SOPHAS Fee: $150 for the first program, $60 for each additional program

• Visit the SOPHAS website for their full fee waiver policy
• SOPHAS fee waivers are offered on a first-come, first-served basis through the SOPHAS Fee Assistance Program, independent from the UW. If you are approved for a SOPHAS fee waiver, you are required to submit your application within 14 days.
• SOPHAS offers a finite amount of waivers! They have previously run out of waivers before our application deadline and several otherwise qualified applicants couldn’t access them. So, request these early! (In 2024, SOPHAS fee waivers were no longer available as of December 1.)

UW Graduate School Fee: $90

• Determine your eligibility for the UW Grad School application fee waiver first. Only request a waiver from HSPop if you do not qualify for the Grad School fee waiver.
• Request a waiver at least seven days before the application deadline.
• Do not pay the fee or submit your application until you receive waiver approval or denial. The fee cannot be reimbursed! 

1. UW Grad School | Fee Waivers
2. Dept. of HSPop | Fee Waivers

Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

Unofficial transcripts are needed for the UW Graduate School, and official transcripts are needed for SOPHAS. You may omit transcripts that are redundant or irrelevant to this degree, such as minor transcripts for coursework that is irrelevant to the program. If you completed coursework at one institution, but then transferred those credits to another, you do not need a transcript from the first institution if the courses are listed as transfer credits on the second transcript.

Obtain unofficial transcripts from each college or university where you earned a degree or completed relevant coursework. Download unofficial transcripts or scan printed copies. UW will request official transcripts when an offer of admission is made (international applicants) or accepted (domestic applicants).

For SOPHAS applications, you will need to order official transcripts from each collegiate level institution attended. Details can be found on the SOPHAS website.

Note: If you are only applying to the Online MPH program, you can bypass the official transcript verification process and manual course entry in SOPHAS. Our program requires only unofficial transcripts at the time of application. If you are admitted to the program, then the UW Graduate School will require an official transcript for verification. See “Bypass Info” for more details

Application: SOPHAS

The SOPHAS application requires applicants both to order official transcripts AND manually enter all coursework exactly as it is listed on official college level transcripts. This process takes a significant amount of time, and we recommend entering this information as early as possible.

Note: If you are only applying to the Online MPH program, you can bypass the official transcript verification process and manual course entry in SOPHAS. Our program requires only unofficial transcripts at the time of application. If you are admitted to the program, then the UW Graduate School will require an official transcript for verification. See “Bypass Info” for more details.

Application: SOPHAS

The GRE is no longer required! However, if applicants think their GRE scores are a better representation of academic preparedness for the program than their transcripts, they may include their GRE scores.

If applicants choose to submit GRE scores, they must self-report them in the online application with SOPHAS AND have scores sent directly to SOPHAS from the Educational Testing Service using the institutional code below. Scores from the testing services must arrive by the application deadline to be considered.

UW Institution Code with SOPHAS: 4943

Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

Applicants whose first language is not English might need to share proof of English language proficiency. Only scores less than two years old at the time of the application deadline will be accepted.

Test scores must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using the UW institution code.

UW Institution Code: 4854

Application: SOPHAS

Number Needed: 3

Identify three people who will write letters of recommendation, such as academic advisors, professors, supervisors, or mentors. Recommenders should be familiar with your academic goals and potential for achieving those goals. These letters should address the general topic of your suitability for the program and should mention how recommenders know you and for how long.

Requests for the letters will be sent out via SOPHAS. You will need to provide names, emails, due date, and a personal message (up to 500 words) to the recommenders. The recommenders will receive an email that directs them to a secure website where they will submit their letters.

You will be able to return to the online application to check whether letters have been submitted. You are expected to be in contact with each recommender to make sure that the letters are submitted by the application deadline (noted at the top of this page).

Application: SOPHAS

Make sure your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) are up to date and inclusive of any public health experience you might have, such as conference presentations, publications, mentoring, volunteering, and other unpaid experience.

Application: SOPHAS and UW Graduate School

To be considered for admission, you must complete both the UW Graduate School application and the SOPHAS application.

Both application portals provide the following:

• Unique application ID numbers for every program you apply to
• Prompts to link the two applications:
  • Add SOPHAS application ID to UW Graduate School application
  • Add UW Graduate School application ID to SOPHAS application

You may do this in either order, although you will not be able to complete either application until the two are linked.

Application: SOPHAS

Limit: 500 words max

The Personal History Statement is meant to give you the opportunity to offer a narrative of your lived experiences, and obstacles you may have overcome and how these have guided you towards an interest in public health. This statement should not be the same as your Statement of Purpose.

Your Personal History Statement can include information about who you are as a person; your family or cultural background; your socioeconomic conditions; and your experiences growing up, including successes, challenges, and moments of learning and growth.

Please do not feel compelled to provide personal information you would rather not share.

Application: SOPHAS

Limit: 350 words max

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are core values of the School of Public Health. We seek to create a community of students inclusive of and in service to underrepresented populations.

The School is committed to anti-racism and strives to adopt anti-racist principles both in the classroom and in our work. How would you contribute to these efforts while in the program and in the future as a working professional?

Please review the UW School of Public Health EDI Statement for more information.