BS Physics at University of Washington

Programme overview

Physics is the study of the behavior of matter, space, time, and fields. Using highly sophisticated experimental and mathematical techniques, physicists gather detailed measurements of phenomena—from the largest scales involving the entire universe to the smallest scales involving the most fundamental particles—to construct theories that explain how the universe and the things in it behave.

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Physics | Location: Seattle, WA, United States

What you will study

Minimum 89-113 credits, depending on credential/option; Physics core courses (37 credits):; PHYS 121 (or PHYS 141), PHYS 122 (or PHYS 142), PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143), PHYS 224, PHYS 225, PHYS 227, PHYS 294, PHYS 321, PHYS 322, PHYS 334; Mathematics core courses (18-20 credits):; one of the following options; MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, and one course from MATH 207 (or AMATH 351), MATH 208 (or AMATH 352), MATH 209 (or AMATH 353), MATH 224, or AMATH 401

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission Pathways Physics has two admissions pathways: Standard and Early. Most students join the major through the Standard Admission pathway, having completed a full year of college-level physics and calculus and continuing with 200-level courses. Early Admission is appropriate for transfer applicants who are completing their physics series at the time of application to UW, or who have completed the introductory series but have no 200-level physics courses available at their institution, and wish to apply for direct admission to the physics major. It is also available to currently enrolled students with strong records who are certain they want to major in physics after completion of just the first two quarters of the introductory sequence. Since Early Admission applications contain less information on prerequisite coursework, academics are generally held to a higher standard for this ...

Domestic applicants: USD 12,664 a year (2026-27). Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and fac Source

International applicants: USD 44,580 a year (2026-27). Non-Resident rate. Seattle campus, full-time, Autumn+Winter+Spring quarters, rate band "Undergraduate" Undergraduate rate for tuition-based programs. Tuition only (operating + building fee); excludes technology fee, services & activities fee, IMA bond and Source

First-year entry quarters: Autumn (begins late September), Winter (begins early January; not open to international first-year applicants), Summer (begins mid-June; most degree-seeking students apply for Autumn). Spring quarter is not open to first-year applicants.

Transfer entry: Autumn and Summer quarters; Spring quarter transfer admission is open only to applicants to specific departments in engineering and computer science.

First-year applications for Autumn (and Summer) open August 15 and close November 15; notification March 1-15. Winter applications open August 1 and close September 1, with notification in November and December. The UW does not offer early decision or early action. Apply through the Common App.

First-year application fee is $85 for U.S. students (fee waivers available) and $95 for international students (no fee waivers). Application requires a Common App essay and a self-reported academic record in STARS. SAT/ACT scores are not required for most applicants; homeschooled applicants and applicants from schools without letter or numeric grades must submit SAT or ACT scores. International applicants submit TOEFL or IELTS scores meeting the minimum English proficiency requirement.

Transfer applications for Autumn and Summer open December 15 and close February 28; notification May 1 to June 30. Transfer application fee is $85 (U.S., fee waivers available) or $95 (international, no fee waivers). SAT/ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants.

Apply through the official page: https://admit.washington.edu/apply/

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