Application Opening and Closing Dates for Autumn 2027

Applications to the MA/PhD and PhD open on 1 September 2026. The closing date is December 1, 2026.

Graduate applicant eligibility
  • Minimum 3.0 or B grade point average over the two most recent years of study (90 quarter or 60 semester credits) guarantees consideration. However, average GPAs for the students we have admitted have been higher. See recent applicant statistics below on this page.
  • Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a master’s degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for those applying to the Ph.D. program to be working on their thesis in the year during which they apply.
  • M.A./Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a U.S. equivalent bachelor’s degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for applicants to be in their senior year of college when they apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program.
  • Full-time status is required for all funded students, but domestic U.S. residents who do not receive assistantships can enroll half-time (please note this is exceedingly rare).
  • Applicants who are not native speakers of English must provide evidence of English language proficiency (see Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements) and evidence of spoken English proficiency (see Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English).
  • Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Canada, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana,  Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, the United States, or the Virgin Islands, and who meet the on-site residency requirement while in attendance meet both requirements (Note: A master’s degree does not satisfy this requirement).
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD): Applicants who hold a PhD or JD  from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States where English is the medium of instruction and on-site residency requirements have been fulfilled meet the English Language Proficiency requirement).
  • Applicants who do not hold a qualifying degree must have a minimum total score of 4.5 (92 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026) and speaking score of 5 (26 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026) if using the TOEFL, a minimum total score of 7.0 and speaking score of 7.0 if using the IELTS, and a minimum total score of 130 and conversation score of 140 if using Duolingo. If proof is not provided that these minimums are met as of December 1, the applicant will not be considered.
Application contents
  • Graduate School online application. Submit the following materials online:
    • (The Graduate School requires all applicants to use the web application. If you are unable to use the web application, e-mail cmuadv@uw.edu).
  • Application fee: The application fee ($90.00) must be received and recorded by Graduate Admissions prior to the application deadline. You must pay the fee online using a MasterCard or Visa card (both credit and debit cards are accepted) or a TeleCheck (an online “check” taken from your existing checking account). If eligible for and requesting an application fee waiver, please note you must submit your application a minimum of 7 days prior to the application deadline, and earlier is recommended. Details on application fee waivers are available here.
  • Unofficial transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher within the online application. Official transcripts are not required for the admissions application and should not be mailed. An unofficial transcript could be a scan of an opened official transcript, or a printout of your academic history from your university’s web portal. It must include all classes taken, grades received, and degrees granted.
  • Applicants who are not native speakers of English must provide evidence of English language proficiency (see effective Winter 2027 Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements) and evidence of spoken English proficiency (see effective Winter 2027 Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English).
    • Important: It can take up to two weeks after your testing date or report request for UW to receive your scores, so the TOEFL or IELTS should be taken/scores requested no later than November 15 to ensure your scores arrive by the December 1 application completion deadline.
  • Three recommendations: Letters of recommendation from professors are strongly preferred, but if you have been out of school for many years or have another reason for using non-academic references, other professional recommendations are acceptable. These recommendations are completed online and should not be mailed. The online recommendation includes a short questionnaire, ratings assessment, as well as the opportunity to paste or upload a letter. Please designate your recommenders within the online application early to allow enough time for them to submit their online recommendations no later than December 1.
  • Statement of Purpose: Please provide a letter of intent (2-3 pages, double spaced) detailing your educational and career goals. Do not send a generic letter that does not pertain to the scholarly opportunities offered by the University of Washington’s Department of Communication. Your letter should:
    • Describe why you have chosen to apply to an MA/PhD program in Communication, and why specifically at the University of Washington. If there are additional UW departments in which you would like to take courses, feel free to mention them.
    • Describe the Communication phenomenon you wish to study. Be sure to discuss the main ideas, concepts, or theories that interest you.
    • Explain how the expertise of the 2-3 particular Graduate Faculty whom you selected on the Application Questions page could support scholarly interests you would like to pursue.
  • Writing Sample or Essay: Please provide an academic writing sample (e.g. a paper or an essay, approximately 10- 30 pages). For applicants at the master’s degree level, this is typically a paper you wrote for a college or university class, but it can also be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, or a seminar paper.  The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae: If you don’t have a vitae, don’t worry. A resume will do. If you do have a vitae, use it instead.
  • Overview questions: You will be asked about your career goals and research experiences, given the opportunity to explain any transcript anomalies, and asked to specify 2-3 Graduate Faculty by whom you would like to be mentored.
  • Supplemental essay (optional): In one or two pages, double spaced, please describe how your experiences and/or academic interests could contribute to a community of Communication scholars. For example, you might describe interactions you have had with people of backgrounds different from your own, or you might write about intellectual exchanges you have had with persons holding different viewpoints.
Information for international applicants

An international applicant is defined as anyone who is not a United States citizen or a Permanent Resident (green card holder). Please read the following information for international applicants here: Graduate School international applicant information. Undocumented applicants should follow the instructions here for completing the online application.

  • Applicants who are not native speakers of English must provide evidence of English language proficiency (see Effective Winter 2027 Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements) and evidence of spoken English proficiency (see Effective Winter 2027 Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English).
    • Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Canada, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana,  Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, the United States, or the Virgin Islands, and who meet the on-site residency requirement while in attendance meet both requirements (Note: A master’s degree does not satisfy this requirement).
    • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD): Applicants who hold a PhD or JD  from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States where English is the medium of instruction and on-site residency requirements have been fulfilled meet the English Language Proficiency requirement).
    • Applicants who do not hold a qualifying degree must have a minimum total score of 4.5 (92 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026) and speaking score of 5 (26 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026) if using the TOEFL, a minimum total score of 7.0 and speaking score of 7.0 if using the IELTS, and a minimum total score of 130 and conversation score of 140 if using Duolingo. If proof is not provided that these minimums are met as of December 1, the applicant will not be considered.
  • Newly admitted international students will be required to demonstrate adequate financial support. More information will be sent to applicants who receive an offer of admission. Financial documentation is not necessary at this stage of the application process.
  • Full-time course status (10 credits minimum per quarter except summer quarter) is mandatory for all international students.