How to apply to the graduate program

The Master’s of Science in Computer Science and Systems program admits students for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. All applications are submitted through the Graduate School’s online application system.

Complete applications received by the priority deadline will be assured of a review. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Please take a minute to tell us how you learned about our program.

Questions? Contact us at uwtech@uw.edu after reading the information below.

Application Process

Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen or resident immigrant, please follow the international student process below.

Please complete these steps to ensure proper submission of your application. Allow sufficient time to collect materials. Transcripts and test scores often take several weeks to arrive.

The following materials are submitted online as through the UW Graduate School application system:

1. UW Graduate School Application

   The Application for Admission to the UW Graduate School must be completed online. A credit card is required to pay the $75 application fee.

   Students choosing the Graduate Non-Matriculated option must also complete this application but should take care to mark the “Graduate Non-Matriculated” box. There is no fee for a GNM application and GRE/TOEFL scores are not required. Students planning to study on an F-1 visa should NOT apply for GNM status.

2. Application to the Master of Science in Computer Science and Systems Program

   If you have trouble uploading this page, please email the completed form to uwtech@uw.edu.

3. Personal Statement

   Your personal statement should be 1-2 pages. Here are five steps to follow when writing a personal statement.

4. Resume

   Please include all relevant work and volunteer experience in detail, particularly if you feel you’ve met one or more prerequisite requirements at work.

5. Transcripts
   • Upload one transcript from each post-secondary school you have attended. If you are admitted, you must request an official transcript from your degree granting institution to be sent to the Graduate School in Seattle.

     These transcripts must be sealed in an envelope with the school registrar's signature across the seal. DO NOT OPEN THESE ENVELOPES. Opening the envelopes will cause the transcripts to be considered unofficial, and new copies will be required.

   • If you attended the University of Washington, you do not need to submit an official transcript.

   • If you have taken graduate-level courses, you must upload unofficial transcripts and mail in official copies.

   Mailing address for official transcripts:

   University of Washington
   Graduate Enrollment Management Services
   Box 352191
   Seattle, WA 98195-2191

   Express or courier service (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.):

   University of Washington
   Graduate Enrollment Management Services
   301 Loew Hall
   3920 Stevens Way
   Seattle, WA 98195-2191

6. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)- Sent from ETS to the University of Washington

   Applicants to the MSCSS program must take the GRE general exam. The test must have been taken within the last five years for scores to be considered current. The institution code for the GRE is 4854. Visit the GRE website to learn more about the test and to find a testing center near you.

7. Recommendations

   Three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted online through the UW Graduate School application system. You will provide the recommender's name, e-mail address and phone number and the system will send an e-mail requesting that she or he submit a recommendation online.

   For tips on acquiring excellent letters of recommendation, click here.

International applicants

In addition to the application materials listed above, international applicants must also submit the following:

1. Transcripts

   International students must submit their OFFICIAL transcripts and degree statements from all institutions attended with certified translations in English to the UW Graduate School.

2. English proficiency exam scores

   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 language proficiency in one of the following ways:

   1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution in the United States or from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom.
   2. Documentation verifying that the applicant's undergraduate degree is from an institution (in a country other than those listed above) where all instruction is in English. An official transcript marked "Medium of Instruction: English" meets this requirement.
   3. A minimum English language proficiency test score of: 
      
      

      Minimum TOEFL scores

      Score	Format/Section
      580	TOEFL
      237	TOEFLC
      92	TOEFLiBT
      90	MLT
      7.0	IELTS

   4. Students with scores below the minimum will be required to take English courses on Seattle campus.
   5. For details on score requirements, please refer to Graduate School Memoranda #8
   6. It takes approximately three weeks for official GRE and TOEFL test scores to arrive, so please plan accordingly.When requesting official TOEFL scores from ETS, use institution code 4854 for the University of Washington.
3. Statement of Financial Ability

   International applicants must complete the Statement of Financial Ability form as part of the  UW Graduate School application. Once you have submitted your Graduate School application online, you must log back into the online application to access the form. This is not required for students studying on an H-4 visa.

4. All I-20 Forms

   If you are currently residing in the U.S., provide photocopies of all I-20 Certificate of Eligiblity forms with the F-1 visa stamp, or DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility forms) with the J-1 visa stamp or any current visa status forms issued to you. Please mail copies of these to the Institute of Technology at UW Tacoma.