Prepare & Apply
Application Process
To be considered for admission, you will need to apply via the UW Grad School Admissions website. Autumn quarter is typically the only quarter for which we accept applications for admission. The online application will open on September 1.
Application Deadline: November 15, for both international and domestic applicants. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
All prospective applicants are advised to contact SAFS faculty to secure a faculty sponsor before submitting an application. A faculty sponsor is a member of the SAFS graduate faculty who is interested in considering an applicant for admission to their laboratory as a graduate student. Applicants without a faculty sponsor are unlikely to be admitted to the SAFS graduate program. Review individual faculty members’ websites for guidance on what materials to include in your initial email inquiring about sponsorship. If you do not hear back from prospective faculty sponsors within a couple of weeks, it may indicate that those faculty members are unable to sponsor your application and thus you may be unlikely to be offered admission.
Required Application Materials
Review the list below for materials that will be required as part of the online graduate application. All materials should be submitted via the application – DO NOT email any materials to the department.
Open the Graduate School application form
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REQUIRED
- Letters of recommendation (electronic ONLY, no paper) – minimum 2; maximum 4
- Tips on Getting Great Letters of Recommendation, by Dr. Chelsea Wood, UW SAFS
- Unofficial transcript(s)
- Faculty Interest
- Which member(s) of the SAFS faculty are you interested in as a faculty adviser? Browse SAFS Graduate Faculty
- Research Statement (1000 word limit)
- Tell us about the research you would hope to pursue if you were admitted to SAFS. Address the following topics in whatever order you wish:
- What research would you like to conduct during your program at SAFS, if you were to be admitted? If possible, suggest some specific projects that you would like to pursue. (These proposals are not binding – they are not considered a commitment to a specific research program. We just want to get a sense of what research questions you are interested in and how you would address those questions.)
- How has your past research, field/lab experience, or academic preparation prepared you to succeed at SAFS and in your chosen field?
- In addition, we recommend you use this opportunity to identify potential faculty advisors and explain why you are interested in working with these individuals specifically.
- Tell us about the research you would hope to pursue if you were admitted to SAFS. Address the following topics in whatever order you wish:
- Personal Statement (500 word limit)
- Tell us your rationale for applying to the SAFS graduate program. Address the following topics in whatever order you wish::
- What are your long-term career goals?
- Why do you need a graduate degree to pursue these goals?
- Why have you chosen to apply to SAFS?
- What unique academic and/or life skills have you developed that will help you succeed as a SAFS graduate student and make contributions to your field?
- Tell us your rationale for applying to the SAFS graduate program. Address the following topics in whatever order you wish::
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Your CV should include the following:
- education
- research experience
- other relevant professional experience
- publications
- presentations
- awards and grants
- notable skills (computer/software, specialized instruments, etc.)
- Template on Google Drive.
- Example on Google Drive.
- Your CV should include the following:
- Letters of recommendation (electronic ONLY, no paper) – minimum 2; maximum 4
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OPTIONAL
- Extenuating Circumstances Statement (500 word limit)
- Use this section to provide additional relevant information that you would like us to consider as part of your application. This information could include extenuating circumstances that explain or contextualize portions of your application (e.g., major illnesses, family responsibilities). Please review all sections of the application to be sure that the information you wish to provide in this section has not already been requested or provided elsewhere.This section is completely optional. Applicants will not be penalized for choosing not to submit an Extenuating Circumstances Statement.
- Extenuating Circumstances Statement (500 word limit)
DO NOT submit any additional writing samples or publications – we do not accept them as part of the application process. Applicants are welcome to reach out to potential advisers with questions about writing samples.
Please note the GRE is not required for application to our program.
Application Decisions
We begin mailing admission offers in March, and all applicants will receive communication about an admission decision before April 15th.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Browse answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Prospective Applicant Tips
- Watch this Prospective Grad Student Information video (transcript)
- Review more tips on applying to grad school.
- Review faculty profiles and reach out to them about working in their lab.
- Watch this short video on tips for Contacting Faculty
- Take a look at our current graduate students to see what life is like in our graduate program.
- Reach out to the Graduate Program Adviser, at safsadv(a)uw.edu.
Graduate Non-Matriculated Status Application
If you want to take graduate-level coursework through SAFS but have not been admitted into the SAFS graduate program, SAFS may grant Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) status to students who meet the minimum criteria outlined below, on a space-available basis. Applications for GNM status are accepted for Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters. GNM application deadlines are listed on the UW Graduate School website. The Chair of the Recruitment, Admissions, and Scholarship Committee (RASC) makes the final determination in granting GNM status for SAFS. Please note that GNM status in no way implies or guarantees subsequent admission to a graduate degree program at SAFS. A separate application process is required for the SAFS Master’s and Doctoral programs.
Please visit the GNM criteria and registration website for more information.