International Applicant Additional Requirements

All international applicants must send the following required documents to UW Graduate Admissions - see addresses under "Contact Information".

Transcripts to Graduate Admissions

Official foreign and US transcripts and degree statements from institutions of higher education must be sent to both UW Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Epidemiology.
Transcripts are due at Graduate Admissions by November 1. (See deadlines.)
Transcripts must be signed in ink by the proper school official.
A degree statement must include the exact degree and also the exact date it was awarded.
If a transcript/degree statement is not in English, an English translation is also required.

The translation must be signed in ink by the proper school or consular (or other government) official from the appropriate country.
A notarized copy or your own translation is NOT acceptable.

Transcripts must remain in the original UNOPENED sealed envelopes. If your institution does not provide documents in sealed envelopes, then send the unsealed original copies.
If your university provides only one official transcript and degree statement, you may provide a copy signed in ink by a consular (or other government) official from the appropriate country. A copy notarized by a U.S. notary is NOT acceptable.
If you live in the Seattle area, you may visit Graduate Admissions in 301 Loew Hall to have a staff member copy your documents. Ask the staff member to make two stamped copies of your documents, and to send one set of the copies to the Epidemiology Department.
- The hours are 10am to 12pm and 1 to 4pm M-F. There will be times when teh office is not staffed; you'll just have to return at another time. Parking on campus is very difficult and costs $11. It's best to take a bus.
- Ask the staff member to make two stamped copies of your documents, and to send one set of the copies to the Epidemiology Department, Box 357236.
South Asian applicants: Official mark sheets are required.
Do NOT send high school or secondary school transcripts.
See Contact Information for mailing and express courier addresses.

TOEFL, IELTS or MLT test scores are due by December 15 electronically from ETS, sent to the UW Graduate Admissions Office.
Required for all international applicants, and for all permanent residents without US bachelor’s or higher - unless your degree is from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the UK.
TOEFL Test scores are strongly recommended especially for international students who have GRE scores below the desired target scores, even if they are not required.
Minimum TOEFL Scores: 70 Combined Reading, Writing, Listening (Speaking not included)
Scores > 2 years old (as of the date ETS receives your order) are invalid. If your scores are more than two years old, then you must retake the TOEFL
Register Early—Test centers fill months in advance. Register at www.toefl.org
Order TOEFL scores to be sent directly from ETS to UW Graduate Admissions.
UW Institution Code: 4854. Department code not needed. (If you used one, it does not matter which one.)
IELTS is also available on campus and is acceptable, with a minimum score 7. Registration Information
The Michigan Language Test is acceptable only if taken at the UW, with a minimum score of 90. Register here.
USMLE is not acceptable.
The UW does not allow admission conditional upon achieving the required TOEFL score.

Visa Documents

If you have been or are currently in the US, then you must provide copies of all previously issued I-20, DS-2019, HI-B or other certificates of eligibility and visa stamps.

Signed Application Form

After you complete your online application, print out a paper copy of the application.
You must mail a paper copy of your application form that is SIGNED in ink, to the UW Graduate Admissions Office. Your original signature is required by the US government

Statement of Financial Ability

After applying on line, print out the on-line Financial Ability Form.
Obtain the required documents and signatures to show that you have enough funds to attend UW. The UW will NOT admit you until you show adequate funding.
Required funding amounts are at Graduate School International Applicant Instructions
1. Nine-months’ funding is adequate because few summer classes are offered, and most students do research or the MPH practicum course in the summer.
2. If you have enough personal or family funds, we strongly recommend that you send them in to get an I-20. We recommend that you do not wait for unlikely UW funding.
Send your Financial Ability Form to UW Graduate Admissions before or with your other financial forms.
Do NOT send any financial forms to the Epidemiology Department.
If you do not have enough funding, follow the instructions about how to look for funding at Funding Information on the Epidemiology website.

It is very difficult for international applicants to find funding before arrival in Seattle, especially for those who can not visit UW after the Epidemiology department has made a recommendation for admission to UW Graduate Admissions.

This page was last updated on April 10, 2008