Thank you for your interest in our undergraduate program! The process for applying to the B.S. in Bioengineering program depends on a student’s current class standing. If you are unclear about your class standing, contact us. Choose an option below to learn more about the placement or application process.
Placement and Admission pathways
If you were admitted to the UW as a freshman and selected engineering-undeclared or an engineering major (other than computer engineering) as your first-choice major on your application, you will automatically be considered for Direct to College (DTC) admission. If admitted DTC, you will enter the UW as an Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) student and will have the opportunity to explore many engineering disciplines before requesting placement in an engineering major after your freshman year. Admission to DTC is only available in autumn quarter.
For more information on the application process and deadlines, visit the College of Engineering’s Freshman admission website.
Students admitted to UW as direct to college as Engineering Undeclared
As an Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) student, you’ll engage in a robust educational experience with opportunities to explore the connections between engineering disciplines. ENGRUD students can learn more about the College of Engineering placement process here.
ENGRUD students will be requesting placement at the end of your freshman year and be major-ready for the bioengineering program the following spring.
Prerequisite courses to be Major-Ready
Students are encouraged to follow the department’s recommended plan of study to be major-ready. The BioE core classes begin in the spring quarter each year.
| Prerequisite course | Number of credits |
| MATH 124, 125, and 126 (or Honors equivalent) | 15 credits |
| CHEM 142, 152, 162 (or Honors/Accelerated equivalent) | 15 credits |
| PHYS 121, 122 (PHYS 122 may be in progress at the time of application) | 10 credits |
| BIOL 180, 200 (BIOL 180 may be in progress at the time of application; BIOL 200 may be taken concurrent to BioE core) | 10 credits |
| CHEM 223 or 237 | 4 or 5 credits |
| AMATH 301 or CSE 142 + BIOEN 217 or CSE 160 + BIOEN 217 | 4 or 5 credits |
| English composition | 5 credits |
| BIOEN 215 (recommended) | 3 credits |
Current UW students in majors other than Engineering Undeclared
This is the only admission point to the bioengineering program for current UW students admitted to a major other than through the Direct to College pathway. Applicants have completed at least four quarters of equivalent college-level coursework and are on track to begin the department curriculum in the spring quarter of their sophomore year. The application deadline is January 15.
Departmental application
The departmental application will open two weeks before the application deadline. Even when the application is not open, you can prepare to apply by reading the list of requirements and see the personal statement prompts.
UW Bioengineering uses a holistic process to review applicants. Factors included in the admissions decision include grades, especially in prerequisite courses, the personal statement, and considerations such as difficulty of completed courses, frequency of incomplete or withdrawal grades, number of repeated courses, applicable work or research experience, an understanding of the field of bioengineering and special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.
Prerequisite courses
Students must have completed at least 55 academic credits at the time of application, including the following courses or equivalents. Students are encouraged to follow the department’s recommended plan of study to stay on track for admission, and to meet with an academic counselor to discuss their plans. Students must have a minimum 2.0 in each prerequisite course and a minimum 2.50 GPA.
| Prerequisite course | Number of credits |
|---|---|
| MATH 124, 125, and 126 (or Honors equivalent) | 15 credits |
| CHEM 142, 152, 162 (or Honors/Accelerated equivalent) | 15 credits |
| PHYS 121, 122 (PHYS 122 may be in progress at the time of application) | 10 credits |
| BIOL 180, 200 (BIOL 180 may be in progress at the time of application; BIOL 200 may be taken concurrent to BioE core) | 10 credits |
| CHEM 223 or 237 | 4 or 5 credits |
| AMATH 301 or CSE 142 + BIOEN 217 or CSE 160 + BIOEN 217 | 4 or 5 credits |
| English composition | 5 credits |
| BIOEN 215 (recommended) | 3 credits |
If you started your engineering studies at another college or university and are looking to transfer to UW engineering, you must have completed at least 55 academic credits at the time of application, including the required courses or equivalents listed in the table below.
You must complete the enrollment requirements by the start of spring quarter, in order to be ready for bioengineering core classes.
Application steps and deadlines
Transferring to the UW involves two separate admissions processes. Students must complete one application to the UW and one application to the Department of Bioengineering.
UW Transfer Admission details and deadlines are available online. Prospective transfer students should attend a UW Transfer Thursday session prior to applying to the UW.
Transfer students must submit an application to UW by December 15 for spring admission and submit a Bioengineering departmental application by January 15. These admitted students would join UW and Bioengineering in the spring quarter. Alternately, transfer students can apply to the UW for autumn admission by February 15 and then as an current UW student, submit an application to Bioengineering by January 15 of the following year. These students would attend UW courses in the autumn and winter quarters before joining Bioengineering in the spring.
To prepare for enrollment, we strongly encourage transfer students to contact us. The Bioengineering departmental application is due January 15. The department curriculum begins in spring quarter each year.
Departmental application
The departmental application will open two weeks before the application deadline. Even when the application is not open, you can read the list of requirements and see the personal statement prompts by visiting the online application website in order to prepare.
UW Bioengineering uses a holistic process to review applicants. Factors included in the admissions decision include grades, especially in prerequisite courses, the personal statement, and considerations such as difficulty of completed courses, frequency of incomplete or withdrawal grades, number of repeated courses, applicable work or research experience, an understanding of the field of bioengineering and special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.
Prerequisite courses
Students must have completed at least 55 academic credits at the time of application, including the following courses or equivalents. Students are encouraged to follow the department’s recommended plan of study to stay on track for admission, and to meet with an academic counselor to discuss their plans. Students must have a minimum 2.0 in each prerequisite course and a minimum 2.50 GPA.
| Prerequisite course | Number of credits |
|---|---|
| MATH 124, 125, and 126 (or Honors equivalent) | 15 credits |
| CHEM 142, 152, 162 (or Honors/Accelerated equivalent) | 15 credits |
| PHYS 121, 122 (PHYS 122 may be in progress at the time of application) | 10 credits |
| BIOL 180, 200 (BIOL 180 may be in progress at the time of application; BIOL 200 may be taken concurrent to BioE core) | 10 credits |
| CHEM 223 or 237 | 4 or 5 credits |
| AMATH 301 or CSE 142 + BIOEN 217 or CSE 160 + BIOEN 217 | 4 or 5 credits |
| English composition | 5 credits |
| BIOEN 215 (preferred, not required) | 3 credits |