Student Resources and Services: For Students in Certificate Programs

Certificate Student Handbook

The following handbook includes the policies and procedures for onsite credit and noncredit certificate programs.

Refund and Withdrawal Policies

Classroom-based courses or programs:

To receive a 100% refund, minus the $35 non refundable registration fee, you must send a written request to withdraw the day before the first day of class. Email to uweoreg@extn.washington.edu or fax to 206-685-9359. There is no refund for withdrawals on or after the first day of class. For more detailed certificate program refund information, see your certificate program registration form or Transaction Summary, or call 206-897-8939.

Online learning courses or programs:

For group start courses, the 100% refund deadline is the day before the first day of class. For self-paced courses, you must withdraw by the 15th calendar day after the day you register to receive a 100% refund, minus the quarterly registration fee. If you withdraw from the course after the 15th day but by the 30th calendar day from the day you registered, you will receive a 50% refund, minus the registration fee. You must submit a written request to withdraw, with or without a refund to UW Extension Registration Services, P.O. Box 45010, Seattle WA 98145-0010, or send an e-mail to uweoreg@extn.washington.edu.

Visa Information

International students who want to study in Seattle need to have appropriate visa status. For full-time study, students normally apply for an F-1 student visa.

Important steps for getting an F-1 visa:

  1. Send your application for a certificate program at least three months before the final application deadline to allow enough time to get your student visa. Once you are admitted to the program, the Certificate Program Coordinator will send you a Request for I-20 Form (does not apply to BUSIP, FPM, IBEP, or ETH). After we receive your completed Request for I-20 Form, $45 admission fee, and supplemental documents, we will send you your I-20 (Visa Eligibility form).

  2. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to schedule an F-1 visa interview appointment.

  3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee ($200).

  4. Take your I-20 and supporting documents to the interview.
If you are an F-1 student who is enrolled full-time in another program, you may take any certificate program or course in addition to your other full-time studies.

If you are in the U.S. on some other type of visa (not F-1), you may also be able to study in certificate programs which do not have 18 hours of instruction per week. If you have questions about your eligibility to attend school with your current visa, please contact us.

Please note: Full-time study in non-degree programs requires students to have 18 or more hours each week of classes. Only the following certificate programs have this level of intensive study:

For visa-related questions, please call 206-685-6361 or e-mail aid@extn.washington.edu.

English Language Guidelines

Qualified international students may take UW courses and programs through UW Educational Outreach. All students taking these courses are expected to have adequate English language proficiency.

You should meet one or more of the following English language scores before you attempt to take any course except those English language courses designed for non-native speakers*:

  • TOEFL: 500 (paper-based)
        172 (computer-based)

         61 (internet-based)

  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery: 72

  • SAT Verbal: 430

  • IELTS: 6.0

  • TOEIC: 650
*Some certificate programs require different test scores. Please see the specific certificate program Web pages for language requirements for your program.

The University of Washington offers four levels of online academic English courses to help international students prepare for the English requirements of university-level courses. Please see the Online English Language Program for details.

Applicants for degree programs who are not U.S. citizens must meet separate UW English language requirements for admission and graduation. For questions about English proficiency, please e-mail advisers@extn.washington.edu.