Admissions
Application Deadlines
For admission to the Autumn 2026 cohort.
Applications submitted to the Master of Arts in Policy Studies are considered for admission in Autumn quarters only.
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Priority deadline applicants can expect to receive notification regarding admissions decisions in mid-March. Admitted students are asked to return their acceptance of offers by April 15 (or request an extension).
After our priority deadline, the Master of Arts in Policy Studies accepts and reviews applications on a rolling basis if space remains open. Please get in touch to learn more.
Admissions questions? Contact the School of IAS graduate programs office at iasgrad@uw.edu.
Admission requirements
Your application materials, below, offer multiple opportunities to demonstrate how your academic, professional, community, and lived experience can contribute to the program, and how the program can benefit you, in your academic, professional, community, and personal goals.
Minimum UW Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. (its equivalent from an accredited foreign institution) must be earned by the time of enrollment.
There is not a specific undergraduate degree necessary to be considered for the Policy Studies program, and students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any undergraduate discipline are encouraged to apply. However, previous coursework in Statistics and Micro-Economics is strongly recommended and coursework in Political science, Sociology, Psychology, or Philosophy strengthens a prospective student’s application.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA in the last 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits of graded coursework.
Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement may still apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Graduate School Alternate Standards Policy 3.1.2. Applicants are encouraged to contact the IAS Graduate Office to discuss options for strengthening their application in advance.
- Demonstration of English language proficiency is required of all non-native English speakers.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The ways in which proficiency can be demonstrated are outlined in Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements.
MAPS Program Admissions Criteria
The Policy Studies Admissions Committee evaluates prospective students’ overall likelihood of success in the program, with a focus on each applicant’s:
- Interest and motivation to pursue an issue or issues of public consequence or policy concern
- Analytic skills, both quantitative and qualitative in nature
- Research experience, as demonstrated in academic, professional, civic, or community contexts
- Indicated potential to contribute to a welcoming and inclusive learning community
Application checklist
- UW Graduate School online application
- Application fee
- Unofficial transcripts
- Official English language proficiency test scores
- required for non-native English-speaking applicants only
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Statement on quantitative skills
- Writing sample
- Additional supporting materials – optional
How to Apply
The application to the Master of Arts in Policy Studies is submitted electronically.
Application & Fee
Complete the application to the UW Graduate School. Be sure to select “Policy Studies – (MAPS) – Bothell Campus” as your desired program and indicate the Autumn quarter to which you are applying.
Your application can be saved multiple times while in progress. It will not be reviewed until all items have been received electronically.
The application fee is $90 payable by credit or debit card.
Transcripts
Scanned copies of all college and university transcripts must be uploaded as part of the application. Transcripts must be provided for all post-secondary schools you have attended, even if you did not earn a degree.
You may upload unofficial transcripts to the application site. If you are offered and accept admission to the Policy Studies program, the UW Graduate School will verify the authenticity of the highest or most recent degree(s) earned.
International Applicants: If your degree was earned outside the United States, a transcript evaluation is required. We do not accept untranslated transcripts. For questions on this requirement, please contact iasgrad@uw.edu.
Transfer credits
If you earned graduate credits from another program and are admitted to MAPS, up to 6 graduate credits may transfer from a non-UW accredited degree program. The IAS Graduate Office and the Admissions Committee will make the determination about how many credits, if any, can be applied to the Policy Studies degree.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose should articulate your goals in pursuing a Master of Arts in Policy Studies degree. Please specifically address the following items in your statement:
- Your relevant background and your goals
- Your motivation for pursuing a Master’s in Policy Studies at UW Bothell
- Your career and professional goals after attaining a master’s degree
- Your research interests
- The faculty you might want to work with in the program and why
- How you plan to contribute to and benefit from our academic community
Limit the statement to 2 – 3 pages, double-spaced.
Statement on quantitative skills
Our admissions committee reviews applications for evidence of quantitative skills. Please describe your background in statistical and/or microeconomic thinking by outlining your experience with any of the following:
- Relevant courses you have completed, are currently taking, or plan to take before enrollment
- Professional work involving quantitative analysis
- Research projects utilizing statistical or economic methods
- Other experiences that demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level quantitative coursework
Limit the statement to 1 page, double-spaced.
More info about quantitative skills preparation
Quantitative skills and knowledge in statistics are necessary for success in the Policy Studies program. Your application will be more competitive if you can demonstrate strong foundations in these areas.
Resume or C.V.
Your current resume or curriculum vitae should show relevant academic, professional, civic and community experience.
Common examples of relevant civic and community engagement include:
- Volunteer work and community service
- Board memberships or advisory roles
- Advocacy or grassroots organizing
- Public service initiatives
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants will need two letters of recommendation. All recommendations are submitted electronically as part of the application process. Once a recommender has been designated in the application, recommenders will automatically be sent an email from the UW Graduate School with instructions on how to submit their letter.
At least one recommendation letter must be from a faculty member who can discuss your academic ability. If you are unable to provide academic references, you may submit professional references instead. Common situations include:
- You have been out of school for an extended period
- You completed your degree in another country where contacting former professors is difficult
- Other circumstances that make academic references impractical
If you choose to submit professional references, please briefly explain your reasoning in your statement of purpose.
Writing Sample
Provide a writing sample that demonstrates your academic research ability, critical thinking skills, and writing proficiency. Writing samples can be a paper from an undergraduate course, excerpts from a senior project or thesis, or a professional report. If your writing sample is part of a longer paper, please include a brief preface that describes the excerpt in relation to the larger project. Consider situating your writing sample in your statement of purpose if its topic or methods pertain to your policy studies research interests.
Writing samples should be 10-20 pages in length and double-spaced.
Additional Supporting Materials (optional)
You may submit any additional documentation that demonstrates your qualifications and potential contributions to the program. Examples include:
- Community engagement and service work
- Collaborative projects or team-based initiatives
- Leadership roles and accomplishments
- Professional achievements and recognition
- Other relevant experiences that showcase your skills and impact
This step is not required and choosing not to submit anything does not decrease your admissibility.
The GRE
The GRE is NOT required for admission, but strong scores can strengthen your application. While there is no minimum score required for consideration, scores of 153 Verbal and 144 Quantitative (new scale) are considered competitive.
The GRE institutional code for the UW is 4854, if you wish to send them.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates are based on Washington state resident status.
Graduate students enrolled in the Master’s in Policy Studies can expect to pay approximately $6,773 per quarter (4 quarters in total).
Full-time enrollment in Policy Studies is considered to be 10 credits or more. Part-time students enrolled in a 5-credit course will pay approximately $4,851 per quarter.
While full-time intensive study is normative, students may, after consultation with the directors, opt for a part-time completion plan.
The university does apply some fees for technology, student activities, and similar. You can find detailed rates for graduate tuition and fees on the UW Graduate and Professional Tuition Dashboard.
Application Fee Waivers
You may be eligible for an application fee waiver from the UW Graduate School if:
- You are a TRIO participant in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
- You are a participant in the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellows Program
- You have financial need or hardship
See the UW Graduate School fee waiver policy and application for more information.
School of IAS Fee Waiver
Current students or recent graduates from a major offered through UW Bothell’s School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences may be eligible for an application fee waiver if the following criteria are met:
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in a relevant major
- Completion of BIS 215 Understanding Statistics course (or equivalent) with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Participation in a MAPS information session or consultation with a MAPS program advisor
Send an email to iasgrad@uw.edu to request more information.
Information for International Students
International applicants may be required to submit additional documentation.
International applicants are those who currently hold or expect temporary U.S. Visas, including holders of F1, H1-B, H-4 or any other non-immigrant classifications. U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders or immigrants) are NOT considered international applicants.
International applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, including a statement of financial ability. View more details on additional requirements for International applicants.
Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant or enrolled student whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. To learn about English Language Proficiency requirements, please refer to Policy 3.2 from the Graduate School.