How much is the application fee?
The application fee is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Mastercard or Visa), Debit/ATM card, personal check or money order, drawn on an U.S. bank. After you submit your application you will be directed to the fee payment section. Please do not send cash.  The application fee is $56.00 US.

Can I apply to more than one program with one application and one fee?
Yes, you can apply to 3 programs on with one application and one fee.

I have submitted my application. Can I still pay my fee by credit card?
Yes. Log back into your application and click on the fee payment section.

My program will not consider my application because the deadline has passed for that term. Can I get a refund?
No. The application fee is non-refundable.

When is the application deadline?
Application deadlines vary between programs. Before starting your application, it is very important to check your academic program's deadlines.

Where do I get academic program contact information?
Programs are listed alphabetically on the UW-Madison Graduate School homepage under the Academic Programs link.

Do I have to fill out separate applications to the academic program and the Graduate School Admissions office?
No. Both the academic program and the Graduate Admissions office will have access to your online application. Some academic programs require a supplemental application.

If I take an English proficiency test, will I be required to take ESLAT?
Any 'admitted' student whose score is lower than the scores listed below will be required, by the Graduate School, to take the English as a Second Language Assessment Test upon arrival at UW-Madison.
TOEFL: 92 for internet based test (IBT) and 580 for paper test
MELAB: 82
IELTS: 7
Depending on your test result you may need to register for a recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester you are enrolled.
For more information on English proficiency test requirements, click here.

If I enroll in the English as a Second Language Program, am I guaranteed admission to the university?
No. Enrollment in the English as a Second Language program (ESL) does not assure admission to an academic program at the UW-Madison Graduate School. You will not be able to register for courses outside the ESL curriculum during your enrollment in ESL.

If I take an English as a Second Language program, will I be required to take TOEFL?
If you are not a native English speaker or your undergraduate institution's language of instruction is not English, an English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB) is required.

How do I apply for financial assistance?
Programs are a main source for funding. Fill out the 'additional funding' section of the online application. If you are interested in a Fellowship, Project/Program, Research, or Teaching Assistantship, you should contact your academic program.
Financial Aid: Loans and Work Study are available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Check the 'loans/work study' box in the 'application information' section to receive information from the UW-Madison Office of Student Financial Services.

How much is tuition for the UW Madison Graduate School?
Tuition rates for the 'current' term are located on the Registrar's web site. Tuition costs for future terms may not be available.

I am an international applicant. Do I need to send my financial documents with my application materials?
No. Financial documents will be requested by the Graduate Admissions office after the academic program has recommended you for admission. The Graduate School will request this information you via your online status check in My UW.

What is the process for the letters of recommendation?
All letters of recommendation are done electronically through our admission application.

Can I request recommendations before I submit my application?
You may send the request to your recommenders at any time during the application process.  The recommendation section of the application remains accessible after you submit your application.

Who sends the requests to the recommenders?
The applicant has control of when each recommender receives the request. Be sure the email address for each recommender is correct.  If you are applying to multiple programs, be sure to check the box for all of the program(s) you want the recommender to respond to.  Check the box that requests an email be sent, located at the bottom of each person's section, then save the page.  Your recommender will receive an email that contains the program(s) specific recommendation form.  After you save your work, please allow 24 hours for the recommender to receive the message.

What happens to the recommendations if they are completed before I submit my application?
If your recommenders send their recommendations before you submit your application, they will be stored in our database. Once you submit your application, they will be matched up and made available to your program.

Can the recommendations be sent by paper or pdf file?
This is at the program's discretion. Please contact the Academic Program directly.

What if my letters of recommendation are stored at a file service (a career service center) and are sent out by request?
Contact your academic program to inquire if this method is acceptable.

I am currently pursuing my bachelor degree. Can I still be considered for admission?
Yes, but degree requirements must be completed before you begin enrollment as a Graduate student.

Will my post graduate credits/degree transfer from another institution to UW-Madison?
Your academic program may decide to use course work completed at another institution toward fulfillment of department course requirements. This work will not appear on your UW-Madison transcript. The Graduate School's minimum requirement can be satisfied only with courses taken as a graduate student at UW-Madison.

I am an international applicant. My degree is not called a bachelor degree and it is not graded on a 4.0 scale. Can I still apply?
International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor's degree, with a strong academic performance comparable to a "B" or above average grades. The Graduate School views your overall performance using your institution's grading scale. Please do not convert your grades to a four point scale. Degree, academic documents and language requirements vary by location of your undergraduate institution. For specific information select a country from the list below.

Who should I ask to translate my documents into English?

Your school should provide an official translation; otherwise have a translation done by your school or an official translator. In some countries these people are also notaries. Do not submit an evaluation from a credential evaluation service in lieu of a translation.

What if I can't take the GRE prior to the specific deadline for the application?
The GRE is a program requirement. Please contact the academic program you intend to apply for.

Will a paper copy of my GRE scores be considered 'official'?
No.  Official scores must be sent from ETS to UW-Madison via electronic transmission (institution code: 1846).

I previously applied and had my test scores sent. Are they still valid? The GRE is a program requirement. Please contact the academic program to which you intend to apply.
The English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB) is required by the UW-Madison Graduate School. Test scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term.

I am an international student who will be living in Wisconsin. Do I select "Yes I am a resident" in the Residency Section?
No. If you are not currently a resident of Wisconsin, you should select "No".

How do I qualify as a resident for tuition purposes?
Residence for tuition is governed by Wisconsin Statute 36.27(2), which states that with few exceptions one must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin for a full twelve months, without attending any college or university, to qualify for resident tuition. However, if you graduated from a Wisconsin high school and your parent(s) are Wisconsin residents, or you are a dependent on a parent’s taxes, and have a parent who is a bona fide resident of Wisconsin, or you, your spouse, or someone you are a dependent of on taxes, recently moved to Wisconsin for full-time employment, the statutory twelve months might be waived. More information can be found at http://registrar.wisc.edu/residence.htm.

I'm a resident of Minnesota. Do I select "Yes I am a resident" in the Residency Section?
No. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you should select "No".
A tuition reciprocity agreement exists between Wisconsin and Minnesota. This agreement stipulates that residents of Minnesota can attend Wisconsin institutions in approved programs and be assessed the approved reciprocity tuition rate, plus segregated fees assessed all students. Students in the professional programs of the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, however, are not covered under the reciprocity program.

Minnesota residents must apply to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE) for verification of their eligibility for reciprocity.

Please check the Registrar's website for more information on Reciprocity.

What is the admission process?
Processing time depends upon when you apply, when your file is complete at the academic program and when the program's admission committee meets.

The admission process is as follows:

• Your application data is entered into a central database. You receive an email acknowledgement regarding receipt of your application and fee (this email includes information about your campus ID and how to activate your online application status check).
• The academic program(s) to which you are applying has a faculty admission committee review your application and materials.
• The academic program makes a recommendation for admission to the Graduate School Admissions Office.
  If you are not selected for admission, the program will notify you.
• The academic program to which you have applied will forward supporting materials to the Graduate School's Office of Admissions for review.
• The Graduate School's Office of Admissions reviews your application and materials to ensure that the Graduate School minimum requirements are met. (Includes financial support requirements for International Students).
• The Graduate School makes the final admission decision.
• Your residency (Wisconsin resident or non-resident) is determined by the Office of the Registrar's Tuition Residency Counselors.
  

How do I check the status of my online application?
Use the email link you received after you submitted your online application or go to MyUW.  Enter your net ID and password.  In the upper left corner is the Graduate School status check.  Click "Enter" for more information.


What if I do not receive the link to check my status after I submitted my application?
The link to set up your MyUW account and net ID is sent automatically after you submit your application. The submission process is an overnight process, so expect your email within 24 hours. It is very important that you set up your MyUW account to check your application status.

If you do not receive this link, please contact webapp@grad.wisc.edu.

Why does the online status check show that my test scores were not received?
It may take up to four weeks for scores to be sent to UW-Madison.   If any information on the test is different from the information you provided on your application (family name, surname, birth date or gender), the test scores may not match to your application.  You should contact the Graduate School if this is the case at gradadmiss@grad.wisc.edu.

My status check indicates that I must provide notarized documents. What does 'notarized' mean?
To notarize your signature, an official witness can be a bank official, government official, accountant, lawyer, commissioner of oaths or anyone that is in the official capacity to authenticate signatures.  The official notary seal or stamp must denote the position the official witness holds.  A signature stamp or chop mark will not be accepted.

How do I add, change a program or make a correction after submitting my application?
Email the UW-Madison Graduate Admissions office with your request: gradadmiss@grad.wisc.edu  They will determine whether or not a change can be made.

How do I update/correct my mailing or email address?
Log into the MyUW portal.  Enter your netid and password.(use the links underneath netid and password if help is needed.) Click on the "Student Center" link.  Click on the information you would like to change, then edit.   For assistance contact our Division of Information Technology athelp@doit.wisc.edu.
Also, please make your academic program aware of the change

Can I change the term that I originally applied for?
Your admission is only valid for semester indicated on your letter of admission from the Graduate School. You can request a change of session for your application if the new semester is an adjacent semester. You can only request a change of session one time without a new application form or application fee. The program will consider your application again. You are not guaranteed admission for the new semester. To begin this process, contact the Graduate School or your intended program.

To be considered for a semester that is not an adjacent semester from when you originally applied, you must start over with a new application and new application fee. You can do this online.

I am an International applicant. I have only one transcript/academic record. Do you accept photocopies?
The Graduate School can begin processing with photocopies if they are legible with appropriate stamp(s)/signature(s) of a school official.

Where do I send my transcripts/academic records?
All transcripts/academic records should be sent to the program to which you are applying.

How do I order UW-Madison transcripts?
Transcripts can be ordered electronically through the Registrar's web site.

How do I accept/decline the admission to my program?
Contact your Academic Program.

When do I enroll for classes?
Newly admitted graduate applicants will receive an 'invitation to enroll' email from Enrollment Servicesapproximately six weeks prior to the start of classes.

When do classes begin?
Check the Academic Calendar.

Why have I been required to take the ESLAT?
An admitted applicant with test scores are less than those listed below must take an English assessment test on arrival at UW-Madison.
TOEFL: 92 for internet (IBT) and 580 for paper test
MELAB: 82
IELTS: 7
Depending on your score you may need to register for a recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester you are enrolled.
Note: Academic Programs may ask any admitted graduate applicant to take the English placement test and ESL course after he/she arrives if English proficiency is in doubt.

I don't have a transcript with a degree posted. When do I submit my final transcript?
The Graduate School requires that an official final transcript which includes the bachelor degree (or equivalent) and date conferred be received by the end of the third week of classes.

I am an international student. I am required to submit my official academic documents to the UW Graduate School. When do I do this?
When you arrive on the UW-Madison campus, go to the International Credential Evaluators office, Room 228 Bascom Hall. Please bring the required documents with you. We will make copies here and return the originals to you.

I am an international student. When I check my status, a 'hold' has been placed on my enrollment. What does this mean?
When you were admitted to the UW Madison Graduate School, some academic documents were missing.  The 'hold' prevents future enrollment but will not affect the term you were admitted. To remove this hold, you must present the documents that were requested in your online status check.

I've been admitted. Why has my 'Residency Decision' not been determined?
The determination may not yet be complete.  After you have been admitted by the Graduate School, the Office of the Registrar's Tuition Residency Counselors determine if you are a Wisconsin Resident for tuition purposes. This does not affect your admission.