Admissions

The application fee is $75 U.S. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or Debit/ATM. International applicants pay an extra $6 processing fee.

Application deadlines vary by program. Before starting your application, it is essential to check your academic program’s deadlines.

1. Navigate to your prospective program’s Graduate Guide page.
2. Select the Admissions tab.
3. Review deadlines and terms available for each program.

If you have questions about deadlines, please contact the program directly. Contact information will be listed in the program’s Graduate Guide page.

The application fee is non-refundable.

Before applying, make sure you have:

• reviewed the application deadline and admission criteria, found on the program’s Graduate Guide page
• selected the correct program
• selected the correct entry term
• uploaded the correct documents to your application
• answered all required questions to the best of your ability
• committed to applying to graduate school

You cannot update or change materials you already submitted. If you want to add new documents, contact your program to see if their review timeline and policies allow it. If accepted, the new documents will be added to your application (not replace old ones). Find contact information on your program’s Graduate Guide page.

Updating recommendations:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link. 
3. Under the Application Checklist, select Recommendations.
4. From there, you can:
   • add new recommenders
   • remove recommenders
   • send reminder emails

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the Status Page, where you can change your email address or password.

After you submit your application, you cannot change the term. If you wish to apply for a different term, you must withdraw your current application and submit and pay for a new application to your intended term.

There are two types of fee grants, and the eligibility criteria differs:

• Graduate School fee grants: The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to ensure that the application fee is not a barrier. Please note, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as your current legal status to be eligible for a Graduate School fee grant. This restriction does not apply to program-purchased fee grants.
• Program fee grants: Some programs provide fee grants directly to their applicants. Programs determine their own fee grant eligibility criteria, and not all programs offer fee grants. To inquire about obtaining a fee grant from a program, contact the program directly by searching for their contact information in our Graduate Guide.

The Wisconsin School of Business has its own criteria for granting fee waivers.

You can apply for up to three programs within the same entry term (spring, summer, or fall) for one application fee. The first application will require you to pay the application fee, and the fee will be waived for the next two applications submitted for the same entry term.

You cannot have active applications across entry terms. For example, if you submit an application for a fall entry term, you will not be able to submit an application for a summer entry term. Only after you are denied admission or withdraw your application for one entry term would you be able to submit an application for a different entry term. Please review each of your prospective programs’ entry terms before you submit.

Please note that submitted recommendations do not carry over from one application to the next. If applying to multiple programs that require recommendations, your recommender(s) will need to upload a new recommendation for each application you submit.

You can apply for up to three programs within the same term for one application fee. You will pay the application fee for the first submitted application; the fee will be waived for the next two applications.

You cannot have active applications in multiple terms. For example, you cannot have an application for one program that begins in summer and another application for a program that begins in fall.

Your program may still choose to consider your application if your GPA is below the Graduate School’s minimum requirement. To learn more, search the Graduate Guide for your program, and reach out to one of the listed contacts.

In the Recommendations section of the application, you will provide your recommender’s contact information (name, email, and phone number), and you can provide a personalized message to your recommender if you wish. Once you select the “Send to Recommender” button, an email will be sent to the recommender with directions for uploading the letter of recommendation into a secure portal.

Yes. You may request recommendations at any time during the application process. The recommendation section of the application remains accessible after you submit your application. 

After you submit and pay for your application, you can edit your recommenders:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal.
2. Select the application link.
3. Below the Application Checklist, select the recommendations page link.
4. From there, you can add, exclude, or send email reminders to your recommenders.

When your recommender uploads a letter in the portal, you will receive a confirmation email. You can also check which recommendations have been received by going to your Status Page:

1. Log in to your application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link to open your Status Page.
3. You will see in the Application Checklist section which letters of recommendation the Graduate School has received and which it has not received.

Yes, you can remind your recommenders to complete their recommendation.

If you have not submitted your application:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link.
3. In the Recommendations section, select the recommender you wish to remind.
4. Select the Send Reminder button.

If you have submitted your application:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link.
3. Below the Application Checklist, select the recommendations page link.
4. Select the recommender you wish to remind.
5. Select the Send Reminder button.

These services cannot be used with our online recommendation system. If your recommender is experiencing technical difficulties submitting a letter of recommendation, they should contact admissions@grad.wisc.edu for assistance.

Recommendations must be sent through our online application as a PDF file. If your recommender is experiencing technical difficulties submitting a letter of recommendation, they should contact admissions@grad.wisc.edu for assistance.

• Search for your program in the Graduate Guide.
• Select the Admissions tab to see if the program requires the GRE or other tests. 
• If you have questions, reach out to the program through the contacts listed on the program’s Graduate Guide page.

The Graduate School’s minimum English proficiency scores are:

• Minimum TOEFL requirement: 92 for tests taken before January 21, 2026
• Minimum TOEFL requirement: 5.0 for tests taken on and after January 21, 2026
• Minimum IELTS requirement: 7.0
• Minimum IELTS Indicator requirement: 7.0
• Minimum Duolingo English Test requirement: 125

These scores may be admissible with program approval and an English assessment test required upon arrival:

• TOEFL: 80-91 for tests taken before January 21, 2026
• TOEFL: 4.5 for tests taken on and after January 21, 2026
• IELTS: 6.5
• IELTS Indicator: 6.5
• Duolingo English Test: 115-124

Note: Programs may have higher English proficiency standards for admission. Program specific admissions requirements are listed on each program’s Graduate Guide page.

No, we are unable to give out waivers for the Duolingo English Test.

We will not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements. Note: We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake tests.

Yes, we accept the ​​TOEFL iBT and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests.

• It can take up to 3 weeks for test scores to be processed and linked to your application after the Graduate School receives them. 
• Submitted test scores will not link until your application is submitted. If you sent scores before submitting your application, expect a 2-3 week delay. 
• Matching scores and applications takes time and is not entirely automated, so please be patient, especially during our busiest period (November – February) when we process thousands of applications and scores.

How to check your test scores

If you have submitted and paid for your application:

1. Log in to your application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link to open your Status Page.
3. Scroll to the Application Checklist section to see any official scores we’ve received (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, GRE).

If it’s been more than 3 weeks

If your scores were sent and you submitted your application more than 3 weeks ago, email admissions@grad.wisc.edu. Include the following details:

For any test type, please provide:

• Personal Info
  • UW–Madison Campus ID or Application ID
  • Birthdate
  • Any name changes or discrepancies
• Test Info
  • PDF of your official test report
  • Date of the test
  • Date scores were sent
  • Receipts or email confirmations

• Test-specific details
  • TOEFL: Appointment number (16 digits)
  • IELTS: TRF number (18 digits) and delivery method (e.g., mail)
  • Duolingo: Certificate ID and email linked to your Duolingo account
  • GRE: Registration number (7 digits)

Upload copies of your transcripts when you apply. The copies are used for review purposes only and are considered unofficial transcripts.

If your program recommends you for admission, the Graduate School will email you instructions on how to have official transcripts sent to the Graduate School Office of Admissions for final review.

All transcripts become the property of the UW–Madison Graduate School and will not be returned to you.

To confirm which transcripts the Graduate School received:

• Log in to your application portal.
• Select the Graduate Application link.
• Scroll down to the Official Transcript Status section of your Status page.
• Check the list of schools the Graduate School received official documents from. If the list is empty, we haven’t received your official transcripts.

If you are recommended for admission by your program, the Graduate School will send you an email requesting that you submit official transcripts.

• Your undergraduate institution must send your most current official transcript to the Graduate School so our office can review your credentials and admit you. 
• Once you have earned your undergraduate degree, you will need to send a final transcript (and degree certificate if needed) to the Graduate School; otherwise an enrollment hold will be put on your account (for your second term).

Many institutions introduced new grading schemes during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some institutions enforced them, while others let students choose between the new grading scheme and traditional letter grades. 

Our admissions committees and program faculty are empathetic to COVID-19 challenges and allow flexibility in the evaluation of applicants.

If you have submitted and paid your application fee:

1. Log in to your application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link.
3. Status updates will be provided on the Status Page. If you do not have a status update, your application is still under review.

Otherwise, contact the program directly about the status of your application (see the Graduate Guide, search for your program, and you will find a contact list).

If you have submitted and paid your application fee:

1. Log in to your application portal.
2. Select the Graduate Application link.
3. Scroll down to the Application Checklist section of the Status page to find official test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or GRE).

Note: You will not see test scores if you have not yet submitted an application.

Please allow two weeks for processing once the vendor receives the scores. In the meantime, contact your program (found in the Graduate Guide) to confirm whether you used the same demographic information for both the application and the test. If you listed your name differently or your birthdate is incorrect, for example, the system cannot link your scores to your application.

No, do not send any financial documentation until you receive a request from International Student Services and after you have been admitted.

After we have processed your official transcript and admitted you, you will receive an email with information about the I-20 application process. Once you have earned your undergraduate degree, please send a final transcript and degree certificate to the Graduate School; otherwise, an enrollment hold will be placed on your account for your second term.

International applicants will be given access to Terra Dotta after they have been both recommended by the program and admitted to the Graduate School. Look for an email with specific instructions for logging in to Terra Dotta.

Uploading the information into Terra Dotta takes at least 48 hours; please re-check the system to see the update. If your address has not been updated after 48 hours, email the Admissions Office at admissions@grad.wisc.edu.

If you are admitted to the Graduate School, you will be asked to fill out a form asking if you accept or deny the offer of admission.

Newly admitted graduate students will receive an invitation to enroll through MyUW from the Office of the Registrar approximately six weeks before the start of classes.

Visit the Registrar’s website for important dates and deadlines for each semester.

If you are interested in a fellowship, project assistantship, research assistantship, or teaching assistantship, contact your academic program. If you are interested in financial aid, check the loans/work study box in the application to receive information from the UW–Madison Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note: loans and work study are available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Tuition rates for the current term are located on the Bursar’s website. Tuition costs for future terms may not be available.