Application Step-by-Step Guide

The steps below will explain each step of the study abroad application process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at uwtintl@uw.edu.

Start an Application

Click on the “Apply Now” button of your desired program. This will take you to the study abroad portal where you can start an application. Information about each part of the application is detailed below.

Personal Information

Fill in each of the boxes regarding information about yourself. The questions include your name, student ID, and whether or not you have a passport. Routine processing time for a U.S. passport is 10-12 weeks, so please apply for a passport if you don’t already have one. You can expedite a passport application for an additional fee; the processing time for expedited passports is usually 4-6 weeks. You do not need a passport in order to apply for study abroad, but if you do not have one yet, it is advisable that you make arrangements as soon as possible to get one.

Recommendation

The recommendation is not a standard written letter. Instead, it is a reference form that needs to be filled out by a faculty or staff member. Recommenders are asked to evaluate your maturity, your intellectual curiosity, your academic performance, as well as your willingness to engage across cultural differences. At the end of the form, there is space for short comments that your recommender may add.

Feel free to ask a professor, an advisor, a staff member or a supervisor, or anyone else from an academic, professional, or volunteer context. But remember family members or friends won’t work and neither will the  faculty or staff leading the study abroad program for which you are applying.

Short Essays

You will be required to write three short essays. One has a maximum of 750 words while the other two have a maximum of 250 words. This is the place to articulate why you chose the program and what you hope to gain from it. These essays allow program directors to understand why you are interested in traveling abroad and whether or not you will be a good fit for the program. The questions below are meant to help you think through the essay prompts.

Short Essay 1: Why is this program a good fit? 

Things to consider:

  • How will this program further your academic or professional goals?
  • How will this program further your personal development?

Short Essay 2: Adaptability

  • Think about a time where you had to adapt to a new environment and/or interact with people who were different than yourself.
  • What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
  • Did you learn ways to communicate across differences or find common ground? If so, what were those ways?
  • How did it prepare you to face possible challenges when interacting with new cultures abroad?

Short Essay 3: Group Dynamics

  • Think of a time when you worked in a group setting on an assignment, project, etc.
  • What did this experience teach you about yourself and others?

OGA Scholarship

We encourage all students who plan to study abroad to apply for this scholarship! This scholarship is exclusively for UW Tacoma students, making it less competitive than national scholarships. The money for this scholarship can be used to pay for flights, travel clinic visits, passport renewals, program fees, or anything else related to your study abroad. Here are the requirements to apply: 

  • You must be a UW Tacoma student applying to an eligible UW Tacoma study abroad program. 
  • Awardees must share their study abroad experience with campus by supporting OGA programs or events.

More information can be found at https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/oga/oga-scholarship 

IIGE Scholarship

This is another study abroad scholarship exclusively opent to UW Tacoma students. The money for this scholarship can be used to pay for flights, travel clinic visits, passport renewals, program fees, or anything else related to your study abroad. Here are the requirements to apply: 

  • UW Tacoma students participating in any eligible UW study abroad program (including Bothell and Seattle programs) or programs that provide UW credit
  • Awardees must present at the IIGE Study Abroad Presentations Event autumn quarter
  • Awardees must present at the Annual Global Engagement Conference

More information can be found at https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/iige/iige-undergraduate-research-award 

Tips

  • Start early! 
    • Your application will be stronger if you make time for drafts, feedback, and revisions. So give yourself enough time to produce your best possible application. 
  • Be specific and pay attention to the essay prompts. 
    • Use specific examples wherever possible to demonstrate your adaptability and your experience working in groups. The same goes for the essay about why this program is a good fit for you. The more specific you can be, the better. 
  • Ask for feedback on your application materials. 
    • Connect with a writing tutor at the TLC or reach out to one of us at the study abroad office to review your essay drafts. 
    • Email us at uwtintl@uw.edu to schedule an appointment to review your essays. Please provide your drafts to us at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment. 
  • Proofread carefully.
    • After reading your own essays multiple times, you may not notice errors or typos yourself. Work with a trusted peer, a TLC tutor, or a mentor for the final proofread.  
  • Consider scholarships to fund study abroad! 
    • Two major scholarships for UW Tacoma students are the OGA Scholarship and the IIGE scholarship, each awarding up to $1000 towards study abroad.
  • Make an appointment with your academic advisor and financial aid. 
    • Many study abroad programs will provide you with the credits you need within your major and general education. Talk to your advisor about how to best fit these credits in.
    • If you already receive financial aid you may be able to receive financial aid for your study abroad program. Make an appointment with a Financial Aid advisor to assure you get the most financial support you can for study abroad. 
  • Stay informed! 
    • Join our newsletter to stay up to date about future study abroad programs, domestic opportunities for global learning, and upcoming events! 
    • Watch our many recorded webinars that cover Study Abroad 101 Basics, Study Abroad Funding, and past students’ experiences with study abroad.