Language of instruction
The University of Washington is a preeminent public university, ranked 25th in the world. Go purple and become a UW Husky!
Located in the heart of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, UW has campuses in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell. The region is characterised by impressive mountain chains, plentiful parks, and evergreen forests, helping Seattle earn the nickname “Emerald City”.
Semester dates
| UQ Semester | Host Semester | Dates |
| Semester 1 | Winter & Spring Quarters | January–March & March–June |
| Semester 2 | Autumn Quarter | September–December |
All students who apply for exchange in UQ Semester 1 must complete both the winter and spring quarters.
View UW's academic calendar.
Guides and additional information
UW has online resources to help get the most from your exchange:
Campuses
The University of Washington has 3 campuses:
- Seattle campus
- Tacoma campus
- Bothell campus
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Student testimonials
- B Environmental ManagementSemester 1, 2019
UW was everything I could have hoped for and more
- B Science/ArtsSemester 2, 2018
- B. ScienceSemester 2, 2014
Full-time study load
Undergraduate: 24 credits across UW's winter and spring quarters is equivalent to 8 UQ units (students must take at least 12 of the 24 credits in the winter quarter).
Postgraduate: 10 credits in UW's autumn quarter is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
Postgraduate: 24 credits across UW's winter and spring quarters is equivalent to 8 UQ units (students must take at least 12 of the 24 credits in the winter quarter).
Minimum academic requirements
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.5 to study at UW.
Find courses
Search UW's course catalogue by campus if courses do not appear in the database:
Search the Credit Precedent Database to find courses offered by your host university that have been previously approved for credit at UQ. The database should be used as a general guide only.
Study areas taught in English
Course restrictions
All exchange students are admitted to UW through the College of Arts & Sciences regardless of their major in their home university. Courses available outside of the College of Arts & Sciences are not guaranteed. Students should plan to only take courses within the College of Arts & Sciences.
Courses in the following disciplines are extremely competitive. Students should plan to take courses outside of these areas:
- Communications
- Economics
- Psychology
- Law, societies and justice
Professional programs in the following schools are restricted from postgraduate exchange students:
- Information School
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
The below disciplines/courses are not open to exchange students:
- Performance Music
- Studio Art or Design courses
Fee-based programs are not available to exchange students. This includes postgraduate entry to UW's MBA program.
Post-graduate student will be enrolled at UW as undergraduates, however will be permitted to take graduate level courses.
Additional academic information
Course numbering at the University of Washington:
- 100-199: Undergraduate first year courses
- 200-299: Undergraduate second year courses
- 300-399: Undergraduate third year courses
- 400-499: Undergraduate fourth year & some graduate courses
- 500-899: Postgraduate courses
UW has online resources to help navigate their academic policies:
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Accommodation
As an incoming exchange student to the University of Washington, you are free to make your own housing arrangements. UW provides information to help students choose between on- or off-campus housing options.
Cost of living
The University of Washington provides an outline of the estimated cost of attendance for students studying in Seattle, with further information on estimated student budgets. Keep in mind that exchange students do not pay tuition to their host university.
Additional Mandatory Fees
The University of Washington does not have any additional mandatory fees for exchange students.
Financial support
A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.
Insurance
Students approved to participate in the Student Exchange Program are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.
For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).
If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.
All international students in F-1 or J-1 status are required to purchase the UW International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP).
Exchange students may be eligible to waive the Health Insurance Plan if they have additional cover that meets UW's minimum requirements.
Before purchasing an additional policy, students should confirm that the policy meets UW's minimum waiver requirements. Please note that the waiver of the Health Insurance Plan is not guaranteed and subject to approval from UW.
A waiver is not automatic. Do not assume that a waiver will be approved or that you will receive a waiver based on the experience of a friend from UQ who studied at the same institution on exchange.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Organise your visa
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.
UW has visa and immigration information for exchange students.
Contact the US Embassy and Consulates for more visa information.
Travel risk levels
The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.
If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, Global Experience programs to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.
Find out the risk level and travel advice for your host country on the Smartraveller website.
Register your travel plans
You must register your travel plans on the International SOS so that you can be contacted and supported in an emergency.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.