Master of Public Health (MPH) in Public Health Nutrition – Application Information

All MPH applicants are required to submit a UW Graduate School application.

• Create account: Choose a username and password in the UW Graduate School application portal.
• Complete core application: Enter your Profile and Contact Information (Ethnicity Information is optional) and Academic History (include all schools where you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and where prerequisite courses were completed).
• Program selection: Choose “Graduate” (Application Type) and “Public Health Nutrition (MPH)” (Program). Answer “No” under “Concurrent Application,” even if you are also applying to the GCPD.
• Program requirements: Review the program information and expectations and attest your understanding.
• Confirm program: Verify your degree/program choice, enter the 10-digit CAS ID from your SOPHAS application, and indicate your main areas of nutrition interest.
• Demonstrate English proficiency: Non-native English speakers will provide documentation establishing their English competence (see the “Application Sections and Materials” menu on this page for more information).
• Submit application: Review and submit your completed application and pay the fee ($90) or request a fee waiver.
• Answer post-application question (optional but encouraged)

In addition to a UW Graduate School application, you must also submit a SOPHAS application.

• Create account: Choose a username and password in the SOPHAS application portal.
• Complete core application: Fill out the Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information sections.
• Program selection: On the Add Program page, search for “University of Washington School of Public Health” and click the “+” icon next to “MPH” (Degree) and “Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health” (Program Name).
• Answer questions: Complete the Program Materials section (including entering the 9-digit Application ID from your UW Graduate School application) and upload the requested documents.
• Submit application: Review and submit your completed application and pay the fee ($150 for the first program and $60 for each additional program) or request a fee waiver (UW School of Public Health’s 2025-26 SOPHAS Fee Waiver Eligibility and Instructions).

MPH students in the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD) simultaneously pursue a graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) training.

To apply to the GCPD, you must submit an additional (third) application via DICAS.

• Create account: Choose a username and password in the DICAS application portal.
• Complete core application: Fill out the Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information sections.
  • International applicants: DICAS only accepts foreign transcript evaluations from World Education Services (WES).
• Program selection: On the Add Program page, search for “University of Washington” and click the “+” icon next to “University of Washington Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics” (Program Name).
• Answer questions: Complete the Program Materials section.
• Submit application: Review and submit your completed application and pay the fee ($50 for the first program and $25 for each additional program).

SOPHAS requests your high school and college attendance and degree information, and asks you to record all college-level coursework as it appears on your transcript(s). This process takes a significant amount of time, so plan to enter this information as early as possible.

SOPHAS also requires official English-language transcripts be sent from each college-level institution attended. International applicants: SOPHAS only accepts foreign transcript evaluations from World Education Services (WES).

Note: Admitted applicants with accepted offers will also be required to submit official transcripts to the UW Graduate School and Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program.

Non-native English speakers fulfilling their UW Graduate School English language proficiency requirement may self-report TOEFL or Academic IELTS scores in the SOPHAS Academic History–Standardized Tests section. Official test scores, however, must be sent from the testing service directly to the University of Washington (see the “Non-Native English Speaker Information” menu entry below for more information).

The Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program does not consider GRE scores.

Enter names and contact information for three (3) references; SOPHAS will relay an email prompt with instructions on how to submit their letters of recommendation online.

The most effective and impactful letters of recommendation come from academic or professional sources who know you well and can provide insight into your academic competence, ability to engage in graduate study, potential for future success in the nutrition field, and/or work experience and professional demeanor. Please refrain from requesting recommendations from family members, friends, or clergy.

We recommend setting a due date earlier than December 1 to ensure all letters are received by the application deadline.

Note: You may submit your application prior to SOPHAS receiving all your letters of recommendation.

Upload a PDF of your CV/resume, which should include the following information, as applicable:

• Academic history (including institution, degree, and dates of attendance)
• Professional experience (including employer, position/title, dates of employment, and full-time/part-time status)
• Volunteer experience (including organization, role, dates of participation, and total number of hours)
• Nutrition-related experience
• Research experience
• Involvement with community and/or diversity-related activities
• Honors, awards, publications, and presentations

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.

You can include information about who you are as a person; your family or 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.

Maximum word limit: 500.

How would you contribute to the mission, vision, and values of the University of Washington School of Public Health in the program and your future career? Please address two of our listed values.

Maximum word limit: 500.

Your Statement of Purpose is an opportunity for you to describe how a graduate degree in nutritional sciences will help you meet your professional goals. If you are also applying to the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD), please explain how the RDN credential fits into your future plans. Your Statement should include:

• Highlights/achievements from your undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate education.
• How your prior work/volunteer experiences have helped prepare you for graduate school.
• Your academic interest areas and why you would like to attend the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program within the University of Washington School of Public Health.
• Your career objectives.

Maximum word limit: 750, including responses to all bullet points.

• Will you be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) before your intended enrollment?
• Is your goal to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

If you would like the admissions committee to consider extenuating circumstances not addressed in other sections of your application, please describe them here, focusing on how you managed/resolved the issue(s).

Maximum word limit: 200.

Download the Prerequisite Information Form, fill it out per the instructions, and upload it to the Program Materials – Documents section of your SOPHAS application.

Download the Supplemental Information Form, fill it out per the instructions, and upload it to the Program Materials – Documents section of your SOPHAS application.

• Verify you are applying to the correct degree (either “MPH degree” or “MPH degree and GCPD”).
• Enter your 10-digit SOPHAS application CAS ID.
• Choose up to three (3) areas of interest within the nutrition field from the options provided.

We would appreciate you responding to the following question, available via your UW Graduate School Application Checklist within 30 minutes of submission (optional):

How did you first learn about the UW Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program?

Non-native English speakers (regardless of citizenship) are required to demonstrate English language proficiency (ELP) for University of Washington graduate study. ELP documentation must be included with your UW Graduate School application.

Demonstration of proficiency (see Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements for details):

• English test scores: official scores must be submitted directly from the testing service to the UW (see UW Graduate School Application Help and FAQs for more information)
  • TOEFL (iBT or MyBest)—scores preferred by the admissions committee
    • Minimum score: 4.5 (92 for tests taken before January 21, 2026)
    • Score reporting information: ETS institution code 4854 (University of Washington-Seattle)
  • Duolingo
    • Minimum sore: 125
    • Score reporting information: University of Washington Graduate Admissions (Seattle)
  • Academic IELTS
    • Minimum score: 7.0
    • Score reporting information: E-TRF organization ID 365 (University of Washington, Seattle)
• A degree (bachelor’s or higher) from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution of higher education
• A degree (bachelor’s or higher) from an educational institution in one of the countries specified in Policy 3.2, where English is the medium of instruction
• Official documentation from a bachelor’s degree-granting institution (if in a country other than those listed in Policy 3.2) verifying that all instruction is in English (“Medium of Instruction Document”)

Note: Only TOEFL and IELTS scores (not Duolingo) qualify applicants for on-campus employment as teaching assistants, (see Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English for more information).