Graduate Student Admissions
General Information
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In 2007-08, approximately 80 graduate students, most of whom were working toward a Ph.D., were enrolled in one of our programs.
All students are expected to start their graduate program in Autumn Quarter. We receive approximately 150 applications each year. Applicants can expect to find out the status of their applications by the end of March. Our entering class is typically 15 graduate students.
Each year, some of our applicants also express an interest in one of our affiliate programs. If you are interested in applying to the Astrobiology Graduate Program, please contact Tina Swenson at astrobio@uw.edu or 206-685-9237. If you want to join the Program on Climate Change , please contact Miriam Bertram at uwpcc@u.washington.edu.
PhD applicants admitted to one of our graduate programs are offered financial support in the form of a teaching assistantship (TA), research assistantship (RA), and/or fellowship. Please note that a separate application for financial support is not required for our department. TA and RA appointments require 20 hours of service per week, currently pay a gross salary of $1,718.00 per month, and include a tuition waiver and health insurance benefits . Students are responsible for paying approximately $250.00 each quarter in student fees. Occasionally, applicants bring with them outside fellowships and grants. Applicants who have received outside funding or who have an application for outside funding pending, should indicate the name of the program and the number of years of funding provided by the program in their online application.
MS students typically do not receive funding, however their faculty advisor may have funding available.
I encourage you to learn more about ESS Research Groups and Affiliated Departments and Programs by reviewing information on our website and by contacting the appropriate ESS Faculty. You can also learn more about the UW, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest on our website. If you have any questions, please contact us at essadv@uw.edu . We look forward to receiving your application!
Student Services Office
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
International Applicants
You are an international applicant if you currently hold or expect to hold a temporary U.S. visa. International applicants must submit the University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form to show adequate financial support along with other application materials required by the UW Graduate School. When an international applicant is admitted to our graduate program, we send the UW Graduate School the details about the financial support offered to the applicant so that the financial support can be considered in determining financial ability. For more information, see Financial Ability for International Applicants on the Graduate Admissions Information web page.
Deadlines
Applicants must complete the UW Online Application for Graduate Admission by 12:00 midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on January 5. Official GRE and TOEFL (or equivalent) scores must be received no later than December 31. Students are required to submit unoffical copies of their transcripts before the deadline (Jan. 5) and official transcripts only if accecpted.
International Applicants
It is recommended that international applicants complete the UW Online Application for Graduate Admission by December 1 to allow additional time for processing. The final deadline is 12:00 midnight (Pacific Standard Time) on January 5.
Required Tests
Official test scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) must be received no later than December 31. The institution code for the University of Washington is 4854.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
All applicants must submit official GRE General Test scores.
GRE Subject Tests are not required. Score reports over five years old
(from the test date) are no longer valid. The department and major
field codes are 0504 (Geological Sciences) and 0505 (Geophysics and Seismology).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Equivalent
Official TOEFL (or an equivalent test) scores are required of international applicants,
permanent residents, immigrants and transfer students, who are not
citizens of the United States on the date of admission, and whose native
language is other than English. For further details, including exemptions and a list of other accepted tests,
please read
Graduate School Memo #8, "English Language Ability for Admission to the Graduate School."
Score reports over two years old (from the test date) are no longer valid.
The department code is 71 (Geology).
International graduate students who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants (TAs) must meet the English language proficiency requirements specified in Graduate School Memorandum #15, "Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not U.S. Citizens."
How to Apply
Important Note! The UW Online Application for Graduate Admission was revised in September 2008. It is highly recommended that applicants applying for Autumn Quarter 2009 begin the online application after October 1, 2008. If you have any questions, please contact the ESS Graduate Program Assistant at essadv@uw.edu or at 206-616-8511.
Applicants apply to the Department of Earth and Space Sciences and to the UW Graduate Admissions Office by completing all steps outlined in the UW Online Application for Graduate Admission and by completing these additional steps.
Additional Steps:
- Request Educational Testing Service (ETS) forward your official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report to the University of Washington, institution code 4854. Score reports over five years old (from the test date) are no longer valid. Your official GRE score report must be received by December 31. (To confirm receipt, please return to the online application.)
- Request Educational Testing Service (ETS) forward your official TOEFL score report to the University of Washington, institution code 4854. Score reports over two years old (from the test date) are no longer valid. Your official TOEFL score report must be received by December 31. (To confirm receipt, please return to the online application.)
International Applicants only:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Am I eligible to apply if I don't have an undergraduate
degree in ESS/geology/geophysics?
A:
Yes. Many of our graduate students in Earth and Space Sciences have
undergraduate degrees in geology; however, our students also come with
degrees in anthropology, atmospheric sciences, biology, chemistry,
engineering, geography, mathematics, oceanography, and physics to name a
few.
Q: What science courses do I need to take before I apply?
A: Math, physics, and chemistry are fundamental to the study of Earth and Space Sciences. All applicants should take courses in these subjects
before they apply at a minimum of the level we expect of students in our undergraduate program: one year of
calculus with analytical geometry (MATH
124,
125,
126); at least two quarters of calculus-based Physics
(PHYS
121,
122
123); and two quarters of general Chemistry
(CHEM
142,
152).
Q: How do I know what additional courses to take before I apply?
A:
We expect new graduate students to be ready and able to begin doing
research in their chosen field. Because research interests in the
Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington are
so varied, we do not have one set of standard expectations. For example,
applicants interested in seismology, space physics, atmospheres, mineral
physics, or glaciology generally need a stronger background in mathematics
and physics to be competitive. And because researchers in surface
processes and geomorphology regularly use calculus-based process models
and statistics in addition to geological concepts, applicants will likely
be more competitive if they have training in these areas. If you are
concerned about your background preparation, you should pay close
attention to the current interests and directions of the research group
that you would like to join and if you have questions, you should contact
faculty members in that group to ask them what they expect of their new
graduate students.
Q: How do I learn about research opportunities within ESS
for new students?
A: We encourage prospective applicants to review information on
the Web about
ESS research and then, to contact
ESS faculty.
Prospective applicants should share their research interests,
aspirations, and career plans with faculty and ask about present
and future research opportunities. These early conversations often
help prospective applicants clarify their goals and plan for graduate study.
Q: Should I apply to the Master's (MS) or Doctoral (PhD)
Degree Program?
A:
Applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree may apply to either
program. (Applicants do not need an MS degree before they can begin
working on a PhD degree.) Therefore, the decision should be based on an
applicant's professional and personal goals. Because both our thesis MS
and non-thesis MS degrees are research-based, academic and research
activities during the first year are very similar for students seeking
either MS or PhD degrees. Students who ultimately want a PhD should select that option when applying.
Q: How do I apply for a teaching or research
assistantship (TA or RA)?
A:
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences does not require a separate
application for financial support. MS students typically do not receive funding,
however their faculty advisor may have funding available. PhD applicants who are admitted are offered
a TA or RA for the first academic year. Financial support for successive
years is contingent on satisfactory progress and the availability of
funding. In total, PhD students are awarded support during the nine-month academic year for five calendar
years.
Q: What are the salary and benefits for TAs and RAs?
A: TA and RA appointments require 20 hours of service per week,
currently pay a gross monthly salary of $1,761 (pre-General Examination)
and $1,836 (post-General Examination), and include a
tuition waiver and
health insurance benefits. Students are responsible for paying
approximately $250 each quarter in student fees. TAs and RAs with
eligible appointments are covered by the
Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP) and currently do not pay a
monthly premium. The UW pays 65% of the monthly premium for dependents.
TAs and RAs at the UW are represented by
UAW Local 4121, which negotiates salary and benefits, see
UW/UAW Contract.
Q: What are the average GRE test scores of admitted applicants?
A:
For applicants who were admitted for Autumn Quarter 2012, the average
scores were 157 (V), 164 (Q), 41 (W) and the median scores were 157 (V),
166 (Q), 40 (W). The Admissions Committee gives comparable weight
to each item submitted as part of the application so an applicant will not
be denied admission based solely on his or her GRE test scores.
Q: What is the average GPA of admitted applicants?
A:
For applicants who were admitted for Autumn Quarter 2012, the average GPA
was 3.2 and the median GPA was 3.5. The Admissions Committee gives
comparable weight to each item submitted as part of the application so an
applicant will not be denied admission based solely on his or her GPA.
Note that the UW Graduate School does require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the
last two years of study.
Q: Why must I select and prioritize areas of interest on my application?
A: After the Admissions Committee has determined that an applicant is admissible (likely to succeed in our graduate program), then his or her
application is forwarded to faculty doing research of interest to the applicant. Applicants will be admitted if they can be matched to
a faculty member looking for new graduate students to join his or her research group and if there is funding available. While we make
every effort to match applicants with faculty advisers at the time of admission, students are free to change advisers or research groups
at any time, subject to identifying a faculty member willing to be adviser, and subject to availability of funding.
Q: How do I make arrangements to visit the
Department of Earth and Space Sciences?
A:
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences hosts an invitation-only Open
House for Prospective Graduate Students in late February each year.
Applicants who visit at other times should contact
faculty with whom they are interested in doing research before they arrive
in Seattle to schedule individual meetings. Applicants may also contact
the ESS Graduate Program Assistant at
essadv@uw.edu
or at 206-616-8511 to schedule a meeting to discuss general admissions
questions.
UW Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or military status in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.