Waivers, Exemptions, Reductions

Please review the following overview of tuition waivers and reductions currently implemented by the University of Washington.

Each waiver item includes links to the authorizing state statute in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which outlines any requirements for receiving a tuition waiver. Additional requirements and limitations can be found in relevant sections of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), UW Administrative Policy Statements (APS), and other resources.

Many of these waivers are applied only in specific situations for students who meet specific eligibility requirements and therefore do not have formal application processes. As applicable, contact information is provided for each waiver.

This information is not exhaustive and may not include certain grant-funded or departmental waivers or scholarship programs. Contact your academic department for any questions.

Washington State Authorization

The University’s Board of Regents is authorized to grant tuition and fee waivers to students pursuant to RCW 28B.15.910 and the laws identified therein. A number of these statutes authorize, but do not require, the Board of Regents to grant waivers for different categories of students and provide for waivers of different fees.

For these permissive waivers, that are authorized but not required by state law, the Board of Regents must affirmatively act to implement the legislature’s grant of authority under each individual law. These permissive waivers can be found in WAC 478-161-020.

Certain waivers of tuition or fees are required by Washington State laws for specific student populations and do not require the Board of Regents’ action to implement. The Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Planning & Budgeting coordinate updates to this page in response to changes in state law or implementation of waivers.

Available Tuition Waivers

Welcome Back to the University of Washington!

The Returning Student Process is designed for undergraduate or professional-level students wishing to return to the University of Washington after an absence of one quarter or more (excluding summer quarter).

The following steps will guide you through the process to reactivate your student account and prepare you to register for a future quarter. Once you have submitted your Returning Student Request Form, you’ll be able to clear any holds you may have on your registration, and then confirm your intention to enroll through the Enrollment Confirmation System.

You may request to return to the University of Washington if you:

• Have been away for more than one quarter (excluding summer quarter). Withdrawing from one quarter and not attending the subsequent quarter constitutes an absence of two consecutive quarters, which triggers the need to submit the Returning Student Request Form, AND
• Have not obtained a degree in their last enrolled student category, either from the University of Washington or from another institution.

The ability to return as a student to the University of Washington is granted at the discretion of the University.

Eligibility factors which may be considered include, but are not limited to:

• space availability in the major in which you were previously enrolled
• activities during the period in which you were not enrolled
• prior disciplinary action

Complete 5 Steps to Return to UW

Returning Student Deadlines

You must complete all steps of the Returning Student process, including registering for classes for your return quarter by the end of the Returning Student Process Deadline day of the quarter you wish to return.

UW Bothell and UW Tacoma

Returning Students to UW Bothell and UW Tacoma may have other requirements for resuming your studies. Check with your respective campus registration team for more information. If you have any questions on the Returning Student Process, email your campus registration team.

Graduate Students

Students previously registered in the Graduate School who have failed to maintain graduate student status (on-leave status was not secured or registration was not maintained) but wish to resume studies within the same degree program must file a request for reinstatement to the Graduate School.

Graduate students who are returning from official on-leave status do not complete the Returning Student Request Form. Review the Graduate On-Leave Status for on-leave eligibility, the procedure for requesting leave, and information about reinstatement.

For questions regarding on-leave status or the graduate reinstatement process, please contact the Graduate Program Advisor within your graduate program and/or Graduate Enrollment Management Services or 206-685-2630.

Productivity Platforms & Email

Please be aware that the UW G Suite and/or UW Office 365 email & productivity platform account(s) and data that you create with your UW email address are temporary and will expire when you graduate and/or separate from the UW.

It is strongly recommended to forward your UW email address to a personal, non-UW email address upon separation from the UW.

The UW Time Schedule, commonly known as the course catalog, lists credit classes offered at the University of Washington – Seattle. It is updated daily and is subject to change. You can get the up-to-the-minute status of any section by clicking on the five-digit Schedule Line Number.

UW Time Schedule

Time Schedule FAQs

The following FAQs are to assist students.

A glossary of terms, abbreviations, and acronyms often used in the Office of the University Registrar, Enrollment Management, and Schmitz Hall.

Glossary of Terms

– A –

Academic Calendar

A resource for students and staff regarding all important registration dates and deadlines every quarter.

ACCESS Program

A program for Washington State residents, age 60 and older, that allows them to audit one or two university courses per quarter on a space-available basis for a reduced rate.

Add Code

Entry codes are five-digit random numbers issued to students by academic departments as authorization to add or drop a restricted course or section. Add Codes are not transferable. All courses require an add code beginning the 7th calendar day of the quarter. AKA: Entry Code.

– C –

Certificate of Enrollment

A document detailing a student’s enrollment history, including dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, and whether the student has earned a degree at UW.

Change of Major/Minor

A student meets with their adviser to discuss their academic career plan, then completes the appropriate paperwork (Change of Major/Minor Form) which is then submitted to the Registration Office for processing. Some majors and minors may have restrictions for which students must meet minimum admissions requirements.

Commencement

The ceremony at which students celebrate earning academic degrees; also known as Graduation. Managed by the Office of Ceremonies.

Continuum College

University unit that manages several programs such as PCE, UW in the High School, online courses, and non-matriculated (Autumn through Spring) registration.

Cross-Campus Registration

A process which permits students at Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses to register for courses at a location other than their home campus. Permission must be sought from the Registration Office at their home campus and students must meet certain credit requirements prior in order to be eligible.

– D –

Dean’s List

The University of Washington recognizes students after each academic quarter and year for their high scholarship award and inclusion on the corresponding Dean’s List. A suitable and official notation of this achievement is recorded on the student’s University transcript.

Degree Verification

Process managed by the National Student Clearinghouse. Third-party requestors & employers can use this service to verify degrees earned by students at the UW. OUR does not provide verifications for residencies, internships, fellowships, or other training and certificate programs.

Diploma

A certificate that testifies the recipient has completed a particular course of study. The Assistant Registrar for Credentials & Athletic Compliance manages diploma ordering and any requests for duplicate or lost diplomas.

Drop Slip

A document showing that a student dropped a course for them to either receive a refund from the bookstore or a tuition adjustment from Student Fiscal Services. Can be provided to a student by printing their registration transaction history on the SRF120 screen, then stamping with the Registrar’s Office address stamp.

Dubs

The UW mascot! [A.K.A. Dubs II. Although not an actual husky; Dubs is an Alaskan Malamute.]

– E –

Education Record

Any record that directly identifies a student and is maintained by the institution or educational agency or by a party acting for the institution or educational agency. A key distinction of education records is that education records are shared. Education records can exist in any medium including the following: handwritten, typed, computer-generated, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche, email, and others. Education records are subject to FERPA.

Educational Outreach

Former name for University unit – Professional & Continuing Education (PCE).

Entry Code

Entry codes are five-digit random numbers issued to students by academic departments as authorization to add or drop a restricted course or section. Entry Codes are not transferable. All courses require entry codes beginning the 7th calendar day of the quarter. AKA: Add Code.

– F –

Faculty Code

Another type of Entry Code for students enrolling in a research course or independent study courses such as 499, 600, 700, or 800. Faculty Codes are provided only by the instructor or department.

Fee-based Programs

Programs and their classes that do not receive direct financial support from the State of Washington. Registration for fee-based classes may either be done via Register.UW or via UW PCE, depending on the program.

– H –

Husky Health Center

University unit that manages all immunizations and student health information. Only the Hall Health office can remove any immunization holds. Students may contact the Husky Health – Immunity regarding any immunization questions or to resolve any holds. Formerly “Hall Health.”

– L –

Late Add Petition

Form students can use to add a course for a current quarter once the deadline to add a course via Register.UW has passed, or to retroactively add a course to a quarter that has already passed. The form must be signed by the instructor and a department chair or designee granting approval.

– M –

MyPlan

An academic planner that lets students search for potential courses and programs, audit their progress to explore academic programs, and discover which courses are needed to complete a degree. MyPlan can also be used to build schedules and send any planned courses to the Student Personal Services registration system. (Currently, MyPlan can only be used to add courses; courses cannot be dropped via MyPlan).

MyUW

A portal by which students can view their personal data, notices, grades, and financial information. Students log into MyUW with their UW NetID to view a number of campus and University services.

– N –

National Student Clearinghouse

A nonprofit and nongovernmental organization and the leading provider of educational reporting, data exchange, verification, and research services. Students can receive free certificates of enrollment via a self-service portal. Third-party requestors can receive degree and date of attendance information for students, former students, and alumni.

– P –

Preferred Name

A name that a student would like to be called in classroom settings and when interacting with University personnel. Students can set their preferred name at identity.uw.edu.

Pre-Registration

One week before the first day of registration, students can log into Student Personal Services to complete the required pre-registration notices, including acknowledgements, FERPA notifications, UPASS, insurance, address updates, etc. It is recommended that students complete these steps ahead of their assigned registration day.

Pre-Requisites

One or more courses, a minimum placement test score, or a minimum grade required in order to register for a particular course. The Time Schedule and MyPlan will indicate which courses have prerequisites. Only a department can determine if a student has met the criteria and waive pre-requisites for a course. Registrar Student Services cannot make this determination.

– R –

Register.UW

The new registration system for all UW students. Students can complete their Pre-Registration steps and the access the new registration system and resources.

Registration

Process by which students add, drop, or change courses on their academic schedule.

Registration Transaction Form

Form completed by a student for registration processes that they are unable to complete on their own via Register.UW such as resolving a time conflict, changing variable credits on a course, or – for international students – dropping a course after the first week of the quarter. The form is then submitted to the Registration office for processing.

Residency

Determines whether or not a student will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Students must show they have not come to Washington State primarily for educational purposes.

Returning Student Form

An application form that must be submitted by students who have not attended UW for two or more consecutive quarters (not including Summer). There is an $80 enrollment confirmation fee required before they can register. Students must be in good academic standing for them to return to UW.

Reverse Transfer

Reverse Transfer is a means by which a student may receive an associate’s degree after transferring from a 2-year, lower-division institution of higher education to a 4-year institution.

– S –

Sole Possession Record

Those records that are kept in the sole possession of the maker of the records and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the records. Sole possession records are not subject to FERPA.

Study Abroad

Program that allows students to engage in a cultural and academic exchange program in another country. Students can participate in a study abroad program through UW or via an outside organization.

Summer Sessions at UW

Program organized by UW Continuum College. Allows visiting college students, high school students, and other adults/professionals to enroll as a non-matriculated student and take courses at the University of Washington.

– T –

Time Schedule

A compilation of all courses offered each quarter. Includes the course names, SLNs, times, and any restrictions. The unit within the Office of the University Registrar that manages this information is the Time Schedule and Room Assignments office, or TSRA.

Transcripts

A transcript is a record of student achievement at the University of Washington and classes taken at any UW campus will appear on one transcript. Both Official and Unofficial versions of transcripts are available to students.

Tuition Exemption

A waiver that allows eligible UW faculty/staff and WA state employees to have the tuition cost for up to six credits per quarter covered by the University. Students must have active student status to receive the tuition exemption benefit. Eligibility for the tuition exemption benefit is determined by the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) office.

– U –

U-PASS

A transit pass that allows students and UW staff unlimited rides on buses, commuter trains, and light rail. Students who pay the services & activities fee are automatically enrolled in U-PASS and required to pay the U-PASS fee. Other categories of students and UW staff may choose to purchase a U-PASS at a discounted rate through the Transportation Services office. The U-PASS is linked to a student or staff member’s Husky Card.

– W –

Withdrawal

When all courses are dropped from a student’s schedule. When a student withdraws from all courses during weeks 1 & 2, only the withdrawal date will appear on the transcript. From weeks 3-10, a RD (for Registrar Drop) will appear on the transcript next to the student’s courses. Prior to Spring 2020, withdrawn courses appear on the University’s transcript with a W grade, followed by a number representing the week in which the course was dropped (3-7).

Abbreviations

A list of Curriculum Abbreviations can be found on the Student Guide.

Transcripts

The transcript is an academic record of all coursework completed at the University of Washington-Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. Most student records were converted to a new transcript system in Winter 1983. University of Washington transcripts may be provided in two formats.

Transcripts are educational records subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. Transcripts are furnished for official use only and may not be released to, or accessed by, outside agencies or third parties without the written consent of the student concerned.

Academic Terms

The academic year is comprised of three quarters lasting approximately eleven (11) weeks – autumn, winter, and spring. There is also summer quarter.

Accreditation

The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Courses

Grades

Professional Schools