Admissions for International Students
Over half of our students are international. We value the diversity, experiences, and perspectives they bring. Our accessible application process, equitable tuition, and International Student Ambassadors Program reflect our commitment to welcome and support international students.
International Students – Requirements
Tuition and fees
Tuition rates are the same for domestic and international students, and are lower than comparable programs. Visit Tuition & Financial Aid to see current costs.
UW Graduate School requirements
You must meet these requirements to enroll in any UW graduate program.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required by Policy 3.1: Graduate Admissions
- Hold the minimum equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from an accredited foreign institution, or a Bologna bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 180 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits.
- Non-Native English speakers can satisfy the English language proficiency admission requirement in multiple ways, including eligible prior degrees or test scores. These are described in Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements.
Test scores and work experience
We emphasize creativity, demonstrated leadership, and communication skills over test scores and past grades.
- No GRE or GMAT is required
- No professional experience is required (MCDM or MCCL)
Previous professional experience is welcome but is not required for the MCDM and MCCL degrees. The program has classes and opportunities for students in these degrees with and without work experience.
Please note that our Communities and Networks degree (MCCN) is designed for mid-career applicants. At least two years of full-time work experience in any field, post-bachelor’s degree, is required to apply for the MCCN.
University of Washington resources
The UW offers support for international students via:
International Student Guide
Use our guide to help you through the Admissions process and prepare for enrollment if you are accepted.
International Student Ambassadors
If you’re considering the program but still have questions, talk with one of our International Student Ambassadors.
They are current and former students who are happy to answer questions about their experiences, especially those from their home countries or regions.
Email Liyao Zhao, Head of Outreach, and she’ll introduce you to someone who can help.
You can also connect with current Communication Leadership international students on their Facebook group, and the Comm Lead WeChat: uwcommlead.
Meet the Ambassadors
Hear our Ambassadors share their stories from the program. They share career and networking tips and show how UW equips you for impact on a world stage, rooted in diverse perspectives.
International Student Stories
Hear stories from some of our current and former international students to connect and get a better understanding of their experiences.
Choosing Comm Lead
The decision to travel across the world for graduate school can be a tough one. But for Kanhaiya, a combination of staying rooted in his culture, embracing the new things he’s learning, and taking advantage of professional opportunities has made coming to Seattle to pursue a master’s one of the best decisions of his life.
Produced by Comm Lead student Thomas Chengxi Zou in COMMLD 532 Advanced Video Storytelling, Winter 2019.
Luck of the Draw
A Communication Leadership grad student is surprised by a visit from her sister, who begs her to leave her studies in Seattle and return to China. A web of family secrets is unravelled in this tense Mandarin-language short film with a shocking twist.
Produced entirely by Communication Leadership international students, Directed by Jaden Liu.
Healing Homesickness
Adapting to life in a new country isn’t easy. But Communication Leadership master’s student Isabel Wang found ways to stave off homesickness and stay connected to friends and family through food and technology.
Video produced by Gloria Angelin in COMMLD 531: Foundations of Video Storytelling, Autumn 2019.
What are the mental health concerns for international students?
KUOW public radio story featuring Comm Lead student Thomas Chengxi Zou
Next Steps
Go to How to Apply to learn how to start your Communication Leadership application.
University of Washington
Department of Communication