Applications & recommendations

Competitiveness varies a lot between individual programs and program types and is difficult to predict. Students can apply to up to 3 programs within a given term and most students will get into one of these programs. Please note that application questions are often similar, if not entirely the same, so students can often make adjustments to essays and can use the same recommender across applications. If you would like an already submitted recommendation survey copied to multiple applications, please contact studyabroad@uw.edu.

Students applying to a Faculty-led Program should apply to more than one program so that they have a back-up plan.

For exchanges, students will fill out one application and within the application will list the top three exchange universities they are interested in attending.

Competitiveness for UW Partner Programs is more nuanced. Please email studyabroad@uw.edu or schedule a Program-Specific Advising appointment.

Yes. However, you must submit a separate application for each program unless the online system provides the option to designate a second or third choice as part of a single application (as is the case for University wide exchanges and some UW Partner Program options). You will be limited to a maximum of three program applications per program type (Faculty-led Program, UW Partner Program and Exchanges) in a single academic term. Additionally, we recommend that students apply to one UW Partner Program at a time. If you are not accepted, you can work with the provider to identify a second option. Please email studyabroad@uw.edu if you are considering applying multiple UW Partner Programs.

Please note that application questions are often similar, if not entirely the same, so students can often make adjustments to essays and can use the same recommender across applications. If you would like an already submitted recommendation survey copied to multiple applications, please contact studyabroad@uw.edu.

If you are not a UW student, you may participate in UW Faculty-led Programs as a non-matriculated student. Priority for admission to Faculty-led Programs is given to matriculating UW students, but you may be admitted if space is available and if you meet the qualifications for the program. You may apply to a Faculty-led program clicking “Apply Now” on a given program’s site. You will then be asked to create a MyGlobal account with the UW Study Abroad website. If you are accepted to the program, you will receive a UW student number, UW NetID, and MyUW personal account. As a non-matriculated student, you are expected to participate in all aspects of the program.  At the end of the program, you will receive numeric grades and can request a UW transcript, regardless of your need for credit.

If you are graduating in the spring and you would like to participate in a study abroad program, it is possible if you have selected a summer or early fall UW faculty-led program. There are two ways to do this:

1. You can work with your academic adviser to determine if it is possible for you to postpone graduation. This extension of your graduation date would be contingent on your acceptance to the program. If you are a financial aid recipient and would need aid to help cover your program fees, you should meet with an adviser at the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine if you have enough funds remaining to pursue this option. 
2. You can apply to the program as a non-matriculated student. If you are accepted to the program, you need to contact UW Study Abroad to let us know that your status will change to non-matriculated. As a non-matriculated student, you are expected to participate in all aspects of the program. At the end of the program, you will receive numeric grades and can request a UW transcript, regardless of your need for credit. If you are a financial aid recipient, be advised that once you graduate from UW, you no longer have access to financial aid and would not be able to use aid to help pay for your program fees. 

It is not possible to participate in any other study abroad program type after graduation through UW. However, there are lots of ways to go abroad again post-graduation. Visit our Returnee resources page for more information.

You can study abroad your final quarter at UW. All of the credits earned on UW Study Abroad-approved programs are considered residence credit and will count towards your graduation requirements. 

However, if you plan to study abroad your final term at UW, make sure you meet with your academic advisor to ensure you will be completing necessary coursework to graduate. You cannot graduate with FSTDY (the study abroad placeholder course) on your transcript. Ensure you understand the credit transfer process and timing as you are preparing to study abroad. 

Important considerations

If you are participating in a Faculty-led Program: generally, you can participate in these programs and still graduate on schedule. However, you need to communicate your graduation plans with the program director to ensure timely grade reporting.

If you are participating in an Exchange or Partner Program: it is not always recommended to study abroad in your final term. You should speak with a study abroad adviser to discuss your plans.

• Transcript timing: some universities may release transcripts a few months after the program ends. If you are in an exchange program, check the transcript release timing with your host institution.
• Graduation delay: if your foreign transcript arrives too late to meet the registrar’s deadline, you might need to delay your graduation by a quarter.
• Graduate school considerations: if you plan to start graduate school immediately after graduating, be aware that your undergraduate degree might not be awarded by your graduate school’s deadline due to the time needed for transcript processing and credit conversion.
• Credit conversion: you cannot graduate with the study abroad placeholder course, FSTDY, on your transcript. Ensure you understand the credit conversion process as you are preparing to study abroad. 

It’s very important to carefully plan and communicate with your advisers and program directors to ensure everything aligns with your graduation timeline.

Visit the Academics & Credits page and the Receiving credits post-program page for more information about how study abroad credits transfer back to UW based on program type. 

No. However, some UW partners charge application fees as part of their process or require a program deposit before confirming acceptance.

Your statement of purpose should be 750 to 1,000 words in length and clearly articulate your qualifications for studying and living abroad, your reasons for choosing a particular program, and the projected benefits for your course of study.

Write a strong personal statement that highlights your reasons for wanting to study abroad, your academic and personal goals, and what you hope to gain from the experience. Explain why you are excited about the opportunity and how it fits into your overall academic and personal journey. Be authentic and sincere in your writing.

• A request to the recommender can be sent within your online study abroad application.
• The request must be sent by the application deadline, but the general recommendation itself does not have a strict deadline.

Application cycles open three to six months prior to the application deadline listed on the program website and close immediately after the application deadline has passed for a given academic term. If there are currently no open application cycles for your program, you are probably applying too early or too late.

To place yourself in the best possible position for consideration and selection to a particular program or exchange, you should meet the published deadline. However, application extensions are granted when enrollment in a particular program or exchange is low. If you wish to apply for a program after the deadline, you should contact the UW study abroad adviser responsible for that program or exchange.

If you are applying to FRILA – Independent Learning Abroad, we typically accept late applications. Please choose the next available term, and we will adjust your term based on your itinerary.

Not necessarily. When considering your GPA, study abroad advisers and program faculty often look at GPA trends in addition to cumulative marks. If you have a couple quarters of sub-par performance that pull you below the required GPA but, otherwise, your academic record demonstrates academic consistency or steady improvement, you may still be considered. The type of coursework completed is also factored in by application reviewers.

The decision date is the earliest date that you may receive an update about your application and participation status. Changes to your status can also be viewed on your study abroad account. If you do not receive a status update by the decision date, it means your application is still being considered.

Once your application status changes to “Accepted”, you will receive an email prompting you to log into MyGlobal. There are three status possibilities: accepted, not accepted, and waitlisted.