Transfer Student Admission
Many students begin their engineering studies at a Washington state community college, or another college or university.
The preferred pathway for transfer students to enter the College of Engineering is to complete all engineering program/major prerequisites and apply to the UW and the department in tandem. First you apply to the University through the UW Office of Admissions. Then, before receiving an admission decision, you apply directly to the department. Use this page to plan your transfer.
Topics: Planning Deadlines UW application Department app Scholarships
In-person advising suspended temporarily
In order to proactively preserve the wellness of students and staff, our office has transitioned to online and telephone service only. Drop-ins are available through Zoom during Transfer Thursday hours from 3:00-4:00 p.m. You can also schedule a 1:1 virtual appointment. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
1. Make a transfer plan
Research majors and admission requirements
Find information about the application prerequisites and the additional lower-division coursework required for the engineering programs you are considering. While the application prerequisites are your priority courses to take, it is best to complete as much of the freshman/sophomore curriculum as possible. You can find information on required courses as follows:
- Engineering at a Glance »
Department overviews, including degrees offered, and links to department fact sheets and websites. - Compare majors: Required courses by department »
Comparison of the prerequisite courses for the different engineering majors (and courses required for graduation). - UW Equivalency Guide »
UW's list of equivalent classes at Washington community and technical colleges. - UW Academic Planning Worksheets »
One worksheet for each major you are considering, to track your progress and bring to meetings with UW advisers.
Note: While General Chemistry II will sometimes transfer as Chemistry 1XX, students who complete General Chemistry I & II* with accompanying lab at a Washington State Community College will satisfy the admission and graduation requirements for the CEE, ISE, MSE and ME departments.
*Courses such as Chemical Concepts, Introductory Chemistry and Chemistry Prep classes will not satisfy this requirement.
Know when to apply
Having researched prerequisites and application deadlines, you’re prepared to apply to begin your engineering degree. Engineering departments accept applications and admit students to the majors at different times. Find the quarters when the departments you're interested in are accepting applications in the tables below.
Transfer student application deadlines
Start quarter | Application deadlines | Majors admitting during the quarter |
---|---|---|
Autumn |
|
Aeronautics & Astronautics Bioresource Science & Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Human Centered Design & Engineering Industrial & Systems Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering |
Spring |
|
Bioengineering Bioresource Science & Engineering Chemical Engineering Human Centered Design & Engineering |
International transfer students
International transfer students are only admitted for autumn quarter unless they are already in the U.S. and meet department admission requirements for bioengineering or chemical engineering. Admission to the University for spring quarter will be contingent on direct admission to either the Bioengineering or Chemical Engineering department.
Meet with your current college adviser to plan your coursework
Many of the courses you will need are part of sequences, and since some courses will be offered only certain quarters, it is critical to know the timing of the course offerings at your college.
Connect with UW and Engineering advisers
- Email engradv@uw.edu with general questions.
- Call (206) 543-1770 to ask a question or set up an appointment.
Transfer Thursdays
Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Prospective transfer students can visit the College of Engineering every Thursday to learn more about the transfer process. This drop-in advising hour with the engineering advisers takes place following the UW-wide Transfer Thursday session. Some individual engineering departments also hold Transfer Thursday drop-in hours, which are separate from the engineering drop-in hour (see below).
Departmental Transfer Thursday drop-in sessions
Meet with advisers for specific majors during these Thursday sessions.
Department | Time | Location |
---|---|---|
Aeronautics & Astronautics | Email for appointment | Guggenheim Hall 211 |
Bioengineering | Email for appointment | Foege Building N107 |
Chemical Engineering | Call for appointment | Benson Hall 137 |
Civil Engineering | Call for appointment | More Hall 201 |
Computer Science & Engineering | Call for appointment | CSE Building AC 101 |
Electrical & Computer Engineering | 2 to 4 p.m. | ECE building |
Human Centered Design & Engineering | Call for appointment | Sieg Hall 428 |
Industrial & Systems Engineering | Email for appointment | MEB G7 |
Materials Science & Engineering | Call for appointment | Roberts Hall 302 |
Mechanical Engineering | Schedule an appointment | MEB 143 |
2. Apply to the UW
Be prepared to apply to the UW by the application deadline listed for your intended start quarter. If you miss the UW application deadline, you will not be able to apply to an engineering department. See:
- UW Office of Admissions Transfer Students
- UW application deadlines for transfer students
- Spring Quarter UW applications
3. Apply to one or more departments
You will be applying to departments before you hear back from UW Admissions about your acceptance to the UW.
- Submit an Engineering Department Application form to each engineering department you're applying to. Details are on the online application form.
- Each department has its own criteria for admission, but all are based on GPAs earned in prerequisite courses and application essays. For more information, contact a UW Engineering adviser at (206) 543-1770.
Scholarships
In addition to the UW student scholarships and financial aid, students intending to major in engineering are invited to apply for Engineering Scholarships.
UW Engineering's Direct to College initiative does not affect Transfer students beyond changing application deadlines starting 2019. The Direct to College process is designed to maintain current levels of admissions for transfer students.