For future UW students
Welcome! The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA) works with students starting from their first quarter of enrollment. We look forward to working with you once you are attending UW.
Our office is not involved in awarding scholarships to incoming first-year students. We are only able to provide general information about the landscape of scholarships at UW and beyond.
Overview of UW admission scholarships
The majority of scholarships UW has to offer to incoming students during the admission process are based entirely on the admission application; no additional application is needed.
- Get more details from UW Office of Admissions about scholarships awarded during admission.
- For questions about the Purple & Gold Scholarship, please contact the UW Office of Admissions.
Individual academic departments and programs might also offer some scholarships to incoming students who are interested in those majors or programs. Those scholarship notifications are sent out directly from departments throughout the spring.
There are only a few unique scholarships open to incoming students, not restricted to specific majors, that do require separate application:
- Silme Domingo & Gene Viernes Scholarship in Labor Studies from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies
- Applications are typically due in April/May each year
- Ellis Civic Fellowship from the Community Engagement and Leadership Education Center (CELE)
- Applications are typically due in mid-October each year
Search and apply for scholarships beyond UW
The number of scholarships available from the university itself is far smaller than the number of outstanding students coming in, so all students should be searching and applying for scholarships from local and national foundations, organizations, agencies, etc. so as not to rely entirely on UW or any other school they might be considering. There are far more scholarship opportunities available from external funders than from any specific school.
- Get search resources, including the scholarship guides in the Search menu above.
Information for community college transfer students
Community college transfer students may be able to apply concurrently for admission and scholarships offered by specific academic departments, some of which may require an additional application. Deadline dates vary with each department. Please inquire with the department(s) you are targeting.
Additionally, UW collaborates with the Martin Family Foundation, which offers two scholarships specifically for students transferring into UW from Washington State community colleges:
- The Martin Achievement Scholarship funds students who have demonstrated signs of exceptional ability in art, humanities, music, science and/or leadership at the community colleges. Scholars are selected early in their community college career (in the first year, or at least with one full year left to complete at the community college) and will fund, encourage and support their study and eventual transfer to the UW Seattle campus.
- The Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship funds community college students of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement to complete their baccalaureate degree at UW Seattle. Scholars are selected during their transfer year.
Information for international students
U.S. immigration laws require international applicants to provide proof of financial support before the university can formally offer admission and issue appropriate immigration documents. Students, their families and sponsors must assume all financial responsibility for tuition and living expenses. It is very important that applicants review the expected expenses before deciding to apply for admission.
- UW Office of Admissions provides student with information about resources and programs.
- International Student Services has information regarding visa requirements.
Scholarship search resources for international students:
Future UW scholarships as a current UW student
There are additional UW scholarship programs you can apply for in the years to come, as a current UW student: scholarships offered by academic departments, scholarships for research projects, leadership activities, and other efforts.
- All of those are scholarships you will need to seek out and apply proactively for, and that’s where our office can be helpful once you are attending UW. But there is also no guarantee of selection for those scholarships, as they are competitive application processes.
- Please feel free to search through our database of scholarships (not an exhaustive listing, but a helpful search tool).
FAQs
General FAQs about scholarships
I'm an incoming student this fall. Can I apply for scholarships now?
For everyone: We encourage you to search and apply for scholarships offered outside of the UW (from local, national international foundations, organizations, companies, etc.). The Washboard is a good place to start for local-to-Washington opportunities. Use the advising and counseling services at your current school for support.
For first-year students: The majority of scholarships UW has to offer to incoming first-year students are based entirely on the admission application and no additional application is needed. These awarding processes are managed by UW Admissions and individual academic departments. Please review the list above of the few UW scholarships that require additional application.
For transfer students: If you are a prospective transfer student from a community college in WA, please consider applying for the Martin Family Foundation Scholarships.
Are scholarships available for out-of-state students?
Yes. Though some scholarships at UW are set aside for in-state students, there are also many awards that don’t require WA residency.
Search for national scholarships that don’t require specific state residency and be sure to search in your home state as well.
There are some local scholarships that define residency in their own way, differently from UW’s definition. So it’s important to read eligibility criteria carefully and fully.
Can we meet with a UW scholarship advisor to get a head start?
Our small office is dedicated to supporting current UW undergraduates and alumni. We do not advise prospective students on scholarships. If you are a prospective student, we look forward to working with you once you attend UW.
During the admission process, your best source of information is the UW Office of Admissions.
If you are a current UW undergraduate, start by checking out the resources on this website!
Is the OMSFA database the only place to look for scholarships?
There are a lot of terrific free resources to help you search and find scholarships. Our database is limited, and we advise you use multiple sources. Check out our search tool list here.
FAQs about the Purple & Gold Scholarships
Where can I get more information about the Purple & Gold Scholarships?
The UW Office of Admissions manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state first-year students. Disbursement of funds is managed by Student Fiscal Services. Please contact those offices for additional information.
I was offered a Purple & Gold Scholarship, who can I talk to about it?
The UW Office of Admissions manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state first-year students. Please contact Admissions for additional information about your award. Please note that award decisions are not negotiable.
If you’ve already accepted your offer of admission to UW and have questions about how the scholarship will be disbursed to you, please contact Student Fiscal Services.
I was not offered a Purple & Gold Scholarship, who can I talk to about it?
The UW Office of Admissions manages the selection process for the Purple & Gold Scholarship for incoming out-of-state first-year students. Please contact Admissions for additional questions. Please note that award decisions are not negotiable.
