Capacity-constrained admissions
The capacity-constrained application is one way for students to apply to engineering majors at the University of Washington.
Who can apply with the capacity-constrained application?
- Transfer students
- Current UW non-engineering students
- Engineering Undeclared (ENGRUD) students with significant college credits
- High school seniors with significant college credits
- Postbaccalaureate students
What are the application requirements?
The capacity-constrained application requires students to have significant and relevant college-level credits. As a general guideline, the minimum number to qualify for any major is 45 credits, but these credits must meet all of the application and enrollment requirements for the relevant major.
Explore application and enrollment requirements
Still exploring admission pathways?
If you’re not sure which application type is a fit for you, check out “What’s my application type?” for more guidance.
What's my application type?
Applying as a first-year student
High school seniors who do not meet the capacity-constrained admission requirements should apply to the UW through the first-year application; the vast majority of students in the College of Engineering are admitted this way.
High school students who do qualify should apply through the first-year application in addition to the capacity-constrained application, to give themselves the best odds of admission. A student who has applied through both applications may be accepted through one process even if they are not admitted through the other.
Steps to use the capacity-constrained application
Joining UW Engineering through the capacity-constrained application requires a lot of preparation. The application and enrollment requirements are significant, and admission is not guaranteed. That said, UW Engineering admits students through this pathway, and some majors have more capacity for new students than others. It's important to note that capacity can vary from year to year.
Application deadlines by major
| Major | Start quarter | Application open | Application deadline |
| Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Environmental Engineering Human Centered Design & Engineering Industrial Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Mechanical Engineering | Autumn | Late March | April 5 |
| Bioengineering Chemical Engineering | Spring | Early January | January 15 |
Application timelines and more resources by applicant type
Autumn major timeline
- Apply to major before April 5
- Receive major admissions decisions by early May
Spring major timeline
- Apply to major before January 15
- Receive major admissions decisions by late February
For more help
We encourage you to work closely with your assigned advisers to ensure you are planning effectively.
Autumn major timeline
- Apply to UW by February 15
- Apply to major before April 5
- Receive major admissions decisions by early May
- Receive UW admissions decisions by late June
Spring major timeline
- Apply to UW by December 15
- Apply to major before January 15
- Receive major and UW admissions decisions by late February
For more help
For students transferring from an outside institution, we strongly recommend attending a Transfer Thursday. You can also contact a departmental advisor for support.
A note for high school students with significant college credits: This timeline means that you will need to apply for your major before you arrive on campus for your first year.
Autumn major timeline
- Apply to UW by November 15
- Receive UW admissions decision in mid-March
- Apply to major before April 5
- Receive major admissions decisions by early May
- Commit to attend by May 1
Spring major timeline
- High school students cannot be admitted to a spring major before their first year
For more help
Your community college adviser should be able to help you navigate the process of cross-checking your college credits with the application and enrollment requirements.
International transfer students are only admitted for autumn quarter unless you are already in the U.S. and meet department admission requirements for bioengineering or chemical engineering, in which case you are welcome to apply for admission in the spring.
Autumn major timeline
- Apply to UW by February 15
- Apply to major before April 5
- Receive major admissions decisions by early May
- Receive UW admissions decisions by late June
Spring major timeline
- Apply to UW by December 15
- Apply to major before January 15
- Receive major and UW admissions decisions by late February
Your existing engineering adviser (can be located in MyENGRUD) should be able to help you cross-check your college credits with requirements, figure out the application timeline and answer questions about the application process. If you are not admitted through capacity-constrained admissions, you can still go through the normal placement process at the end of your first year.
Autumn major timeline
- Apply to major before April 5
- Receive major admissions decisions by early May
Spring major timeline
- Apply to major before January 15
- Receive major admissions decisions by late February
For more help
Your existing engineering adviser (can be located in MyENGRUD) should be able to help you cross-check your college credits with requirements, figure out the application timeline and answer questions about the application process.
Admissions data
Although admission rates can vary year-to-year, historical admissions data can provide insight into admitted students' academic backgrounds and the demand for majors across our departments.
WA community & technical college transfer student admissions data Current UW non-engineering student admissions data