How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in applying to the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington.

ESS graduate faculty review applications and admit students annually, with the expectation that students begin in the autumn quarter. Admission as a graduate student in Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) is competitive. We typically have 200 applicants, and accept an average of 15 students a year. Students with a variety of undergraduate majors are eligible to apply to ESS graduate programs. These include, but are not limited to: biology, earth sciences, planetary sciences, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering.

As a graduate student, you will be taking courses and working on a research project under the guidance of one or more faculty mentors. Your faculty mentors will help you design and execute your project, and provide you with guidance as you navigate graduate school and look for a future career.

The Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington has suspended use of the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) for all applications to our graduate programs as of July 2021. Self-reported GRE scores will not be considered during application review.

Preparing to Apply

Applicants should review our faculty profiles to determine whether their academic background, interests, and objectives fit with one (or more) faculty, and contact them directly to find out more about their research and whether they are accepting graduate students. During the application process, applicants will be asked to identify at least three faculty with whom they would be interested in working with if they are admitted. It is critical to reach out to faculty as part of your application process, and the most successful applications are those where you have engaged and begun to establish a connection with one or more faculty members.

Questions about application status should be directed to the Graduate Academic Adviser.

Faculty Currently Accepting Graduate Students

Application Process

To be considered for admission, you will need to complete the UW Online Application for Graduate Admission (typically available in late Summer) by 12:00 midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on December 1. Students are required to submit unofficial copies of their transcripts before the deadline (Dec. 1) and official transcripts only if accepted.

Specific admissions requirements and deadlines for our graduate programs can be found below.

Start here

ESS Graduate Research Program Application Fee Waiver Process

The UW Graduate School offers application fee waivers to U.S. residents who demonstrate financial need. The process for requesting a fee waiver from the UW Graduate School is available on their application page.

Applicants who do not qualify for a fee waiver through the UW Graduate School may apply directly to ESS. To apply, applicants should fill out the Department of Earth and Space Sciences Application Fee Payment Request by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on November 1.

The ESS Admissions Committee will review the applications and respond to the applicants no later than November 30.

International Students

International applicants are any individual whom currently holds or expects to hold a temporary U.S. visa. International applicants must submit the University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form to show adequate financial support along with other application materials required by the UW graduate school. When an international applicant is admitted to our graduate program, we send the UW Graduate School the details about the financial support offered to the applicant so that the financial support can be considered in determining financial ability. For more information, see Financial Ability for International Applicants on the Graduate Admissions Information web page.

It is recommended that international applicants complete the UW Online Application for Graduate Admission by November 15 to allow additional time for processing. The final deadline is 12:00 midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on December 1.

Required Tests for International Students

Official test scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) must be received no later than January 5. The institution code for the University of Washington is 4854.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Equivalent
Official TOEFL (or an equivalent test) scores are required of international applicants, permanent residents, immigrants and transfer students, who are not citizens of the United States on the date of admission, and whose native language is other than English. For further details, including exemptions and a list of other accepted tests, please read Graduate School Memo #8, “English Language Ability for Admission to the Graduate School.” Score reports over two years old (from the test date) are no longer valid. The department code is 71 (Geology).

International graduate students who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants (TAs) must meet the English language proficiency requirements specified in Graduate School Memorandum #15, “Conditions of Appointment for TA’s who are not U.S. Citizens.”

Review

Every application for ESS graduate study is reviewed holistically by the admissions committee, which is typically composed of 5 – 6 faculty and an experienced member of our staff. The committee strives to recognize a broad set of achievements including academic achievement, potential for success in conducting research, and evidence of motivation, persistence, and leadership. In addition to traditional measures of academic excellence and growth (evidenced by transcript, letters of recommendation, writing quality), we also consider relevant research experience, broader life experience. Prospective students should also recognize that in any given year, a particular faculty member may or not have the funding, space, and opportunities to support a new graduate student. Communicating directly with individual faculty is strongly encouraged.

Application Timeline for research program only:

September 1: Online application system opens
Dec 1: Deadline for application submission
Jan – Feb: Faculty members review and evaluate all applications
Jan – Feb: Admitted applicants are notified and invited to visit Seattle
Feb – April: all applications will receive an answer regarding their application
April 15: applicant deadline to accept or decline an admission offer from ESS