Master Programme
Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering (MSECE)
UW ECE's daytime master's program offers advanced preparation for professional practice through a flexible coursework option or a research thesis option. The coursework option suits students heading for senior industry roles, while the thesis option, built around deeper research, is meant for students who may go on to a PhD. Students can shape their studies around areas such as computer architecture, embedded systems, machine learning and AI, signal processing, power electronics and power systems, photonics, semiconductor devices, neural engineering, wireless communications and robotics and controls. Graduates go to research institutions and to employers such as Boeing, Microsoft, Intel, Apple and Amazon.
University
University of Washington
Country
United States
Level
Master
Field
Engineering
Duration
42 credits, full-time daytime program (coursework or thesis option)
Language
English
Campus
Seattle
Degree
Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering (MSECE)
Intake
Autumn only (once a year)
Application Deadline
Autumn 2027 entry (US$90 application fee): the UW Graduate School application opens 1 October 2026 and must be completed by 15 December 2026. Materials received after the deadline are not reviewed, and nothing should be sent directly to the department
Tuition Information
2026-27 Seattle annual tuition and fees for three quarters (autumn, winter, spring), using the Graduate Tier III rate that UW's Registrar lists for the daytime MS in Electrical Engineering: US$40,524 for nonresident and international students and US$23,265 for Washington residents, including the U-PASS. Summer quarter is extra. International Student Services estimates graduate living expenses at US$9,371 a quarter (US$28,113 for three quarters) for 2026-27, plus the required ISHIP health insurance at US$537 a quarter. UW ECE says most master's students pay their own way, with a few teaching and research assistant positions available each quarter. (The separate part-time Professional Master's Program is fee-based at US$1,130 per credit in 2026-27.)
Admission Requirements
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits. Applicants from other technical fields (math, physics, computer science or other engineering) are welcome but must first make up any gaps in ECE background
- Application materials: resume or CV, up to four research areas of interest, a statement of purpose (no more than three pages, double-spaced), three letters of recommendation and unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. GRE scores are not required or accepted
- UW Graduate School English proficiency (Policy 3.2, for non-native speakers): minimum TOEFL iBT 4.0 (80 for tests before 21 January 2026), Duolingo 115 or IELTS Academic 6.5. Scores below the recommended level (TOEFL 4.5 or 92, Duolingo 130, IELTS 7.0) mean you must take one or two UW Academic English Program courses from your first quarter. A degree taught in English, studied in residence, can also meet the requirement. UW ECE strongly suggests meeting the recommended 'ELP satisfied' scores to be competitive