1. Access the University of Washington admission application Portal 

• Visit the University of Washington application portal: https://apply.grad.uw.edu/portal/gr_app. 

2. Create an Account or Log In 

• New Users: If you don’t have an account, click on the “Create Account” button. You’ll need to provide your first and last name, date of birth, and email address to create a password. 
• Returning Users: If you already have an account, enter your login credentials (email and password) to access your application. 

3. Start a New Application 

• Once logged in, select the option to start a new application by choosing “University of Washington - Graduate School” and then click “Create Application.” 

4. Complete All Required Sections 

• Profile Information 
• Contact Information 
• Academic History: Input details about your previous schools, including names, locations, and dates attended. Upload your unofficial transcript. 
• English Proficiency Test Results: For applicants whose mode of instruction is not in English, enter your English Proficiency Test results from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exams. 
  • Note: Applicants using TOEFL test scores must submit official scores electronically via ETS, using the University of Washington’s institution code 4854. 

5. Select Your Program  

• Select “Graduate” as your application type, then find the program using the filters to choose the “Global Health - Master of Public Health (MPH)” program. 

6. Enter Your SOPHAS ID 

• Include your 10-digit SOPHAS application number (CAS ID) in the “Application Questions” section. 

7. Review and Edit Your Application 

• Verify and review your application carefully before clicking “Submit Application.” 

8. Submit Your Application 

• When all application sections are complete, pay the $90 application fee and submit your application. Eligible applicants may apply for a fee waiver. Note that applicants who would attend UW on an F or J visa are not eligible for a fee waiver. 

Transcripts

In the "Submit Transcripts" section of the application, upload a transcript for each school listed. Each transcript should be complete, legible and include the following: name of the institution, name of the student, dates of attendance, courses taken, grades/marks/credits earned and be organized by term (quarters, semesters or trimesters). Please observe the following guidelines: 

• All transcripts should be submitted through MyGrad. Please do not mail (or email) transcripts to the program.  

• The following types of documents can be accepted for the MyGrad application: 

  • Unofficial transcript from the school, often a PDF. 

  • Official transcript that the applicant scans and uploads into MyGrad.  

• Degree audits cannot be accepted in place of a transcript as they are not a comprehensive summary of the coursework a student has attempted. 

• Applicants should not submit transcripts that they have typed out themselves. Any documentation that is submitted should originate from the degree-granting institution. 

Applicants admitted to the program who accept the offer of admission will be required to submit official transcripts from all degree granting institutions to the Graduate School. 

Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) cannot accept any transcripts mailed or dropped off by a student. Please schedule an appointment with a GEMS Advisor to discuss next steps if your institution cannot send a transcript directly to GEMS. You are encouraged to visit the Official Transcript Requirements page.

The UW Graduate School application fee is $90. Qualified individuals may request application fee waivers directly from the UW Graduate School following the process on their website.

To request a fee waiver, click your name in the upper right corner of your SOPHAS application and select Fee Waiver Form. Waivers are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and do run out, so we recommend you request one as early in the application process as possible (you may do so any time after you begin your SOPHAS application). If you are approved for a fee waiver, you are required to submit your application within 14 days (including holidays and weekends Please visit the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center to learn more about fees and fee waivers and/or review the School of Public Health’s 2025-26 SOPHAS Fee Waiver Eligibility and Instructions.

TERMS: 

• "N/A" stands for Not Applicable 

SOPHAS 

• Military status: International Students: if this is not relevant to you, and you are/were not a member of the United States Military, please leave blank.   
• Question in Quadrant 1: Financial Assistance - "do you want to be considered for financial assistance?"
  •  This question is not applicable or indicative to what the Global Health MPH program may be able to offer. 
• Question in SOPHAS Quadrant 2: High Schools and Colleges Attended
  • If you cannot find your High School in the drop down, select "manual input" and type in the school information.  
• As you maneuver through, make sure to receive a green check (it will appear on the right hand side after completing each section). This will indicate that everything had successfully been done.
• If you've added your High School but do not receive a green check, return to the information input page for this section, hit save and continue and it should resolve the problem. 
• After Save and Continue, if the pop up "CONTINUE" does not appear, go to the left hand side and manually move to the next section.  
• After standardized test, the page will not automatically move to the next quadrant. Go back to "My Application" and proceed to Supporting Information.  
• Experiences: This section is optional.
  • You may or may not add experiences OR chose to upload a document, 
• Additional experiences: This section is optional.
  • You may or may not complete the form OR chose to upload a document, 
• Documents: In this area, you may upload your CV/Resume 

SOPHAS and UW Graduate School application

1. Why do I need to complete two different applications to apply to the UW SPH? 
   • For applicants applying to start an MPH program in Autumn 2026, an application must be submitted to both SOPHAS and the UW Graduate School. The Schools of Public Health Application System (SOPHAS) is used by most of the top SPH in the nation, which the UW has now joined. Most application materials will be submitted to SOPHAS. As a public university, however, UW must adhere to state law re: student and applicant records, meaning our Graduate School is also required to have an application for every applicant via our MyGrad application system 
2. Why do I have to pay two fees? 
   • SOPHAS and MyGrad both require an application fee; applicants must apply to both for their application to be considered. 
3. Can I apply to more than one MPH program? 
   • Yes. Applicants can apply to as many MPH programs at UW as they wish. Each program will require its own SOPHAS application, MyGrad application, and all applicable and associated fees.
4. What questions can I expect to answer in SOPHAS? 
   • SOPHAS contains four quadrants of questions. The first three quadrants, which include your personal information, academic history, and supporting information, will only be entered once, with the information submitted to every school/program an applicant chooses to apply to. The fourth quadrant is specific to each university. At UW, there will be a series of questions for all UW MPH applicants to answer. In addition, the specific program to which you are applying will have questions for you to answer. 
5. What questions can I expect to answer in the UW Graduate School Application? 
   • Most application materials, information, and questions will be completed in SOPHAS. The University of Washington Graduate School application is comprised only of information the UW is required by state law to collect. 
   • Additionally, non-native English speakers will be asked how they will fulfill the English proficiency requirements and will need to submit documentation to the UW Graduate School Application. Review UW Graduate School Policy 3.2 for additional information. Note: minimum requirements for individual programs may be higher than what is required by the UW Graduate School. 
6. How does the Personal History Statement differ from the Statement of Purpose? 
   • The Personal History Statement focuses on who you are as an individual and how experiences in your life have led you to pursue a Master in Public Health. The Statement of Purpose aims to understand your professional and academic background and why you wish to attend UW. 

The MPH Program 

1. Is there the option to complete the program virtually or in a hybrid model (online and in person)?
   • The MPH program is expected to be taught fully in person. Although some classes in and outside of the Department may have online options, it is not standard. Please anticipate attending an in residency (in person/on campus) day program.