HCDE MS FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the University of Washington's Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering.

Program scheduling

When are classes held?
All classes are held during weekday evenings (typically from 6–9:50 p.m.) on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, WA.

Is this program full-time or part-time?
It is designed to be either. About half of our students attend full-time (10+ credits/quarter) and half attend part-time while working or doing internships. Each student decides how many classes to take each quarter depending on personal commitments (e.g., work, family).

Is the HCDE MS available as an online or distance learning program?
No, our program is offered only in-person in Seattle, WA.

Tuition and fees

What is the total tuition rate?
All students (Washington state residents, domestic, or international) are charged exactly the same tuition rate. A full outline can be found on the Tuition and Fees page.

Do you offer scholarships or tuition support?
The MS HCDE program provides partial scholarships through the GSEE Tuition and Supplemental Award. For more information about financial aid or personal loans, please see the Tuition and Fees and Financial Resources pages.

Does the MS program financially support the GEM Fellowship program?
Yes, we do support GEM fellows admitted to the HCDE MS program, but only employer-matched GEM fellows. GEM fellows should look into the options for application fee waivers.

I work for the University of Washington or the State of Washington. Is this program eligible for Tuition Exemption?
No, this program is self-sustaining (not state-supported) and therefore does not participate in the University's Tuition Exemption program.

Are there application fee waivers available?
Everyone who's interested in applying to our program should check out the options for application fee waivers.

Admissions and applications

When is the next admissions deadline?
The application deadline always falls around the middle of January of each year. Once set, it is a hard and inflexible deadline. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. All materials (including unofficial transcripts, recommendations, and, when applicable, unofficial TOEFL scores) must be uploaded into the online application by this deadline in order for the application to be considered complete and eligible for review in the admissions process. Some late materials cannot be accepted due to timing constraints. Please make sure to submit payment within the deadline as well (though a few hours off is fine).

Where do I apply?
Our application portal is found in the UW Graduate School Website. In Program Selection, please select "Human Centered Design and Engineering - Professional (MS in Human Centered Design & Engineering)."

I am a User-Centered Design Certificate student. Do I need to submit a new application to the MS program?
Yes, you must submit new materials; you are considered a new applicant and need to submit a completely new application (including recent transcripts).

May I use AI in my Personal Statement?

Please see our guidance on AI usage.

I applied to the MS program last year and was not accepted. Could you use my application from last year?
Unfortunately no, you are considered a new applicant. Please submit new application materials (including recent transcripts and new recommendations) in order to be considered.

I submitted my application but forgot to add something to my resume or Personal Statement. Could I request to make a change?
There are some materials we can change, and some that even administrators can't edit after the deadline. Please double-check all your documents in advance.

When may I expect to hear an admissions decision?
All applicants who applied in the current admissions cycle will receive an email outlining being accepted or declined by the middle of March.

What are the required English Language Proficiency exam scores?
Please see this page for detailed information about English Language Proficiency. .

I'm not sure if my English Language Proficiency test score was sent to you. What should I do?

Report your scores yourself in the application just in case we don't receive your scores on time.

Applicants need to take the exam by the application deadline. It takes a long time for the official scores to be sent to our system, so in the meantime, the solution is to use unofficial scores.
You can enter unofficial scores into the application that we can use for initial review. Official scores are not required to be received by the deadline. 
IN THE APPLICATION PORTAL, THERE’S THIS SECTION:
“Self-Reported Test Scores
Enter self-reported test scores using the link below. Self-reporting test scores is optional, however programs may require that test scores be officially reported to the UW.
Additionally, some programs may consider or prefer certain tests, but not others. See program specific information on the Program Requirements page.
If official test scores are required for the program you selected, the "Verify and Confirm" page will contain optional fields to collect additional information that may help matching your official scores to your application.”
Use that section to submit your unofficial scores.

Is the Master's program in HCDE considered a STEM program?
Yes, we are considered a STEM program, and accepted students are therefore eligible to apply for OPT extension. The CIP code for all our programs is 11.0103.

How will I know whether my transcripts have been received?
You are responsible for ensuring that the University of Washington has received your transcripts by the application deadline. To check the status of transcripts, please log-in to your application status page. Remember, only unofficial transcripts are needed for application review. If you receive an offer of admission, you must then submit official transcripts for review.

What information should be on my transcript?
- Your transcript should have your grades from all the terms (semesters/quarters/trimesters) of study. If classes are in-progress because you're currently still studying for that degree, that's okay, just make sure to send your most up-to-date transcript.
- Your transcript should also have your name on it. If you have a name that's different than what's on your transcript, that's okay, just send us a heads-up at askhcde@uw.edu.
- If you've graduated from that degree, then your transcript should show it. It should have the words "graduated/awarded/completed" or something like that, that shows that your degree was completed.
- If it's in a language other than English, send in a translation as well.

How will I know if my recommenders have submitted their letters of recommendation?
Once you have submitted your application, you can check the status of your recommendation letters by logging into your application status page. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure recommendations are received by the deadline.

I understand three recommendations are required. Is it possible to submit a fourth recommendation?
In fairness to all applicants, only three recommendations may be submitted. Any additional recommendations will not be reviewed.

Who should I have write my recommendations?
Choose individuals that know you well, and are able to speak in depth regarding your character, accomplishments, and abilities. If you are still in school, or just recently graduated, professors or other researchers under whom you worked would be excellent candidates. If you have been out of school for a while, your best option might include direct work supervisors or other professional mentors. Make sure you have asked people if they can write your recommendations in advance, and make sure to remind them to submit the recommendations once you've requested the recommendations through our application portal.

I am writing a recommendation for an applicant and get an error message while uploading my letter. Do you have any suggestions?
Sometimes the online system has bugs with Firefox or Chrome browsers. If this occurs, please try again using Internet Explorer. If you continue to have problems, please send the letter as an attachment, to our department at this email address: askhcde@uw.edu (the recommender must send this from the same email address as the one listed in the application portal so that we know it's the correct person).

How competitive is MS admission? 
Admission is highly competitive and we accept about 20-30% of our applicant pool each year.

What can I do to differentiate myself as a candidate?
Be sure your personal statement shows a clear relationship between your professional goals and the skills taught in the program. Take your personal statement seriously and express your vision as clearly as possible.

I'm interested in both the MS in Human Centered Design & Engineering and another program at the University of Washington. Is it possible to apply to both programs and then make a decision?
Yes, the University of Washington allows you to apply to more than one program simultaneously. There is no penalty for doing this since every department evaluates applications independently. You must submit a completely separate application for each program you are considering. 

HCDE vs other UW graduate programs

How does the MS in Human Centered Design & Engineering differ from the Master of Human-Computer Interaction + Design (MHCID)? 

• The MS HCDE is a 50-credit evening program, resulting in a graduate engineering degree, costing $998 per credit in academic year 2025-2026. Students take classes (a mix of theory, project, and studio based courses), participate in faculty led Directed Research Groups, and complete Capstone Projects and optional internships, with the overall curriculum focusing on research, design, and engineering. The program typically takes part-time students approximately 3 years to complete, while full-time students are usually able to complete in 5-6 quarters.
• The MHCID program is a 46-credit program, costing $1,342 per credit in academic year 2025-2026. It is an intensive 11-month day curriculum that is project-based in a design studio format. The MHCID program is a full-time commitment and students typically do not hold jobs or internships while enrolled. Find additional information about MHCI+D program costs and financial aid, here.

How can I learn more about applying to the University of Washington Graduate School? 
Please see the Graduate School's Frequently Asked Questions page.

Obtaining more information

Could I attend an Info Session?
Yes, Info Sessions are held throughout the academic year on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Details will be posted on the Info Session Calendar.