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Graduate Admissions – PhD Program in Political Science
Contact Susanne Recordon: polsgrad@u.washington.edu
The Political Science Department at the University of Washington seeks graduate students who are both motivated and able to succeed in political science study and research. Students with substantial preparation in political science or another social science are most likely to meet this standard, although the department has admitted applicants from other disciplines who can demonstrate, through relevant interests and experience, the abilities necessary for advanced work in political science. The fit between applicants' interests and the research expertise of our faculty is also an important consideration during the admissions process. Although there are no specific course prerequisites for our graduate program, applicants must have completed at least a bachelor's degree.
The department offers the Ph.D.degree, with all students in the graduate program earning a UW MA as partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree requirements. Consequently, we do not offer a separate terminal master's degree.
Please choose your preferred format: WORD - PDF
The Political Science Department's Admissions Committee is comprised of faculty from several different fields and one graduate student who is elected to the committee by other graduate students in the department.
To determine academic qualifications, fit with our program, and overall competitiveness, the Committee reviews all required materials submitted for the application. When evaluating the required materials (listed below), the Committee looks for specific qualities:
Statement of Purpose: A 300-500 word essay.
- Academic background, including any research experience and methodological skills.
- Plans and goals for study, including intellectual interests and areas of specialization.
- Why you are interested in studying at the University of Washington. How admission to this particular program will help you realize your goals. How the academic interests of our faculty coincide with your own.
Writing Sample: A relatively short paper (not to exceed 20 pages) or excerpts from a larger work (e.g., honors thesis) demonstrating your ability to write critically and analytically. Writing samples that are merely descriptive will not stand out. Note that writing samples must be written in English (do not send manuscripts written in another language with abstracts in English).
Resume: A brief description of your professional experience, including accomplishments and awards.
Letters of Recommendation: The most effective letters of recommendation will come from faculty who can comment in detail on your intellectual ability and potential for success as a graduate student and scholar. We require three letters, and you may if you wish, include a fourth letter for consideration by the committee.
1) On-line option: Use the new on-line option and designate recommenders. Those you designate are notified by the Graduate School application system and they then send their letters directly, and on-line, to the Department of Political Science. This option and full directions are available through the Graduate School on-line application process (https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/).
2) Mail option: If your recommenders wish to send the confidential letters through the mail, they must be signed and placed in sealed envelopes by the recommender. The letter writer should include the Recommendation Information Form with each letter; this form is downloadable at the end of this webpage.
Note – We can not accept emailed recommendations that are not processed through the Graduate School Application site for Political Science. If you are going to have your recommendations mailed to the department, please make every effort to include the sealed envelopes in your package. We realize that in some instances you will need to have your recommender send them directly to us, and we will of course accept them.
Transcripts: GPA and academic preparation are reviewed based on official transcripts. We evaluate course performance within the context of the curriculum, school, and time period in which it was taken. We will take into account improvement over one's academic career and performance in graduate coursework
Test Scores:
GRE: The GRE General Test scores provide the Committee with an additional gauge of competitiveness for the specific
abilities that are measured by the test. While having the highest GRE scores you are capable of achieving is always desirable, submitting other
application materials that are deemed to be of exceptional quality will help counterbalance lower scores.
Note that GRE scores must be sent directly to the university by the Educational Testing Service (ETS)-photocopied score reports are unacceptable. Our Institution code is 4854, and our Department code is 1902. The committee will not review scores that are more than five (5) years old. The Political Science test is not required.
English Proficiency Scores for applicants whose native language is not English - Pleae review the Graduate School’s Information on English language profiency, Memorandum #8
http://www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo08.shtml
Though we require these minimum scores for consideration for admission, most international applicants who are admitted to our graduate program have significantly higher scores.
Note that TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores must be sent directly to the university by the Educational Testing Service (ETS)- or other agencies. Photocopied score reports are unacceptable. For TOEFL, our Institution code is 4854, and our Department code is 89.
Minimum Scores and GPA:
Although most applicants who are admitted to the program have combined verbal and quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) substantially higher than 1100 and a cumulative college grade point average greater than 3.4 (B+), all applicants are examined carefully to identify promising individuals whose scores or grades might not fully represent their potential.
Financial support may be available from the Political Science Department in the form of teaching and research assistantships. There is no funding application. All applicants who are admitted to the Political Science graduate program are considered for financial aid awards.
We also encourage applicants to pursue outside funding. Contact the Financial Aid Office at (206) 543-6101 or online for information about applying for federal financial aid. Note that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be mailed by February 15 and dated as received by the federal processor by February 28. Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) forms are available from the Jackson School of International Studies, either via their website at http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/flas/ or by phone at (206) 543-6001. FLAS applications must be postmarked by January 15 - be sure to include all required materials with the application.
For more information on funding for new students and funding beyond the first year, please see: http://www.polisci.washington.edu/Graduate/Funding/funding.html.
All applicants to the Political Science Department are required to apply to both the Graduate School and to the department. You must separately submit the Graduate School application as well as supporting materials as described below.
If you are interested in applying to the University of Washington, first review the information about the Graduate School and read the information prepared by Graduate Admissions for details about admission requirements, required tests, and how to apply on line. Check out the Graduate School’s “Frequently Asked Questions:” http://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/faq/index.shtml
Applications must be complete and postmarked by December 15th to meet the application deadline for autumn admission (autumn quarter begins in late September). We do not admit new students for any other quarters.
International Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required materials to the Graduate School by November 1, and to the Political Science department by December 1, to avoid processing delays. GRE and TOEFL exams should be scheduled with enough lead time for scores to reach the university by the due dates or very soon after. The Admissions Committee can not review incomplete applications.
We are pleased that you are considering graduate study in the department of Political Science at the University of Washington. To make the application process as easy as possible, prospective students should carefully read all the instructions.
International Applicants - You must apply to both the UW Graduate School and the Department of Political Science
For the Graduate School:
Mail To:
Office of Graduate Admissions
301 Loew Hall
P.O. Box 84808
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98124-6108
International Applicants are required to meet specific admissions requirements. Be sure to read the information about the TOEFL exam and conditions for exemption. Because all instruction and assignments conducted by the Political Science Department are in English, fluency in both spoken and written English is essential for success at the graduate level.
- Apply on-line to the UW Graduate School
Suggested deadline November 1. https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/ is available as a web-based electronic application.. The electronic application allows you to save your data, and later, complete the application at your convenience. You may later log-on to check your status or update your address or email.
- Review the Required Application Materials for International Applicants on the Graduate School web page. These include:
- Signed printed copy of the on-line application
- Official transcripts from each post secondary institution that you have attended. Follow the graduate school's guidelines for international transcripts (website above). Transcripts from U.S. and Canada should be sent in sealed envelopes bearing the Registrar's signature across the envelope flap. (You will need two official transcripts from each post-secondary institution because the Political Science department requires one set – sent separately - and the Graduate School requires one set).
- TOEFL score report (or other accepted tests) from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), using the institution code #4854. The Political Science Department code is 89.Complete the exam in time for the scores to reach the university by our deadline of December 15th or very soon after.
Note: International applicants, U.S. permanent residents, and immigrants to the U.S., whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution, must submit a satisfactory score on the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Scores must not be more than two years old.
For appointment to teaching assistant (TA) positions, in addition to the minimum scores listed above, international students must meet additional spoken English proficiency requirements. Please review the Graduate School’s Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English, Memorandum # 15 http://www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo15.shtml.
- Statement of Financial Ability form. After you have applied on-line, you will be able to access the form on-line. This must be completed and returned EVEN IF YOU ARE REQUESTING FINANCIAL AID. The Graduate school cannot accept our recommendation for your admission if you have not submitted this form to the Graduate school.
Note: If we recommend your admission, Graduate Admissions must have the form before it will issue the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP-66). Send these materials to Graduate Admissions. The November 1 deadline is strongly encouraged due to processing delays, but you must apply by the December 15, (postmarked) Political Science Department deadline.
For the UW Department Of Political Science:
- Assemble these required materials:
- Send the Political Science Department Application and materials, postmarked by December 15, to:
- Department of Political Science, Graduate Program Office
- Box 353530
- University of Washington
- Seattle, WA 98195-3530
Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Admission decisions are made between January and March. You will be notified when a decision has been reached on your application. If you have questions please contact Susanne Recordon, the Graduate Program Assistant, at polsgrad@u.washington.edu or (206) 543-1898.
United States Citizen, Permanent Resident and Immigrant Applicants –You must apply to both the UW Graduate School and the Department of Political Science.
For the Graduate School:
- Apply on-line to the UW Graduate School. https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/ The electronic application allows you to save your data, and later complete the application at your convenience. You may later log-on to check your status or update your address or email.
- For admission you will not need to send transcripts to the graduate school unless you attended a university outside the U.S. If you are offered admission, and choose to enroll, you will then be asked to provide official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Send Any Required Materials to:
- Office of Graduate Admissions
- 301 Loew Hall
- P.O. Box 84808
- University of Washington
- Seattle, Washington 98124-6108
For the UW Department Of Political Science:
- Complete and sign the application and assemble these required materials:
- Send the Political Science Department Application and materials, postmarked by December 15, to:
- Department of Political Science, Graduate Program Office
- Box 353530
- University of Washington
- Seattle, WA 98195-3530
Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Admission decisions are made between January and March. You will be notified by email when a decision has been reached on your application. If you have questions please contact Susanne Recordon, the Graduate Program Assistant, at polsgrad@u.washington.edu or  (206) 543-1898.
The populations of Seattle in particular, and the State of Washington in general, are growing both in number and in ethnic diversity. The University of Washington is committed to serving these communities by increasing the enrollment of students from ethnic minority groups that have been historically underrepresented in graduate programs. In support of this goal, the Political Science Department strongly believes that a diverse graduate student community strengthens our program, benefiting both faculty and students in myriad ways and allowing for the articulation and exploration of multiple and often marginalized perspectives on local, national, and global politics.
Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP), a division of The University of Washington Graduate School, is committed to serving the needs of students of color and those from other underrepresented groups, while simultaneously providing opportunities for all students to learn and develop through experiences rich in cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. Please visit their website:
http://www.grad.washington.edu/gomap/.
For the 2007-2008 admissions cycle, we received 250 applications and admitted 40 applicants. The target class was to be approximately 14 students. In autumn 2008 we enrolled 15 new students.
Summary statistics for autumn 2008 admission are as follows:
| |
Admitted Applicants |
Entering Class |
| Average Age: |
n/a |
25 |
| Average Undergraduate GPA: |
3.5 |
3.8 |
| Average Masters GPA: |
3.9 |
3.8 |
| Average GRE score: |
1337 |
1348 |
| Average GRE verbal score: |
634 |
636 |
| Average GRE quantitative score: |
703 |
712 |
| Average TOEFL score: |
280 |
285 |
| # Male |
20 |
6 |
| # Female |
20 |
9 |
| # International |
9 |
5 |
The Admissions Committee admits the applicants who it believes, on balance, reflect the best or strongest credentials across these criteria. No formulas are applied, although the likelihood of being admitted is low if your GRE total (combined verbal and quantitative scores) is less than 1100 or your grade point average is less than 3.4.
This tuition information is proposed for the 2009-2010 academic year (autumn, winter, and spring quarters). It is subject to change without notice and should only be used as a guideline.
Annual graduate tuition and student activity fees, full-time, for Washington State Residents- $10,604
Annual graduate tuition and student activity fees, full-time, for Non-Residents - $23,520.
UW Graduate School estimate of total expenses for graduate students for 12 month period is UW $56,151 If not attending summer quarter, the cost is $42,408.
The following expenses are subject to change without notice and the student should be prepared for any adjustments:
| EXPENSES |
CALENDER YEAR (9 MONTHS) |
| Non-Resident Tuition and other fees |
$23,520.00 |
| Health Insurance (required) |
$1,419.00 |
| Room and board |
$12,474.00 |
| Books and supplies |
$1,206.00 |
| Local transportation |
$1,524.00 |
| Personal expenses |
$2,265.00 |
| Total (U.S. $) |
$42,408.00 |
Introductory Letter to Prospective Students (Chair's Letter)
WORD - PDF
Admissions Decision Process
WORD -PDF
International Application Instructions
WORD - PDF
Domestic Application Instructions
WORD - PDF
Departmental Recommendation Letter Form
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