Admissions for international students

The department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) offers many opportunities for international students to excel in our program. We encourage international students to apply for admission as full time students in our programs.

Requirements for applicants demonstrating English language proficiency

Applicants who do not have English as their native language need to prove their English Language Proficiency.

For ways to satisfy the English Language Proficiency requirement through proof of previous education and not through test scores, please read the beginning of this policy, but keep in mind that if you do end up needing to use test scores to prove English Language Proficiency, you will need to satisfy the minimum score requirements that are outlined here, not the minimum scores that are displayed in that linked policy. 

Human Centered Design & Engineering only accepts the following minimum scores. To be considered for the program, applicants must meet the required minimum scores listed below.

• TOEFLiBT score: Total 4.5 (92 for tests taken before Jan 21, 2026)
• IELTS score: Total 7
• Duolingo score: Total 125

There are no specific sub-score minimums that applicants need to meet.

(Note: Updated as of April 2026)

Information regarding international degrees and language proficiency requirements can be found on the UW Graduate School International Student Application page.

The UW Graduate School also maintains a page of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for international applicants.

Sending official test scores

• TOEFL
  • Please use UW institutional code 4854. If a department code is required, indicate 99 (Any Department Not Listed).
  • MyBest scores are accepted.
• IELTS
  • Please submit official scores electronically via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s organization ID 365, or by selecting "University of Washington - all campuses."
• Duolingo
  • Please submit official scores by selecting "University of Washington Graduate Admissions" in Duolingo's system.
• All
  • When you're filling out your application to our program, please make sure to type in your scores in the "Self-Reported Scores" section. Official scores can take 2 weeks or more to match to your application (and that's 2 weeks after you've submitted your application, not 2 weeks after you've submitted the scores) so it can take a long time for official scores to show up. If you type your scores into the "Self-Reported Scores" section of your application, we can use your self-reported scores to process your application while we wait for your official scores.

International Student visa and employment resources

Please direct all questions about visas, employment, OPT, and travel to UW International Student Services.