How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Majors at the University of Washington (Seattle): Biology, Nursing and Several Others Are Applied To After Enrolling, While Biochemistry and Neuroscience Can Be Chosen as a First-Choice Direct Admit, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

The life-science and health-related undergraduate majors at the University of Washington (UW) Seattle campus are spread across several schools: the College of Arts & Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Microbiology), the School of Public Health (Public Health, Food Systems, Nutrition & Health and others), the School of Nursing (BSN) and others. This guide follows the UW’s websites and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. There is no pre-medicine major in the United States, so the pre-med section reports only what the UW’s pre-health advising office says.

1. Which related undergraduate majors exist

• Biology (College of Arts & Sciences): the UW says students gain knowledge and skills through classroom, lab and field work, research, internships and study abroad, for careers in basic and applied research, education, health sciences and environmental sciences. Options: B.A. General Biology, B.S. Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology, B.S. General Biology, B.S. Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, B.S. Physiology, B.S. Plant Biology. A capacity-constrained major.
• Biochemistry (BA/BS): the study of living organisms at the molecular level; graduates go on to biomedical research, health care professions or biotechnology, or graduate school. Capacity-constrained.
• Neuroscience (BS): described as a small, intense, multidisciplinary program drawing on neuroscience expertise across many departments, aiming to understand higher brain function and neurological disease at the cellular and molecular level. Capacity-constrained.
• Microbiology: the study of bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa and viruses; a minimum-requirements major.
• Public Health–Global Health (BA/BS, School of Public Health, a school-wide liberal arts major): capacity-constrained. Also Environmental Public Health (BS, minimum requirements) and Food Systems, Nutrition & Health (minimum requirements).
• Nursing (BSN): the School of Nursing’s two-year professional program, including coursework, simulation center practice and supervised direct patient care; capacity-constrained.
• Others: Medical Laboratory Science and Speech & Hearing Sciences (both capacity-constrained); Bioengineering is an engineering major, mentioned here only.
• STEM designation: not published on the pages we read.
• Combined programs (such as BS/MD): not mentioned on the pages we read.
• Three kinds of majors: “open” (declare any time after enrolling in good academic standing), “minimum requirements” (complete prerequisites with a minimum GPA and all who qualify are admitted) and “capacity-constrained” (extra requirements and selective screening; meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission).

2. Admission: most students enter the major after enrolling

• The vast majority enter a major after enrolling. The UW says that, except for business, computer science and engineering, only a small percentage enter a major directly as first-year students. Majors that admit directly as first-years (you must list them as the first choice) include, among those relevant here, Biochemistry and Neuroscience. For capacity-constrained majors such as Biology, Nursing and Public Health the UW says an additional application is required after you enroll and admission may be competitive.
• First and second choice: your first- and second-choice majors may be used as factors in the decision; the second choice shows that you are willing to attend even if not admitted to your first choice and allows review for general admission, but it is not used for placement into direct-to-major options.
• Biology (capacity-constrained): apply to the department after enrolling. Minimum requirements: be a matriculated student on the Seattle campus in good academic standing; complete the introductory biology series BIOL 180, 200 and 220 (or equivalent) with at least 2.0 in each; and a 2.5 cumulative GPA for supporting coursework in chemistry, physics, math, biology or other courses to be used in the major. Meeting these does not guarantee admission; other factors include application questions, space in the major and time to degree under the UW’s Satisfactory Progress Policy.
• Biochemistry (capacity-constrained): most students apply once enrolled; the courses required for regular admission are BIOL 180 and 200, one general chemistry series (CHEM 142/152/162, accelerated 143/153, or advanced 145/155/165), one organic chemistry series (CHEM 237/238 or honors 335/336) and MATH 124/125 (or honors 134/135).
• Neuroscience (capacity-constrained): apply after enrolling; meeting the minimum standards guarantees consideration but not acceptance: BIOL 180, 200 and 220 each at least 2.0, and completion of most supplemental physics, math and chemistry coursework recommended, with a 2.50 GPA in such work at the time of application.
• Microbiology (minimum requirements): at least 75 credits applicable to graduation, a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.5 GPA in prerequisite chemistry and biology courses (BIOL 180 and 200 need a 2.3); prerequisites BIOL 180/200/220, CHEM 142/152/162 and an organic chemistry course (CHEM 223, 237 or honors 335).
• Food Systems, Nutrition & Health (minimum requirements): NUTR 200 or equivalent, English composition (5 credits) with at least 2.0, at least 45 college credits and a 2.0 cumulative GPA; then students may declare every quarter.
• Public Health–Global Health (capacity-constrained): at least 60 college credits and a 2.5 cumulative GPA; a 5-credit English composition course with at least 2.0; an introductory public health course with at least 2.5; for BA applicants one introductory science course, and for BS applicants at least two courses of a year-long introductory science (with labs) or math sequence, each with at least 2.5.
• Nursing (capacity-constrained): see Section 3; admission once a year for autumn quarter, with an application deadline of January 15.
• Review: the UW describes a holistic review of the whole application, including the essay and activities; it holds no interviews and does not consider demonstrated interest.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs, first-year): English 4 credits, mathematics 3, social sciences 3, world languages 2, science 3 (including 2 of lab science), a senior-year math-based quantitative course 1, fine/visual/performing arts 0.5 and academic elective 0.5. They can be met with high school and college courses combined, but must be completed before the first quarter of enrollment; five quarter credits equal one high school credit.
• Nursing prerequisites (admit page): written communication 10 credits; problem-solving 8 credits (one RSN course and one statistics course); arts and humanities 15 credits; social sciences 15 credits (including NURS 201, Growth and Development Across the Life Span); natural sciences 26–33 credits: BIOL 118 and BIOL 119, NURS 301, CHEM 120/220/221, MICROM 301 and 302, NUTR 200; electives to complete 90 credits.
• Nursing selection: a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and at least 2.0 in each prerequisite, but admission is competitive and the cumulative GPA is usually significantly higher; at application, one of: three prerequisite science courses with a 3.00 average, or four with a 2.80 average.
• Courses recommended by pre-health advising: take the online chemistry placement test before registering; many health professional schools expect a year of general chemistry, such as CHEM 142/152/162, the honors CHEM 145/155/165, or the accelerated CHEM 143/153; students interested in nursing and physical and occupational therapy might consider CHEM 120/220/221, a year-long sequence combining general and organic chemistry. Biology: most programs require the year-long BIOL 180/200/220, and students are encouraged to delay it until sophomore year; take CHEM 152 or CHEM 220 before or with BIOL 200. BIOL 161/162 (AP Biology) does not fulfill health professional school requirements; students need the BIOL 180/200/220 series.
• AP credit (UW table): scores of 3 or higher are considered; AP cannot be used to waive admission requirements. Biology 4 or 5 earns BIOL 161 and 162 (5 credits each); biology 3 earns BIOL 161; chemistry 5 earns CHEM 142, 152, 162 (5 credits each), chemistry 4 earns CHEM 142 and 152, chemistry 3 earns CHEM 142, and AP 3–5 also counts as a placement test for Honors CHEM 145; Calculus AB 3, 4 or 5 earns MATH 124; BC 4 or 5 earns MATH 124 and 125. AP is credited once if it overlaps with an IB exam or a college course; at most 90 lower-division transfer credits count toward a degree.
• IB credit equivalencies and the full first- and second-year course sequences were not read in detail; check the UW admissions IB page and each major’s degree requirements.

4. Pre-med and the health professions

• Pre-health is not a major: both the Office of Admissions and the pre-health advising office say “pre-health” is not a major or track but a set of steps: exploring health professions, preparing (coursework plus experience such as volunteering, research, leadership and work) and then assessing readiness to apply, preparing for entrance exams and writing a compelling application.
• Major: the advising office says you can major in anything on the way to a health career and that health professional schools do not consider an applicant’s major; each school has its own course requirements; completing a major alone is not enough; you should keep assessing academic readiness, motivation and strength in science and in the humanities and social sciences, and volunteering and shadowing are essential. The health-related UW majors it lists include Nursing, Environmental Public Health, Health Informatics & Information Management, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health/Global Health, Social Welfare, and Speech and Hearing Sciences.
• Coursework: see Section 3 (recommended by pre-health advising); the other prerequisites such as physics and math were not read item by item.
• UW School of Medicine: the advising office says undergraduates have opportunities to collaborate with the medical school, but attending the UW as an undergraduate “does not mean you will have an advantage” in applying to the UW School of Medicine.
• International students and pre-med: the pre-health pages we read do not give a separate statement for international students applying to U.S. medical schools; not published there. We do not cover medical school applications.
• Advising contacts: advice@uw.edu for major selection and course planning; prehlth@uw.edu for which health profession fits, how to get experience and how to apply.

5. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Rounds (first-year): Autumn: application opens August 15, deadline November 15, notifications March 1–15; Winter (U.S. applicants only): opens August 1, deadline September 1; Summer: opens September 1, deadline November 15; Spring is not open to first-years. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. The pages show no year; confirm they are for fall 2027 entry.
• Application platform: the Common App only. The Common App personal essay (maximum 650 words, one of seven prompts) is required.
• Courses and grades: all first-year applicants (U.S., international and homeschool) self-report courses and grades through the STARS platform after submitting the application; the record cannot be changed after submission; a final official transcript is needed only if admitted and enrolling.
• Testing: the UW “no longer requires SAT or ACT scores for most applicants”; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools with non-standard grading (no letter or numeric grades) are still required to submit them.
• Things not considered: no interviews or demonstrated interest; please do not send letters of recommendation or supplemental materials such as portfolios.
• Application fee: $85 for U.S. applicants (non-refundable, fee waivers available); $95 for international applicants, with no fee waivers.
• Major choice: see Section 2.

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost (the UW’s 2026–27 estimate, nine-month academic year): books and course supplies $900; housing and food $18,858 (living on or off campus; $6,156 if living with parents); personal $2,508; transportation $1,074; resident tuition $13,406, resident total $36,746 ($24,044 living with parents); non-resident tuition $44,460, non-resident total $67,800 ($55,098 living with parents). The UW notes that some majors or programs have additional fees; Seattle tuition and fees include a $210 annual U-Pass.
• Residency: the UW has a separate residency page (not read); the university determines residency status.
• Aid: the UW accepts Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program; the admissions site also has Husky Promise and scholarship pages that we did not read; check the financial aid office.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are not required for most applicants; see Section 5.

7. International applicants

• Applying: through the Common App like other applicants; Winter quarter is not open to international first-year applicants; the international fee is $95 with no waivers.
• English proficiency: an official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test (DET) score is required, and English proficiency is considered in the holistic review. Minimums: TOEFL iBT 76 before January 21, 2026 and 4.0 from January 21, 2026 (new scale); IELTS 6.0; DET 110. Exams must be taken on or before December 31 of the year of application and scores sent directly by the testing agency; TOEFL and IELTS are valid for two years; TOEFL MyBest is not considered and there is no superscoring; the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator at-home exam are accepted. The UW’s TOEFL code is 4854. There is no conditional admission; applicants who have not met the requirement by December 31 are not considered.
• Exemption and alternative: applicants whose primary and secondary education took place in Australia, Canada (English-speaking provinces), the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or the U.S. are exempt (being born in those countries but educated elsewhere does not exempt you). Alternative: an average grade of B in high-school-level English writing or literature courses (about 5 on the IB scale or 80 on a 100-point scale), with English the primary language of instruction for all grade 10–12 classes, plus an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 580 or an ACT English score of 22 sent officially to the UW; in that case the SAT/ACT is used only for English proficiency and not in the holistic review.
• Funds and costs: international students pay non-resident tuition (see Section 6). The UW states plainly that it does not provide financial aid or scholarships to undergraduate international students, who should be prepared to cover all expenses. The specific proof-of-funds requirements are not described on the pages we read.
• Nursing and other limited majors: the School of Nursing page says international applicants must meet the UW’s international admission requirements in addition to the nursing program’s requirements; restrictions on international students in the nursing major or clinical placements are not stated on the pages we read, so ask the School of Nursing.

8. Applicants from China

• Transcripts: the UW says that applicants (U.S. or international) who attended a school outside the U.S. that follows a national compulsory curriculum must upload a scanned, unofficial transcript for grade 9 and above to the Common App; records not in English must be accompanied by official English translations. Do not mail high school transcripts or mid-year reports. After admission and confirmation of enrollment, final transcripts are required.
• Gaokao and Huikao: the pages we read do not say whether Gaokao scores are considered or what Huikao materials are needed; not published there, so ask the Office of Admissions.
• English: see Section 7; no separate China-specific score is stated and the TOEFL ITP’s acceptance is not mentioned on the pages we read.
• Letters and interviews: recommendation letters are not accepted and there are no interviews.

9. Transfer students

• Dates: Autumn: opens December 15, deadline February 15, notifications May 1–June 30; Winter (U.S. transfer applicants only): opens August 1, deadline September 1; Spring is open only to specific engineering and computer science departments; Summer: opens December 15, deadline February 15. The transfer page also says “the online application is closed”, so check the 2027 autumn opening.
• Materials: a personal statement; official transcripts from every college (and a high school transcript if you have fewer than 40 transferable quarter credits); application fee $85 ($95 for international transfer students, with no waivers); English proficiency for international transfer students; SAT/ACT scores give no advantage or disadvantage. Recommendation letters are not accepted.
• CADRs: transfer students must also meet the distribution requirements (with high school or college courses) unless they have 40 or more transferable quarter credits.
• The transfer GPA: the UW uses all transferable academic courses with letter grades from regionally accredited colleges, using the home institution’s grade assignments; it excludes remedial, ESL, vocational/technical, pass/satisfactory-graded and similar courses.
• Entering the major: the UW says all transfer students apply for general admission and some majors also require a departmental application; others require enrollment first. Per the major pages: Biology requires you to be a matriculated Seattle student, so you apply after transferring in; Biochemistry offers Direct Transfer Admission, with a departmental application in the same quarter as the university application and courses listed that include BIOL 180, general chemistry and MATH 124/125; Nursing admits once a year after the prerequisites. The UW stresses that preparation for the intended major is a factor in the transfer holistic review.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply by November 15 with the Common App, pay the $85 fee, write the essay and self-report courses and grades through STARS after applying; SAT/ACT not required for most; do not send recommendation letters
• Meet the CADRs (including the senior-year math-based course); list Biochemistry or Neuroscience as the first choice if you want to be considered for direct admission; other majors are mostly applied to after enrolling

International applicants (including China):

• Same November 15 deadline; $95 with no waiver; take TOEFL/IELTS/DET by December 31; upload scanned transcripts from grade 9 with English translations; the UW gives no aid to undergraduate international students
• Gaokao and Huikao handling is not published; ask the admissions office

Transfer students:

• Apply by February 15 for autumn; complete the prerequisites for the intended major; Biology is applied to after enrolling

Sources: University of Washington, First-year application; How to apply; English proficiency; College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs); AP credit; Admission to majors; Transfer application; Transfer: how to apply; The transfer GPA; Cost of attendance; Pre-health; Majors; Biology; Biochemistry; Neuroscience; Microbiology; Nursing; Public Health; Food Systems, Nutrition & Health; Pre-health advising: pre-health at the UW; Pre-health advising: prepare; School of Nursing: BSN; School of Nursing: international applicants. The date pages show no year; check the University of Washington website to confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry.