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The Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute

Application Information

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Application Deadline: December 15, 2023

All prospective students should review the below information carefully when preparing your application. If you have questions, or need assistance, please contact Marina Gano, Graduate Program Manager (uwsopchoice@uw.edu) or Professor Josh Carlson, Chair of the Admissions Committee (carlsojj@uw.edu).

Requirements:

  • A professional degree in pharmacy, medicine, or a health-related discipline; OR a baccalaureate or master’s degrees in related fields such as epidemiology, economics, or public health.
  • Unofficial transcripts showing a minimum grade point average of 3.0
    • Official transcripts will be requested and verified by the Graduate School, only if offered admission.
  • A statement of personal background and goals
  • A curriculum vitae or resume
  • Three letters of reference
  • GRE scores
  • When requested, completion of a personal interview with the Graduate Admissions Committee
  • English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.
    • For a comprehensive list of how to fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirement, please review Graduate School Policy 3.2. 
    • For those demonstrating proficiency through the use of test scores, please note that our department has a higher minimum score than the Graduate School. The minimum requirement for possible entrance to our program is a score of 100 on the TOEFLiBT or a IELTS overall band score of at least 7.0. The Graduate School states a lower score, but individual departments may adjust that for their requirements.
    • Note: The ETS code for the University of Washington is 4854

An applicant with exceptionally strong qualifications, such as a strong record of related work experience, who does not meet all of the above requirements may be considered for admission. Plans to remedy academic deficiencies may be suggested either prior to or during the first year of the program.

International Students

We welcome applications from international students! There are no additional requirements for international applicants other than demonstrating English proficiency per Graduate School Policy 3.2 if English is not your native language. We may also request a credential evaluation of international transcripts if unable to accurately assess your credentials on our own. For additional information please refer to the Graduate School’s International Applicant Information.

Application Process

Due to the scheduling of core courses, students are accepted for Autumn quarter only. Autumn quarter begins the last week of September.

Applicants must apply for admission through the UW Graduate School application for admission. CHOICE faculty and staff will access the necessary application material from the Graduate School application process for review. No paper materials should be mailed to the department, all materials are submitted online.

  • Top candidates will be contacted in January if invited for an interview.
  • Applicants will be notified of admission decisions by mid-February.

How to Apply:

  1. Login to the Graduate School application: https://apply.grad.uw.edu/portal/gr_app
  2. Select “Start Graduate Application”
  3. Complete all sections of the application along the lefthand panel, starting with the Profile Information section.
  4. Under Program Selection, choose the following:
    1. Application type: Graduate
    2. Program: Pharmacy – Health Economics & Outcomes Research (PhD)
  5. Review the Program Requirements and indicate the term and year you intend to enroll in the program
  6. Continue with completing all sections of the application, including Application Materials and Recommenders.
  7. Review your application and check for any missing required fields or errors. When ready, click Submit Application. Your application is not submitted until you have paid the application fee.

Application Fee Waivers

The Graduate School application fee is $85. Financial Need Fee Waivers are available through the Graduate School for those who qualify. Unfortunately applicants requiring an F1 or J1 visa are not eligible for application fee waivers. For more information on minimum income requirements and how to request a waiver: https://grad.uw.edu/prospective-students/how-to-apply/application-fee-waivers/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

CHOICE PhD Admissions Considerations

The University of Washington is committed to increasing diversity among its students and actively recruits qualified applicants from diverse student populations.

The Department of Pharmacy welcomes students who have varied cultural experiences or educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and will therefore contribute to the intellectual and social enrichment of the graduate program.