Admissions Overview
Thank you for your interest in the Economic Ph.D. program at the University of Washington!
Before applying to our program, consider whether our program meets your needs and goals:
- We admit students only to our Ph.D. degree program, and we admit new students only for autumn quarter. We do not offer a terminal M.A. degree.
- The PhD program is for students interested in pursuing advanced study and doing original research in economics. This program develops professional economists for a variety of careers in teaching, in government, in industry, or with international agencies in the United States and abroad. You can see where our graduates work on our Job Placement page.
- Students typically complete the program in 5-6 years. .
- We encourage prospective students to use our website to explore the research interests of our faculty and the graduate classes in the course catalog.
- Our PhD program (and the MA that students can earn along the way) is STEM-designated, allowing the benefits of the STEM OPT extension for international students.
Things to note about the application:
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You are responsible for submitting your application materials on time. Your materials must be uploaded to the Graduate School's application website by December 15th, 5pm (Pacific time). Best practice: leave enough time to address unforeseen problems. We will not review incomplete or late applications.
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Our admissions committee reads the Statements of Purpose to assess not only the applicant’s qualifications but also their “fit” with what we offer as a department. Please use the statement to share your academic interests, prospective fields of study, relevant experience, and methodological training.
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Scores for the GRE and English proficiency exams (if required) must be sent directly the University of Washington Graduate school. It is your responsibility to confirm that we have received your scores.
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All applicants will be considered for funding. There is no separate application.
The Application
The deadline to submit application materials is Monday, December 15th by 5pm (Pacific Time).
Applications are submitted through the Graduate School’s website. Many of your questions are answered on the Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
The Graduate School charges a non-refundable application fee of $90.00 (USD). See their Application Fee Waivers page for information, including eligibility and how to request a waiver. The department is not able to offer application fee waivers.
Course Prerequisites
An undergraduate major in economics is not required for admission to the graduate program. Applicants need a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the last 90 graded quarter hours or the last 60 graded semester hours.
The following courses are prerequisites:
- Intermediate level micro- and macroeconomics
- At least one year of calculus
- Linear algebra
- Statistics
The following courses are strongly recommended:
- Differential equations
- Matrix algebra
- Additional calculus coursework
- Additional coursework in probability and statistics
Required Application Materials
1. Statement of Purpose
A strong statement of purpose will likely addresses the following:
- your academic background, including any research experience and methodological skills;
- your plans and goals for study, including intellectual interests and areas of specialization;
- how admission to the Economics Ph.D. Program at the University of Washington will help you realize your goals;
- how your academic interests fit with the research interests of our faculty.
2. GRE scores
Valid GRE scores (within the last 5 years) are required for all applicants. We accept the GRE Home Test. Tests must be sent to the university by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Our institution code is 4854. No department code is required. We will not review applications with a missing GRE score.
3. Transcripts
Submit unofficial transcripts for each degree earned (AA, undergraduate, and graduate degrees) and transcripts for non-degree coursework. You will submit official transcript(s) to the graduate school only after you accept an offer of admission.
4. Three Letters of Recommendation
A strong letter of recommendation requires that the writer knows you, your work, your abilities well and knows what it takes to succeed in a PhD program in economics. Most applicants will choose economics faculty members. A supervisor may be an appropriate choice for applicants who have been in the workforce. In all cases, remember that these are academic references, not personal ones. It can be helpful for the writer to provide context or comparisons in the evaluation, such as a comparison with other students from the applicant's program who went on to economics PhD programs.
You will designate your recommenders in the application, and they will immediately receive an email. Best practice: contact your recommenders before you designate them and give recommenders plenty of time to prepare your letter. The UW application does not accept Interfolio letters. Email econphd@uw.edu with Interfolio questions.
5. Official English Language Test scores
Valid English language scores (within 2 years) should be sent directly to the Graduate School and must be verified before an admissions offer. See "English Language Proficiency Requirement" section below about English language proficiency requirements.
6. Resumé/CV/writing sample (optional)
A description of your professional experience, including accomplishments and awards.
7. Writing Sample (optional)
A short paper or excerpts from a larger work (e.g., honors thesis) demonstrating your writing and analytic abilities.
English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirement
English proficiency is required for admission to the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Graduate School (GS) Policy 3.2 outlines how to satisfy English Language proficiency. These include 1) a qualifying degree, 2) a qualifying English language test score, or 3) documentation that an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree granting institution has all English instruction.
Teaching assistants must meet additional spoken language requirements. These are outlined in Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English. Serving as a teaching assistant is a primary source of funding. These conditions must be satisfied before receiving a TA offer. (Note: Duolingo scores and a master's degree from a US institution do not meet TA eligibility requirements).
Post-Submission
After you submit your application, you can log back in to your application to check your status. You will be able to see whether recommendations and official transcripts have been received, and whether the department has marked your application file as complete.
Timeline
The Admissions Committee begins review in January. Rolling admissions start in February and are completed by April 15th.
Contacts
Michelle Foshee is the Graduate Program Advisor. She can answer administrative questions (understanding the ELPR, confirming submission of materials, how to submit official scores). You can send your questions to econphd@uw.edu.