Sponsorship Request Letter to the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs

Obtaining a letter from a UWSOM faculty sponsor is the first step of the application process. It is expected that the UWSOM faculty member and the student have some pre-existing personal or professional relationship. If a student does not have a faculty sponsor, the student will be unable to pursue the application process. The faculty member is required to write a letter of support to the Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs expressing their willingness to serve as the sponsor for a specific international student and to arrange for that student’s elective clerkship rotation.

The sponsor letter is reviewed by the Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs who will approve or deny the faculty sponsor request. The sponsor and student will both be notified of the Vice Dean’s decision regarding the outcome. No application materials will be sent to the student prior to sponsorship approval. If the sponsorship is approved, a letter and copies of application materials and requirements will be sent to the student and faculty sponsor.

Additional criteria for sponsors in the Department of Medicine

Completion of Application and Faculty Sponsorship Request Letter
The student is responsible for completing required forms and for submitting all requested application materials in a timely manner.
The sponsorship request and application process must be initiated six - eight months in advance of desired visit dates. This is a two-part application process. The primary half of the application process is with the UWSOM. Once completed and approved, the School of Medicine will forward materials to the departments, which will initiate the second part of the application process, including input of student information into SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).

The UW School of Medicine faculty sponsorship request letter should include:

  • A description of the sponsor’s relationship with the student - personal or professional, length of time, etc.
  • The student’s mailing address and e-mail address.
  • Information on the student’s academic background, level of clinical skills, attributes, suitability for participation in the elective clerkship(s) requested, and other relevant qualifications.
  • A description of the elective clerkship(s) of interest and the desired dates.
  • A statement that the faculty member will take responsibility for arranging the visiting international student’s desired elective clerkships.
  • Since the relationship between the sponsoring faculty member and the international student should be established or pre-existing, the UWSOM does not release faculty names or contact information or otherwise facilitate student sponsorship.

Sponsor letters should be directed to: 

Suzanne Allen, M.D. 
Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs 
University of Washington School of Medicine 
Box 356340 
1959 N.E. Pacific Street 
Seattle, WA 98195