General Linguistics Graduate Applications

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the University of Washington Graduate Application via the World-Wide-Web. Please note you that when you apply on the Web, you will still need to send the items marked with (*) below.

If you must apply to Graduate School and the Department of Linguistics by mail and not by using the Web application, you will need to request a paper application from the department, specifying whether you are an international applicant or a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident, and indicating whether you want to apply to the general linguistics or Romance linguistics track. A separate admissions process is followed for Romance linguistics.

If you decide to apply to Graduate School and the Department of Linguistics, you will need to:

A. SEND TO THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE ADMISSIONS:

Please note: If you have applied online, skip steps 1 and 2 of this section.

1. The Graduate School Application Form (original). The Linguistics Department deadline for Autumn Quarter is January 15 for U. S. citizens, permanent residents and immigrants. The recommended deadline for international applicants is November 1. Note that there is a lag time between when the Graduate School receives material and when it is forwarded to the Department so early January mailing is recommended for U.S residents. Space in Winter or Spring Quarters is usually not available, so it is to your advantage to apply early, and to apply for Fall Quarter. Decisions on admission will generally be made in mid-March to mid-April for Autumn Quarter.

2. Application Fee (see catalog; also noted on application form).

3. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY: One complete set of official transcripts. More information on transcripts may be found on the UW Graduate School's webpage entitled Required Application Materials for International Applicants. Please note that translation and certification of transcripts should be performed by authorized personnel at the institution providing the transcripts.

*4. GRE scores. GRE scores are required of all students. For native speakers a score of 600 is expected on both the verbal and quantitative sections. Scores can be outweighed by other factors, however, especially for non-native speakers.

*5. TOEFL scores. International students must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 580 on the paper-based test or 237 on the computer-based test (TOEFLC) to be admitted to the Graduate School without the necessity of taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Scores between 500 (173 TOEFLC) and 579 (236 TOEFLC) are acceptable, but the student must take ESL courses, often before taking others that may be required for the student's major program of studies. International students who have received a bachelor's degree or better from an institution in the United States or another English-speaking country are not required to take the TOEFL.

Faculty may require remedial courses in English of non-native speakers above and beyond the requirement of the graduate school, especially if granted a teaching assistantship.

More information on language competence requirements can be found by viewing Graduate School Memorandum No. 8, English Language Competence for Admission to the Graduate School.

B. SEND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS:

1. The Graduate School Application Form (copy).

*2. Statement of Purpose. Please write a one or two page statement presenting your objectives as a graduate student as well as any other information you feel would be relevant to your application.

*3. Letters of recommendation. Two or three letters, preferably from people familiar with your academic work and especially with your work in linguistics courses. If you are applying for the Ph.D. program, three letters of recommendation are necessary. There is no recommendation form supplied by the University or department.

*4. Sample of your work. Ph.D. applicants should send a copy of their M. A. thesis and/or papers of high quality. Although this is not required for admission, M.A. applicants are also encouraged to send a sample of their academic work.

*5. One complete set of official transcripts in envelopes sealed by the Registrar of the granting institution. Note that international applicants send an additional set of official transcripts to Graduate Admissions.

Notice of Acceptance

The Office of Graduate Admissions will notify you of the final decision on acceptance into the Graduate School. For Autumn Quarter, most admissions decisions are made in mid-March, but there may be a time lag before the Graduate School processes and mails out the decision. Please do not call the Graduate School. However, you may call the Linguistics Department at (206) 543-2046 or send e-mail.

If you have any further questions or comments please contact us at phoneme@u.washington.edu

Last modified 7/28/04 by Joyce Parvi