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Returning Student Checklist

Undergraduate and professional school students who intend to return to the University of Washington after an absence of more than one quarter should review and complete the following steps to facilitate a smooth return. Graduate students should check with their academic program advisers for specific returning student process directions.

Other Campuses

University of Washington Bothell: Students previously enrolled at the UW Bothell campus and looking to return to UW Bothell, please visit Returning Students – Bothell

University of Washington Tacoma: Students previously enrolled at UW Tacoma campus and looking to return to UW Tacoma, please visit Returning Students – Tacoma

Checklist Items

Returning Student Eligibility

Log into MyUW to check eligibility to enroll or whether to complete the Returning Student Process. Students who have been absent more than one quarter (excluding summer quarter) need to complete the Returning Student Process.

Log into MyUW

Academic Advising

  1. Consult with your academic adviser and discuss your plans to return.
  2. Review the Returning Student instructions and submit the Returning Student application form.

Returning Student Instructions

Academic Major

Students previously enrolled in an academic program with restricted enrollment and/or special admission requirements should consult their adviser about procedures for readmission in the same program.
Undergraduate Academic Advising

Departmental & Major Advising Offices

Financial Aid

Students who need or have received financial aid previously should consult with the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Office of Student Financial Aid

Fiscal Services

Students who have a financial hold on their account or need assistance in navigating an outstanding debt should contact Student Fiscal Services.

Student Fiscal Services

Residency

Be advised that students returning to the University may not necessarily be readmitted under their previous residency classification. It is highly suggested that students check their tuition statement to ensure the tuition rate and fees are charged correctly. Students should be prepared to complete any necessary application and documents required to correct their classification with the Residency Office.

Residency Office

Athletes

Returning athletes should contact the academic advisor of their sport to confirm eligibility or, if no longer eligible, to learn about the FinishLine Degree Completion program available to former UW student-athletes.

FinishLine Degree Completion Program

International Students

International students returning to the UW who require an I-20 (F visa) or DS-2019 (J visa) should contact International Student Services to request new immigration documents once your returning student request has been approved.

ISS Returning Students

Veteran Students

Veteran students who have questions about or previously received veterans benefits should contact the Veterans Education Benefits Office to ensure continued support.

Veterans Education Benefits Office

Campus Housing

Students interested in living in University housing may find information about applying via must contact Housing & Food Services’ Application Guides to make housing arrangements.

HFS: Guides and Handbooks

Disability Resources

Students requiring assistance from Disability Resources need to contact Disability Resources for Students to determine next steps.

Disability Resources for Students

Community

Students can find community in many ways:

Additional Support

We understand that your transition back to the UW can be complicated. Please know that we fully support you, whatever your situation may be. Some additional services you might want to consider:

Tuition Waivers

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

Available Tuition Waivers

WAC 478-161-020 provides the statutory requirements of the waiver program; however, additional restrictions regarding program eligibility, admission, registration, and information on excluded courses can be found in APS 22.1 and the Registrar’s Tuition Exemption Program.

UW Seattle UW Bothell UW Tacoma Non-UW Schools
Office of the University Registrar
Second Floor Schmitz Hall
regoff@uw.edu
Office of the Registrar
Husky Hall Welcome Center
425-352-5240
uwbreg@uw.edu
Office of the Registrar
MAT 253
253-692-4913
reguwt@uw.edu
Professional and Organizational Development
206-543-1957
pod@uw.edu

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.558

TAs/RAs, Faculty and Staff and their Spouses and Dependents, and Immigrant Refugees and their Spouses and Dependents

The University is authorized to waive the non-resident portion of tuition for a person residing in the State of Washington who:

  • Holds a graduate service appointment such as a teaching assistant or research assistant.
  • is employed by an academic department for not less than twenty hours per week.
  • Is a University employee who is recruited for employment from another state to work at the University or that employee’s spouse or dependent child.
  • Is an immigrant refugee or the spouse or child of a refugee.

Review WAC 478-161-020 for restrictions on duration of eligibility for faculty, staff, and refugees.

TAs & RAs Staff & Immigrant Refugees Faculty
  1. Employment Unit
  2. Academic Department
  3. Graduate School
    G-1 Communications
    206-543-7152
    gradappt@uw.edu
Office of Residency Classification
226 Schmitz Hall

resquest@uw.edu

Academic Human Resources
240 Gerberding Hall
206-221-8927
acadpers@uw.edu

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.014

Persons Holding Graduate Service Appointments

As part of the compensation package for resident students that work as teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs), all or part of the operating fee component of tuition is waived. The University fulfills its research mission with the innovation and work of its graduate students and considers waiving all or portion of their tuition a critical part of their compensation for their service to the University.

Review RCW 28B.15.014 for exemptions from the non-resident tuition differential.

TAs & RAs

  1. Employment Unit
  2. Academic Department
  3. Graduate School
    Location: G-1 Communications
    Email: gradappt@uw.edu
    Phone: 206-543-7152

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.615

The University’s School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, and School of Law students are sometimes required by their programs to take over 18 credits in a given quarter. The University is authorized to exempt these students from the normal mandatory tuition surcharge for additional credits.

Contact your admitting academic unit for more information.

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.100

In an interstate agreement, the University of Washington serves as the medical school for students from Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI). Students from these states pay resident tuition rates and their home states pay the balance of the cost of instruction directly to the University’s School of Medicine.

UW School of Medicine – WWAMI
Office of Academic Affairs
A300 Health Sciences
206-543-5560

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.225

Certain children and surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, highway workers and Washington state patrol officers who lost their life or became totally disabled in the line of duty are exempt from tuition and services and activities fees.

Office of Student Financial Aid
Location: 105 Schmitz Hall
Email: finaid@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-6101

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.380

The University is required to waive all tuition and fees for wrongly convicted persons and their children who meet certain eligibility requirements as outlined in RCW.

Office of Student Financial Aid
Location: 105 Schmitz Hall
Email: finaid@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-6101

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.395

WICHE is an interstate agreement and supports University graduate and professional students from 16 participating western states by offsetting part or all of the non-resident tuition differential. Washington residents also benefit from this program when enrolling in a participating program in a WICHE state. These waivers apply only to participating programs.

Review the WICHE website for more information.

Student Fiscal Services
Location: 129 Schmitz Hall
Email: sfshelp@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-4694

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.544. Review also RCW 28B.70.050.

In certain programs, University students studying abroad are matched by their host institution sending a student to this University. Each student involved in these exchanges can benefit from paying resident tuition rates while each institution supports the visiting student by subsidizing the non-resident tuition differential. The University of Washington is authorized to support up to 100 students with this waiver.

Study Abroad
Location: 453 Schmitz Hall
Email: studyabroad@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-9272
Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.555 through RCW 28B.15.556

  1. The University may waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an “eligible veteran or national guard member” who meets certain criteria of service. WAC 478-161-020 further limits eligibility, credit limits, and eligibility to graduate students. Required forms are on the University’s Veterans Education Benefits.
  2. The University is required to waive all tuition and fees for children, spouses, and domestic partners, of an “eligible veteran or national guard member” who became totally disabled as a result of their service, lost their life while engaged in active service, or is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action. Required forms are on the University’s Veterans Education Benefits.

Veterans Education Benefits
Location: 520 Schmitz Hall
Email: veteran@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-6122

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.621 Sections (2) and (4)

Federal law requires that the participation of women in intercollegiate athletics programs be proportionate to the percentage of women in the student population. Providing waivers to certain women athletes assists the University in meeting this federal requirement. Review also: RCW 28B.15.455 through 28B.15.460.

Student Athlete Academic Services
206-543-0611

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.740

The University withholds a certain percentage of gross tuition operating fee revenue to distribute as tuition waivers for low-income and outstanding students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These amounts are distributed through the aid awarding process and do not require a separate application.

Student Fiscal Services Student Financial Aid
129 Schmitz Hall
206-543-4694
sfshelp@uw.edu
Website: Student Fiscal Services
105 Schmitz Hall
206-543-6101
finaid@uw.edu
Website: Office of Student Financial Aid

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.740

More information can be found with the UW Residency Office. American Indian Students – Resident Tuition Request.

More information can be found with the UW Residency Office. Citizens of the Freely Associated States – Resident Tuition Request.

More information can be found with the UW Residency Office. Refugees & Asylees – Tuition Reduction Request.

In addition to waivers granted under the authority of RCW 28B.15.910, the University may waive all or a portion of the operating fees for any student, but may not use state general fund support to do so.

Graduate Merit WSS & WAVE Active Duty Military
Contact the Graduate School for more information. Award recipient under the Washington State Scholars and Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) programs. Active duty military assigned to Washington and their children and spouses.
Graduate School
G-1 Communications
206-543-7152
gradappt@uw.edu
Office of the University Registrar
Second Floor Schmitz Hall
regoff@uw.edu
Office of Residency Classification
226 Schmitz Hall
resquest@uw.edu

Authorizing Statute: RCW 28B.15.012

Returning Student Process

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.

Returning Student Eligibility

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

The factors that 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

5 Steps for Returning Students

Complete and submit the Returning Student Request Form. We’ll collect your current contact information and additional data that we need to reactivate your student account.

This form is only for undergraduate and professional students who have not completed their UW degree.

Returning Student Request Form

Watch for an email from your campus registration team confirming that your Returning Student Request Form has been processed.

Once you have been notified that your Returning Student Request Form has been processed you will receive an email prompting you to confirm your enrollment for the returning quarter you indicated.

After you receive an offer to return, log in to MyUW and check on any holds that may prevent you from registering. These could be placed on your account for tuition and fees still owed from a prior quarter, behavioral holds, departmental holds related to satisfactory academic progress, or any other holds associated with blocking registration until you take the required action.

We encourage you to resolve whatever registration holds might be on your account first before proceeding to Step Five.

To prepare for your transition to campus, meet with your academic adviser to plan your class schedule for your return quarter. Remember to check Register.UW for information about registering for classes.

When you are ready, confirm your enrollment for the quarter you wish to return to UW.

You will be required to pay a non-refundable Enrollment Confirmation Fee:

UW Bothell UW Seattle UW Tacoma
$60 $80 $60

Completing the Enrollment Confirmation step is required before you will be allowed to register and to continue your studies.

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.

Quarter Step One: Request Form Submission Deadline Steps Two-Five: Completion Deadline*
Autumn 2025 September 22, 2025 October 3, 2025
Winter 2026 December 31, 2025 January 16, 2026
Spring 2026 March 26, 2026 April 10, 2026
Summer 2026 June 18, 2026 July 2, 2026

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.

Campus Registration Team Email Resource EC Fee
UW Bothell uwbreg@uw.edu Returning Student Process $60
UW Tacoma reguwt@uw.edu Returning Student Re-enrollment $60

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.

Gender Identity

Gender Identity designates a person’s concept of self as male, female, or a blend of both or neither (gender X or non-binary) and reflects how individuals perceive and call themselves. A person’s gender identity can be the same or different from their sex designation.

The Office of the University Registrar supports students’ identity and respects that gender is fluid and subject to change by allowing them to manage their gender identity in University systems. The Student Information System can only track M (Male), F (Female), or U (Unknown or not provided) at this time.

Where Gender Identity is Used

Gender identifiers, as supplied by students to the University, are consumed by a wide variety of systems and applications. Examples include the Student Database, the Electronic Advising Record Systems, and Enterprise Data Warehouse/BI Portal reports available to University school officials.

How to Update Gender Identity

Requests to change the gender listed on the student record can be made either in person or by email. No documentation is required.

In person Email
Office of the University Registrar
Second Floor Schmitz Hall
To: regoff@uw.edu
From: @uw.edu email
Include: Student ID Number