University of Washington, Seattle: Admission for International Students

The University of Washington (UW) is a large public research university in Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. For an international applicant, three facts shape the decision. UW gives no scholarships or financial aid to international undergraduates, and the 2026–27 nonresident budget is $67,800 before mandatory health insurance. Applications for autumn 2027 close on November 15, 2026, there are no early rounds, and the SAT and ACT are not required. Finally, the most popular majors, computer science above all, are decided at the point of admission, where nonresident admit rates are far below the university average.

Do not confuse UW with Washington University in St. Louis, a private university in Missouri, or with Washington State University in Pullman. UW itself has three campuses, Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma, each with its own application. This profile covers Seattle.

Is UW a good fit?

UW makes sense for a student who wants a research-heavy environment in fields such as medicine and biology, engineering or computer science and whose family can fund all four years. If you need aid to enrol, add private universities that support international students, for example Northwestern or Johns Hopkins. Among our profiles, the closest public comparison on price is Georgia Tech.

How majors work at UW

Admission to UW and admission to a major are separate decisions. Most students declare a major after they arrive: some majors are open to anyone, some require prerequisite courses at a minimum GPA, and capacity-constrained majors select competitively.

Three routes are decided on the application itself:

• Computer science and computer engineering in the Paul G. Allen School: Direct to Major admission.
• Other engineering majors in the College of Engineering: Direct to College admission.
• Business in the Foster School of Business: Direct to College admission.

To be considered, list the major as your first choice. Your second choice lets UW admit you to the university without that major, but it is not used for direct admission. UW states that the main pathway into the Allen School and the College of Engineering is first-year admission; current students can apply later, but space is extremely limited.

UW does not publish separate rates for international students on this page; the nonresident group also includes Americans from other states. The middle 50% high-school GPA of students admitted for autumn 2025 was 3.75–3.98 on a 4.0 scale, or 95–100 on a 100-point scale. These figures describe last year's pool, not anyone's individual chances.

Application file

You apply through the Common App. The file is shorter than at most selective US universities:

• Common App application and personal essay of up to 650 words on one of seven prompts.
• Self-reported coursework in STARS. You enter every course and grade yourself and submit the record after the application, using the same email address. Changes are not accepted once it is sent.
• Unofficial transcript from grade 9 onwards. Applicants from schools that follow a national curriculum upload a scan with an official English translation. The official final transcript is needed only after admission.
• English test score sent directly by the testing agency.
• $95 application fee. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.

UW does not want recommendation letters, portfolios, résumés or interviews, and it does not consider demonstrated interest. Everything the committee learns about you comes from your essay and activities list.

Applicants must also meet UW's minimum subject requirements, known as CADRs: four years of English, three of mathematics, three of social science, two of a world language, three of science including two of lab science, a math-based quantitative course in the final year, half a year of fine arts and half a year of an academic elective. The committee maps a foreign curriculum onto this grid from your transcript, so the translation should show every subject by year.

SAT and ACT

Most applicants do not need the SAT or ACT, and UW goes further than test-optional universities: scores are not part of the holistic review. Homeschooled applicants and those from schools without letter or numeric grades must still submit one. An international student may use SAT or ACT results only as an alternative proof of English, described below.

English requirements

These are entry thresholds. The averages for admitted international students are TOEFL 107, IELTS 7.6 and Duolingo 139. The test must be taken by December 31 of the application year, so by December 31, 2026 for autumn 2027. UW does not offer conditional admission: without a qualifying score by that date, the application is not reviewed. Scores are valid for two years; TOEFL MyBest scores and superscored English results are not accepted, while the TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator are.

The requirement is waived only for students whose primary and secondary education took place in Australia, English-speaking Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand or the US. Alternatively, UW accepts an average of B or higher in English courses at a school where all grade 10–12 classes are taught in English, combined with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 580 or ACT English of 22. Graduates of ordinary schools in Russia or Kazakhstan usually qualify for neither route. Our Duolingo English Test guide explains one widely available option.

Autumn 2027 timeline

International first-year students cannot start in winter, and no first-year students start in spring. UW has no Early Decision or Early Action: all applications are reviewed together.

A practical plan:

1. By October 2026: take the English test and choose your first and second majors.
2. October–November: write the essay, prepare the translated transcript and apply by November 15.
3. Right after applying: complete STARS.
4. March 2027: receive the decision, confirm enrolment and pay the deposit.
5. Three to five days after the deposit: you are invited to MyISSS to request the I-20; allow up to four weeks for it to be issued.

Cost for 2026–27

UW bills by quarter, and the standard academic year covers autumn, winter and spring. Summer quarter is optional and charged separately.

International students pay nonresident tuition; a Washington resident pays $13,406. The budget excludes the International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP), which is mandatory for F-1 and J-1 students and costs $537 per quarter, about $1,611 for the academic year. Program and course fees, flights and visa costs are also extra. With insurance, plan for roughly $69,400 a year, or more than $277,000 over four years at current rates. Our guide to the cost of studying in the USA shows how to build the full budget.

For the I-20, you document funds for one academic year. For autumn 2026 the required amount was $69,354, still based on 2025–26 rates; the figure for autumn 2027 will appear in MyISSS. Only liquid assets count: property, cars, life insurance policies and pension funds are not accepted.

Financial aid for international students

UW's admissions office is explicit: it does not provide financial aid or scholarships to undergraduate international students, who should be prepared to cover all expenses. The remaining options are outside sponsors, such as foundations, home-country government programmes and employers, plus family funds. On-campus work is allowed on an F-1 visa, but it will not cover the budget.

If you cannot enrol without aid, build your list around universities that fund international students; our overview of financial aid for international students in the USA explains where to look. Families paying from Russia should read our guide to paying for studies abroad from Russia, which covers lawful routes only.

Housing

New students apply for housing after admission and pay a $500 prepayment, which is credited to the autumn bill. Assignments follow priority groups. In the 2026 cycle, new first-year students who applied May 4–13 took part in room selection, those who applied May 14–31 formed the second group, and later applicants were placed by application date and, when demand was high, by commuting distance. Apply in the first days of the window.

The Board of Regents approved these rates on March 12, 2026. The cheapest bed costs about a third of a studio, which makes housing the most flexible line in the budget. For later years, see our guide to student housing in the USA.

F-1 visa and work

After you confirm enrolment, UW opens the MyISSS portal, where you upload your passport and proof of funds; the university then issues the I-20. You pay the SEVIS fee ($350) and the visa application fee ($185) and book an interview. An F-1 visa can be issued up to 365 days before your program start date.

The US Embassy in Moscow does not provide routine visa services. Russian citizens book nonimmigrant visa interviews at the US Embassy in Warsaw or in Astana, and F-1 applicants must set their social media profiles to public. Kazakh citizens apply in Astana or Almaty. The immigrant-visa pause that the State Department imposed from January 21, 2026 on nationals of Russia, Kazakhstan and other listed countries never applied to the F-1, which is a nonimmigrant visa. The consular officer decides on the visa. Our F-1 visa guide walks through the process, and the guide to working while studying and OPT explains the work rules.

Notes for applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan

• Check the name. Searches for "Washington University" mix UW in Seattle, the private Washington University in St. Louis and Washington State University: three different institutions with different deadlines and prices.
• Translate the transcript. Upload the grade 9–11 record in Russian or Kazakh together with an official English translation.
• Book the English test early. Scores from tests taken after December 31 are not considered; if no test-centre dates are left, the Duolingo English Test is taken online.
• Choose the first major carefully. If computer science is the goal, list it first and decide what you would study otherwise, because the second choice does not lead to direct admission.
• Fund all four years. UW will not contribute, and a consular officer may ask how later years will be paid.

Common mistakes

• Expecting an early decision. UW has one deadline and one release window.
• Sitting the English test in January. It will be too late for that application cycle.
• Sending recommendations or a portfolio. UW asks applicants not to.
• Rushing STARS. A submitted record cannot be changed.
• Counting on a UW scholarship. International undergraduates are not eligible.
• Applying for housing in July. Late applications fall into lower priority groups.

UW in the rankings

The ARWU position reflects research output and large research grants. For an undergraduate, the admission route into the chosen major matters more than the overall rank.

FAQ

Where is the University of Washington located?

The main campus is in Seattle, Washington, on the US West Coast. UW also has campuses in Bothell and Tacoma, which take separate applications; this profile describes Seattle.

How much does UW cost for international students?

The 2026–27 nonresident budget is $67,800 for three quarters, including $44,460 in tuition and fees. Mandatory ISHIP insurance adds about $1,611, and flights and visa costs come on top.

Does UW offer scholarships to international students?

No. UW states that it does not provide financial aid or scholarships to international undergraduates, so families need to fund all four years themselves or through an outside sponsor.

Does UW require the SAT?

Not for international graduates of ordinary schools. UW does not require the SAT or ACT and does not use them in holistic review; a score can only serve as an alternative proof of English under UW's conditions.

What English score does UW require?

The minimum is TOEFL iBT 76 (4.0 on the new scale), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 110, taken by December 31 of the application year. Admitted international students average TOEFL 107, IELTS 7.6 and Duolingo 139.

How hard is it to get into computer science at UW?

Very hard: the three-year average direct admission rate to computer science and computer engineering for nonresidents is 2%. The UW admissions office makes that decision, and only applicants who list the major first are considered.

When should I apply for autumn 2027?

Between August 15 and November 15, 2026, through the Common App. UW releases decisions between March 1 and 15, 2027, and has no early rounds.

Sources

• UW Admissions: First-year dates and requirements
• UW Admissions: How to apply (STARS, fee, tests, transcripts)
• UW Admissions: English proficiency
• UW Admissions: First-year by the numbers
• UW Admissions: Admission to majors
• UW Admissions: Cost of attendance 2026–27
• UW New Huskies: International students, I-20 and proof of funding
• UW ISHIP: International Student Health Insurance Plan
• UW Housing & Food Services: 2026–27 rates
• UW Housing & Food Services: Apply for housing, new residents
• U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia: Visas
• U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Kazakhstan: Visas
• ICE: I-901 SEVIS fee
• eCFR, 22 CFR 22.1: Schedule of consular fees
• THE World University Rankings 2027
• ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026

All amounts are in US dollars as published by the university, so no currency conversion is needed; checked on October 1, 2026. More US universities are listed on our study in the USA page. If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.