program. Students will automatically be charged a nonrefundable fee on your first tuition bill, regardless of actual participation. The international student orientation program will help acquaint you with the University and how the education system works, as well as U.S. customs and lifestyles, visa and immigration matters, the Seattle area, and other UW students.
The Advising & Orientation session is a separate program that is also required for all new UW students in order to complete your enrollment at the University. A & O sessions focus on degree requirements and the registration process at the University, as well as allows you the opportunity to meet with academic advisors, new and current UW students, take placement exams, and attend workshops on housing or other campus resources.
13. When will I receive my Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) for studies at the UW?
Once the Office of Admissions receives your I-20 Request Form and the $250 New Student Enrollment and Orientation Fee has been processed, we will begin the necessary steps to create your immigration documents for study at the UW. We will begin mailing immigration documents to freshman in April and to transfer students in June. Please be sure to give us a valid mailing address on the I-20 Request Form, keeping in mind that the documents may not be mailed until after the academic year has ended and you are no longer in school.
If you are currently attending school in the U.S., please note that we cannot prepare your new I-20 for studies at the UW until after you have completed your studies at your current school. Immigration laws prohibit you from having more than one immigration record while you are in the U.S., so your current school will have to release and transfer your SEVIS immigration record to the UW once you have completed your studies. Once your school has released your SEVIS record to the UW, we will prepare a transfer I-20 so you can continue your studies in the U.S.