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International programs & student supports

University of Washington

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Website: http://www.washington.edu/  (see info for exchange students)
Instagram: @uofwa

Language of instruction: English
GPA Requirement: minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA (5.0/9.0 GPA at UVic)
Terms: Autumn quarter (September – December) // Winter quarter (January – March) // Spring quarter (March – June)

Study Options:
UW has the quarter system, which has study dates that overlap with the UVic term system in a unique way. This has implications on the number of UVic units students can earn at UW:  

  • One UW quarter = One UVic term (Part-time only -- 4.5 UVic units) 
  • Three UW quarters = Two UVic terms (Part-time of 4.5 UVic units or full-time of 7.5 UVic units available)

Highlights

  • The University of Washington has been recognized as the #1 most innovative public university in the world and is consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world.
  • There is so much to do in Washington State while on your exchange: hiking, attending a sporting event, exploring downtown Seattle, taking a road trip, or visiting a national park!
  • UW has been home to 7 Nobel Prize winners; 17 MacArthur Fellows; 189 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and 193 fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Accessibility

The University of Washington offers a wide variety of services and facilities for students. Disability Resources for Students is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students. You can learn more on resources available on their site and on other student resources at the Admitted Students page.

Area of study

  • Exchange students are admitted to the College of Arts & Sciences. The College is divided into four academic divisions: Art, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Subject areas include:
    • Cultural and Ethnic Studies
    • Environmental Studies
    • Health and Human Science
    • Liberal Arts
    • Science
    • Technology

Course catalogue

  • See the Course Catalog for a full list of courses.
  • As not all courses will be offered every quarter, see the Time Schedule for a list of offered courses in a given quarter.

Credits

Credits at UofWa:

  • Full-time option (7.5 UVic units): 15 credits per term at UofWa 

Course Evaluations at UVic: 

  • Before departure, UVic students will be able to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will indicate how many UVic units each exchange course is worth, as well as the course equivalency.
  • Students must use the evaluation results to ensure their exchange courses credits add up to the equivalent UVic units. The total number of units for each exchange term should be 4.5 UVic units for part-time exchange or 7.5 UVic units for full-time exchange.
  • This course evaluation process will be made available and explained in detail during the pre-departure session in early October for Spring exchange terms and in late March for Fall exchange terms. Evaluations take 2-6 weeks to complete and will be emailed to students. 
  • Course evaluations results are tentative until the end of the exchange term, when a second, final evaluation is conducted by OREM using the students’ exchange transcript, and the results are applied to their UVic record. 

Exchange credit history

  • Click here to check out the exchange credit history of courses that have been previously evaluated by UVic for this host university.
  • Students are not limited to this list when selecting courses for their upcoming exchange and should consult the host university’s course catalogue for a full list of offerings.
  • Important note: this document is a guide only and previously evaluated courses are not guaranteed to be evaluated in the same way in the future.
  • After being accepted into the ICS Exchange Program, students will have the chance to submit exchange courses to UVic for evaluation. The results will provide updated unit and credit equivalency information. 

Housing

Medical Insurance, Immigration & Arrival

  • Medical insurance: Mandatory via UW International Student Health Insurance Plan (IHSIP)
  • Visa: Most exchange students are required to have a J-1 visa to study at UW. Students will need to submit a proof of finances and other documentation once accepted into the exchange program. Students will receive an electronic copy of their DS-2019. 
  • Orientation program: Available for all exchange students

How to apply

Application Instructions