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Future Students

Application Materials

The following application materials for the Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering must be submitted to the University of Washington's Graduate School online application by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. (PST) on January 14, 2026. All applicants will receive acceptance or denial emails by the middle of March.

Master's application materials

Personal Statement

This is what you see in the Personal Statement section of our application portal, where you'll submit your statement:

Please respond to the following two prompts, based on your exploration of the Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) MS program, as well as your own reflection on your academic abilities, experiences, and personal qualities. This application is your opportunity to differentiate yourself from other students. We encourage you to be creative as you craft your statement. Please be specific and share your unique perspective.

We conduct a holistic evaluation of all application materials (statements, resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation). You will see two prompts below. Please answer BOTH Prompts in ONE document, but answer each of the prompts in separate sections within your document. Upload ONE document for both prompts, but SEPARATE your answers to each prompt clearly by putting "Prompt 1" and "Prompt 2" as HEADERS within your document.

Please make sure that at the top of each page of your document is your name and a page number.

Due to the number of applications, we will not be able to look at portfolios.

Prompt 1

Describe an experience on your resume/CV and how it connects with critical issues in the area of Human Centered Design and Engineering. [600 words maximum]

Prompt 2

What are your aspirations in the area of Human Centered Design and Engineering?  [600 words maximum]

Letters of Recommendation

You must provide three (3) letters of recommendation with your application. These letters should be from people who can judge your ability to undertake graduate studies, potentially including present or former professors, work supervisors, or clients (in the case of consulting assignments).

Submitting fewer than 3 recommendations will adversely impact your application. It is your responsibility to work with your recommenders to ensure submission by the January 14 deadline. Late recommendations are not guaranteed to be reviewed. The committee will only review three recommendations.

It is required that all applicants have their recommenders submit their letters via the online Graduate School Application system. Once you have created a profile and started your application, you can submit contact information for your recommenders. Recommenders will automatically receive an email with a personalized link to fill out the recommendation form.

Once you have submitted your application, you can check the status of your recommendation letters by logging in to your application status page.

Current Resume/CV

You must upload a current resume or CV to your online application. Although you do not need to have a professional background to apply, the Admissions Committee considers relevant professional experience when making its decisions.

Transcripts

For the initial application review stage you should only upload unofficial copies (pdf) of all college-level transcripts through the Graduate School Application. Please do not mail official transcripts directly to the HCDE department or to the Graduate School. If offered admission, you will then have your degree granting institutions send official sets of transcripts directly to the Graduate School.

Optional Diversity Statement

Not required. Only for applicants who want to be considered for the GSEE Supplemental Tuition Award and/or GEM Fellows. Please visit the HCDE Financial Resources page for more details. F-1 and J-1 students are not eligible. 

Application Fee

Submit the above materials with an application fee of $90 to the University of Washington's Graduate School Application.

Notes on Standardized Exams and Portfolios

HCDE does not accept GRE scores or Portfolios as part of our MS admission process. Our faculty use a holistic review process that takes into consideration multiple factors ranging from academic background and performance to professional experience and recommendations. A standardized exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and were educated in a foreign language. More on application materials for International Students »

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