MS in Nutritional Sciences – Application Information

All MS 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).
• Select program: Choose “Graduate” (Application Type) and “Nutritional Sciences (MS)” (Program). Answer “No” under “Concurrent Application,” even if you are also applying to the GCPD.
• Review requirements: Review the program information and expectations and attest your understanding.
• Answer questions: Complete the Application Questions and Application Materials sections, including verifying your degree/program choice, uploading the requested documents, and indicating your main areas of nutrition interest.
• Demonstrate English proficiency: Non-native English speakers must 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 questions (optional but encouraged)

MS students in the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD) simultaneously pursue a graduate degree in Nutritional Sciences and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) training.

To apply to the GCPD, you must submit an additional (second) 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).
• Select program: 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).

List and submit unofficial transcripts for all schools where you have earned college-level credit. If a transcript is not in English, it must be accompanied by an English translation.

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.

• Verify you are applying to the correct degree (either “MS degree” or “MS degree and GCPD”).
• Are you currently or will you be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) before your intended enrollment?
• Is your goal to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?
• Please choose up to three (3) areas of interest within the field of nutrition from the options provided.

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.

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.

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 Application Questions page of your UW Graduate School application.

Upload a PDF of your CV/resume to the Application Materials page of your UW Graduate School application. Your submission 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

Download the Supplemental Information Form, fill it out per the instructions, and upload it to the Application Materials page of your UW Graduate School application.

Enter names and contact information for three (3) references; the UW Graduate School 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 the UW Graduate School receiving all your letters of recommendation.

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).