Apply to UW Bioengineering’s Ph.D. program – GRE Now Optional
Admission to UW Bioengineering’s Ph.D. program is competitive. While we are impressed with the quality of applicants each year and genuinely appreciate each candidate’s interest and application, we regret that only a small number of students will be offered admission each year.
Have a question about applying?
Review the Ph.D. Admissions Frequently Asked Questions.
Deadlines
Application opens October 1st 2024
THE DEADLINE FOR AUTUMN 2025 IS DECEMBER 2nd, 2024 11:59PM PST
Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is complete and received by the deadline in order to be considered for admission. Late applications will not be reviewed, no exceptions.
Before applying
- Review this page carefully to understand the application process: deadlines, policies, documents needed, selection notification and more.
- Visit the UW Graduate School’s website to understand the overall application process.
- Review the Ph.D. application frequently asked questions (FAQ) page
- Review the UW Graduate School Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- If you don’t find your question answered there, please contact an academic counselor via our contact form or emailing bioeng@uw.edu.
Application information
At this time, we only offer Autumn Quarter (September) admission.
| December 2nd 2024 | Application deadline. Late applications are not considered |
| December 2024 – January 2025 | Applications are reviewed by the admissions committee made up of BIOE faculty. |
| January – February 2025 | Top Candidates are invited for virtual interviews |
| Late January-February 2025 | Admissions offers are sent and candidates residing in the US are invited to visit the UW campus, meet our faculty/students and explore Seattle. |
| March 5th-7th 2025 | PhD recruitment Event on UW Campus and Seattle. |
| April 15th 2025 | Applicants must accept or decline offer of admission. |
If you are waiting to hear about the status of your application, please check the email account you submitted with your online application and also log back into your application profile.
You are a domestic applicant if you are a U.S. citizen or hold immigrant status (permanent residency/have a green card).
You are an international applicant if you have/will have a non-immigrant visa status, including F-1, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1, dependent visas.
International students must have a U.S. visa status that allows academic study at the University of Washington.
International applicants are strongly encouraged to review the UW Graduate School FAQ for International Students.
Domestic and international applicants must complete the Graduate School Application and pay a $90 application fee. Applicants may incur additional costs associated with exams, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, etc.
Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed, no exceptions.
GRE Scores – Optional
If choosing to submit, GRE scores must be directly reported from ETS to UW (use institutional code 4854; department code 1603). GRE scores must be valid and five (5) years old or less on the date the application is submitted.
Applicants may submit self-reported GRE scores up until the day of the deadline. Official GRE scores should be submitted and properly uploaded into a candidate’s application by January 1 if they would like to be considered.
Unofficial transcripts
Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended must be uploaded into the Graduate School online application. Paper transcripts will not be accepted. Applicants should not submit official transcripts unless explicitly requested.
Three letters of recommendation
Each applicant must designate three (3) people who will write letters of recommendation. Each writer will immediately receive an e-mail directing him/her to a secure website to submit the letter of recommendation online and complete an evaluation form of the applicant.
Typically, mentors who have seen you in a lab environment, as a researcher, and can speak to your research experience, content and progress will provide your strongest recommendations. We ask recommenders to talk about your research experience, strengths, and your ability to overcome obstacles.
The official Ph.D. application deadline is December 1, 2023. All letters must be received by the deadline in order for an application to be considered complete. Applicants should track the status of the letters of recommendation by logging back into the online application.
Statement of Purpose
Please answer each of the following questions separately.
1) What research area would you like to pursue for your graduate studies, and why? What have you done in the past, and how has your past experience shaped these interests and passions? You can read about our research themes here.
2) What do you hope to gain from your graduate studies that will be useful for your long-term career goals? Explain why the Bioengineering Department at the University of Washington will provide a good fit for your research interests and career goals?
3) The graduate student experience and life in general can involve a range of challenges. Describe an example of how you have shown resilience and/or perseverance in the pursuit of your academic goals or in your personal life and how you have grown as a result.
4) If you have a background or experience that might particularly contribute to the enrichment of the program, please describe it. Examples include unique educational or cultural opportunities, social and economic obstacles that you may have had to overcome, or other and interesting or unusual influences on your personal intellectual development.
5) [OPTIONAL] Provide any additional information you would like in support of your application.
List of faculty of interest
Applicants must provide a ranked faculty list, of 3 (minimum) to 5 (maximum) faculty whose research interests them and with whom they would want to complete their graduate work. Only core and adjunct BIOE faculty may be selected as PI/advisor for our graduate students. For a list of faculty and a description of their research, see our faculty directory
Up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae
All international applicants are encouraged to first visit the UW Graduate School to understand the overall application process.
English Language Proficiency
All applicants are required to meet English Language proficiency standards as determined by the UW Graduate School in Policy 3.2. Proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States and where English is the medium of instruction.
- A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom and where English is the medium of instruction. While enrolled at the degree-granting school, the student must be in residence on campus.
- Official documentation from the applicant’s undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree-granting institution (if the institution is in a country other than those listed in #2 above) verifying that all instruction is in English. A minimum of three years of enrollment at the institution is required. Documentation must be presented to the Graduate School; credential service reports are not acceptable. Acceptable documentation must be one of the following:
- Official or attested letter from the undergraduate college, university Registrar, or Controller of Examinations office.
- Official transcripts, attested mark sheets or degree statements, are also accepted if English is stated as the medium of instruction.
- Official English Language Test Score (sent electronically to the University of Washington via testing center).
| These specific English Language Test scores are the only versions accepted for admission to the Graduate School. Other tests or versions do not qualify. | TOEFL iBT | TOEFL MyBest | Duolingo | Academic IELTS |
| Recommended Score (ELP Satisfied) – effective starting Winter 2025 admissions |
92 or higher | 92 or higher | 125 or higher | 7.0 or higher |
Please use institutional code 4854; no department code is required. Official test scores must be received by 11:59PM (PST) on the day of the program deadline.
Applicants should plan to take these tests well in advance of the application deadline to ensure that the official scores are uploaded by the admission deadlines.
To avoid additional and/or unexpected delays, a candidate’s name should appear with ETS and with the Bioengineering application exactly as it appears on the candidate’s passport.
Additional application materials (official transcripts, financial ability, copy of visa, etc)
The Graduate School only requires additional application materials from international applicants when they are recommended for admission. Applicants should not submit additional application materials unless explicitly instructed to do so by the Graduate School.