Admissions Requirements for the MSTI and Dual Degree
Applications for Autumn 2024 are now closed.
Applications for the 2024 start are now closed. We expect to open applications for 2025 start in September 2024.
Applications submitted by the April 5 deadline, should receive admissions decisions in early May.
Dual Degree Deadline, Fall 2024 Start
Applications for the Dual Degree program have closed for 2024.
Please refer to Tsinghua University’s GIX Website for more details and to see updates for 2025 admissions..
Minimum Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
- Any major is acceptable, provided you have completed the prerequisite coursework (below)
- Students from non-technical backgrounds may also be considered for admission:
- All MSTI students will be enrolled in a technology fundamentals course in the first quarter of the program. This course is primarily intended to help students from non-technical backgrounds ensure that they have the appropriate level of technology knowledge to allow them to succeed in the MSTI program.
- Students from technology backgrounds (specifically with intermediate or higher level of programming knowledge) may be eligible to waive this course and select another elective course with permission from an MSTI advisor.
- A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits (international grades will be converted)
- Demonstrated English language proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English (see International Students)
- For Dual Degree applicants: In accordance with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China’s policy, applicants with a mainland Chinese passport must take the Chinese National Graduate Exam to be admitted to the MSE(DSIT) program. Please see the Tsinghua University website for more details.
University of Washington MSTI Application:
Read the Application Materials and Application Steps below.
To enroll in the Dual Degree – MSTI + MSE(DSIT) – program, applicants must apply separately to both University of Washington and Tsinghua University. The application materials and requirements are similar for both universities. This means that most of the work you complete for one application will also be applicable for the other.
Dual Degree: Tsinghua University MSE(DSIT)
Applications for admission to the dual degree (MSTI + MSE(DSIT)) are now open. To learn more about the MSE(DSIT) degree, please go to the Tsinghua University website.
Prerequisite Coursework
- Successful completion of at least two computing courses (equivalent of UW CSE 142 and CSE 143) covering basic programming skills and concepts, including procedural programming (methods, parameters, return, values), basic control structures (sequence, if/else, for loop, while loop), file processing and arrays is required as a base level of programming knowledge in order to apply to the MSTI program.
- If you have completed a non-academic programming course, you must submit evidence of course completion in the form of a certificate or examination.
- Successful completion of these course prerequisites is required since the MSTI courses are based on the foundational knowledge that is covered in these courses. Students who have not completed all of the prerequisite courses (or completed them several years ago) tend to struggle academically in the MSTI classes.
- Applicants will not be considered if they have not met these prerequisites, so you must submit evidence of meeting these prerequisites in order to be considered for admission.
- We recommend Educative.io’s, or the University of Washington’s Continuum College course as a course that meets the requirements, but many other courses may also be acceptable – please contact us at msti@uw.edu if you have questions about this.
Application Materials
- UW Graduate School online application and fee
- Unofficial transcripts from every college or university where you’ve earned a degree or college credit
- Personal statement
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Letters of recommendation (Two required, three recommended)
- Digital portfolio (highly recommended)
- Proof of English language proficiency if English is not your native language
Note: GRE or GMAT scores are not required to apply.
Tuition and Fees
The Master of Science in Technology Innovation is a self-sustaining, fee-based program administered by the Graduate School, in collaboration with UW Continuum College.
Course fees are charged on a per-credit basis and are the same for all students. In addition to course fees, students pay other required fees each quarter, including registration and technology fees. Payment is due by the third Friday of the quarter. Costs for textbooks or other course materials are extra.
The estimates below are subject to change without notice.
Autumn 2022-Winter 2024, Autumn 2023-Winter 2025
| Cost per credit: | $946 |
| Number of credits required: | 60 |
| Estimated course fees for MSTI degree: | $56,760 |
| Estimated course fees for GIX Dual Degree: | TBD |
Autumn 2024-Winter 2026
| Cost per credit: | $984 |
| Number of credits required: | 60 |
| Estimated course fees for MSTI degree: | $59,040 |
| Estimated course fees for GIX Dual Degree: | TBD |
Financial Aid and Other Funding
We highly encourage you to start exploring financial aid options as soon as you decide to apply to the program. U.S. students can apply for various forms of financial aid, including scholarships and loans. Because MSTI is a fee-based program rather than a state-funded one, students are not eligible for tuition exemptions. For more information about financial aid available to fee-based students, visit the fee-based programs page of the Office of Student Financial Aid website.
International students may be able to apply for government and industry scholarships available in their home countries.
MSTI Scholarships
There are limited partial scholarship funds for MSTI and GIX Dual Degree students. All applicants will be considered, and scholarships will be awarded directly after admissions decisions are made. While these scholarships may provide some financial support, they do not cover all program fees or any living expenses.
Tsinghua University Funding
Please contact Tsinghua GIX staff at gix@tsinghua.edu.cn for information about Tsinghua University scholarships and financial aid for Dual Degree students.
Technology Innovation Ambassador Fellowship
All applicants are eligible to apply for the Technology Innovation Ambassador Fellowship. Ambassador Fellows will commit approximately 40 hours over the duration of their program to support the outreach efforts at external events and share their student experiences to prospective and future Master of Science in Technology Innovation students. A diverse set of ambassador fellows from a variety of backgrounds and experiences is desired to be able to show the diverse nature of the MSTI cohorts.
Applicants will submit an additional 250-word statement to apply for the fellowship, with detailed instructions available in the program application.
Graduate Funding Information Service
The Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) assists UW graduate students in their search for funding opportunities for graduate school-related expenses. GFIS representatives host workshops, post funding announcements and meet one-on-one with students.
Employer Assistance
Some employers will cover all or part of the cost of a professional education. Check with your employer to see if such a program is available.
Key Application Requirements for International Students
The Master of Science in Technology Innovation program welcomes and encourages international applicants. You are considered an international applicant if you are not a U.S. citizen, immigrant or permanent resident. International applicants must meet all Admission Requirements for the program.
International Applicants
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Visa Status
International students must have or be eligible for a visa status that allows for academic study at the University of Washington. For more information, review the citizenship and visa status section on the Graduate School's application process page, and contact Graduate Enrollment Management Services at uwgrad@uw.edu or 206-685-2630 if you have any questions.
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English Proficiency Requirement
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The Graduate School’s Policy 3.2 describes several different ways you can do this.
If you’re submitting TOEFL scores, please note that the MSTI program recommends higher minimum scores than the UW Graduate School requirements which are listed here. The MSTI program requires the following for admissions:
TOEFL iBT: score of 100, speaking score 26
IELTS: 7, minimum speaking score band of 7.5.
Duolingo English Test: 120, with conversation subscore of 120Scores must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using institution code 4854 (TOEFL); no department code is needed. Only scores less than two years old will be accepted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about graduate programs and/or the admissions process? Take a look at our FAQs.