MLIS Admissions Overview
Admissions Timeline
The admissions process for Autumn 2020 is now open. Use the link below to get detailed information about the timeline and process.
Admissions timeline and deadline policy
Application Requirements
All applicants to the MLIS program must meet the following basic requirements:
- Bachelor's degree* or higher in any discipline (must be equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution)
- Law Librarianship applicants must have a JD from a law school within the U.S.
- Non-native English speakers must fulfill the UW English language proficiency requirements
- Note: The UW Graduate School has a minimum GPA requirement. As detailed on their website, individual programs may consider qualified applicants with a GPA below a 3.0.
- Applicants with a lower GPA are strongly encouraged to provide additional information in the extenuating circumstances part of the application.
- Though not part of our standard process, the Graduate School may consider GRE scores for applicants who require a low GPA petition. Therefore, applicants with a lower GPA are also encouraged to submit GRE scores (ETS report code 4854).
- For summer 2020 admissions cycles only: International students are eligible to apply only if they are already in the U.S. on an F1 visa or are in the U.S. and will not need an F1 visa to enroll in the program (due to H1B/H4, L1/L2, E1/E2, TN status, etc.).
*In order to be eligible to apply for autumn quarter, applicants must have earned their bachelor's degree by the end of that summer. Applicants do not need to have earned their bachelor's degree prior to applying for the program.
Application Materials Checklist
- Online application through MyGrad
- Applicants for the MLIS program (either mode - residential or online) should select "Information School - Master of Library and Information Science "
- Applicants for the Law Librarianship program should select "Information School - Master of Library and Information Science (Law Librarianship)
- Personal statement
- Diversity statement
- Essay
- Short answer response
- Recommendations (three)
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Program mode preference
- Transcripts
- Extenuating circumstances (optional)
- Scholarship information (optional)
- Official GRE scores (optional)
- Law Librarianship applicants - Self-reported LSAT score
- Non-native English speakers - English language proficiency
Get detailed information about these application materials.
Review and/or consideration of incomplete applications or late materials is at the discretion of the MLIS admissions committee. If application materials are missing due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the committee will take that into consideration and make its judgment based on the information available.
Application Fee and Fee Waiver
The application fee is $85 USD, payable online by debit or credit card. For applicants during the summer 2020 admissions cycles, there are two ways to request a fee waiver:
- Qualified applicants can request a fee waiver through the Graduate School following the process outlined on the Graduate School's website.
- The iSchool is also offering fee waivers to applicants who meet eligibility requirements. See the
Application Process page for details.
All application materials are submitted online or electronically. Please do not mail paper application materials to the Information School.