As HCDE PhD students prepare and plan for their Final Exam, they may apply for financial support to cover the costs of two credits of tuition in lieu of receiving an ASE quarterly appointment. In circumstances where students have funding quarters remaining under the HCDE funding guarantee, but have personal or professional reasons to decline an HCDE ASE appointment, they may apply for HCDE PhD Final Quarter Tuition Coverage.
Per UW Graduate School policy, registration is required in the quarter that a Final Examination is taken AND a dissertation is submitted. Graduate students must register for a minimum of two credits in the quarter the Dissertation Defence takes place.
For the 25-26 academic year, the non-resident tuition and fees rate is $3,788 (student portion is $79.18) and $2,194 for residents (student portion is $79.11).
The Final Quarter Tuition Coverage would cover the following:
- Operating fees (UW tuition) for 2 credits
- Building Fee
- Technology Fee
- U-PASS Fee
See Graduate And Professional Tuition Dashboard – Planning & Budgeting for more information and a list of quarterly fees students are responsible for.
A student may request the HCDE PhD Final Quarter Tuition Coverage for several reasons including, but not limited to, off campus employment and proximity to the UW Seattle campus.
To receive tuition coverage, students must meet the following:
- Must have at least one HCDE funding guarantee quarter remaining and must be applying for tuition support during the academic year (summer term excluded).
- The student must be registered for their final quarter and have scheduled their exam in MyGrad prior to the first day of the quarter to receive tuition coverage.
- The deadline to pay tuition and fees is the third Friday of the quarter.
If awarded the Final Quarter Tuition Coverage, students are voluntarily forfeiting all remaining quarter(s) of funding from the HCDE funding guarantee. One quarter of HCDE funding includes a monthly salary, GAIP coverage, and tuition waiver less the Facilities Renovation Fee, IMA Bond Fee, and Services and Activities Fee. The Final Quarter Tuition Coverage does not include a monthly salary or GAIP coverage. Students will receive a maximum of two credits of tuition coverage. If a student needs to register for more than two credits in their final quarter to satisfy remaining degree requirements, they are not eligible for the HCDE PhD Final Quarter Tuition Coverage program.
International students are eligible for the HCDE Final Quarter Tuition Coverage but must review and apply for Final Quarter Reduced Course Load through the International Student Services Office.
This program may only be used once in a student’s academic program tenure. Students forfeit all remaining HCDE funding guarantee quarters once the tuition coverage program is approved. Students outside of the funding guarantee are not eligible to apply.
How to apply
To apply for HCDE Final Quarter Tuition Coverage, students must email the Director of Academic Services (khorenst@uw.edu), Cc the Associate Chair for Academic Affairs (jturns@uw.edu), HCDE PhD Program Director (kstarbi@uw.edu), and their Faculty Chair/Advisor(s) 45 days prior to the ASE start date (August 1 for autumn, November 1 for Winter, and February 1 for Spring) with the following:
- The quarter and year you are requesting tuition support (ex: Spring 2026)
- Final Exam timeline and scheduled date of the defense.
- Reasoning for requesting tuition coverage in lieu of ASE position during their final quarter.
- Confirmation you have discussed this plan with your faculty Chair/Advisor(s)
The Director of Academic Services will follow up with the student within two weeks. If approved, the student must be registered for their final quarter and submit their final exam in MyGrad prior to the first day of the final quarter.