Admissions

How much is the application fee?

The application fee is $75 U.S. It is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (MasterCard or Visa), Debit/ATM. In addition, non-U.S. citizens will be charged a $6 international document processing fee.

When is the application deadline?

Application deadlines vary from program to program. Before starting your application, it is very important to check the deadlines on your academic program’s page.

My program will not consider my application because the deadline has passed for that term. Can I get a refund?

The application fee is non-refundable. Applicants should check program deadlines before applying.

How do I add/change a program after submitting my application?

You must fill out a new application and pay a new fee.

How do I make updates or changes to my application after submission?

There are only a few changes you are allowed to make. You can manage your recommenders, and update documents that you have already uploaded. You cannot add any new documents. This can be done through the applicant status check page.

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, and then edit. For assistance contact our Division of Information Technology (DoIT) at help@doit.wisc.edu. Also, please make your academic program aware of the change.

Can I change the term that I originally applied for?

You can change the term you wish to apply for by submitting a new application and fee.

Can I apply to more than one program with one application and one fee?

Yes, you can apply to three programs on one application with one fee.

When should I send my official transcripts?

No official transcripts are required as part of the application. The Graduate School will send an instructional email request after the program has recommended admission.

Will my transcripts that I send to the Graduate School be returned to me?

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

I sent my official transcripts. How do I know if you have received them?

We process transcripts as quickly as possible. Updates can be found in the online status check through MyUW.

How will my admissions committee take spring 2020 grades into consideration?

Many institutions have introduced new grading schemes such as satisfactory/unsatisfactory, pass/fail, or credit/noncredit. Some institutions enforced the new grading schemes while others let students choose between the new grading scheme or traditional letter grades. At the same time, we believe that both institutions and their students made efforts to maintain the highest level of rigor and integrity in educational outcomes.

Consequently, our admissions committees and our program faculty will be empathetic to COVID-19 challenges and allow flexibility in the evaluation of applicants, especially in the use of spring 2020 grades. Some programs have also decided to drop or allow flexibility to their GRE requirement.

Am I eligible for a fee waiver?

The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to make sure that the application fee is not a barrier for students from our key recruiting initiatives. Fee grants are currently available to U.S. citizens, permanent resident applicants and students with DACA status who can document that they:

1. participated in selected pipeline programs designed to prepare students for graduate studies (see eligible pipeline programs), or
2. grew up in a low-income family.

What if I do not receive the link to check my status after I submitted my application?

The submission of your application is a 2-step process. First, you get your submission confirmation. Within a few days you will receive an email with directions to activate your NetID through MyUW. It is very important that you set up your MyUW account to check your application status. If you have further questions, please contact admissions@grad.wisc.edu.

Why doesn’t the status page list the application materials that I sent to my program?

The program receives all of your materials and updates your status page. Contact your program directly. You can find the specific program contact information on the Graduate Guide page.

When will my test scores show up on my checklist?

Scores are typically sent to UW–Madison electronically within two weeks. Please allow two weeks for processing once scores are received from the vendor.

Why aren’t my test scores showing up on my checklist?

If you did not use the same demographic information for both the application and the test, they will not match up. It is possible that you listed your name differently or the birthdate is incorrect. Contact your program for assistance.

Do you accept Duolingo?

No, we do not accept Duolingo.

How much funding will I need to show to attend graduate school?

See International Applicant Financial Information.

I don’t have a transcript with a degree posted. When do I submit my final transcript?

When you get your final transcript and certification of degree, you can mail it to our office, or you can bring it with you when you arrive on campus. An enrollment hold for your second semester will be in place until we receive your final official transcript and degree certification. If you need to keep your original documents, we will make copies for our files. Our office location is Room 232, Bascom Hall.

I am an international applicant. Do I need to send my financial documents with my application materials?

Do not send any financial documentation until requested to do so by the Graduate School. The request will be made on your online status page when your academic records are approved.

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.

Do you accept “MyBest” or combined scores?

We will not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements.

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 (ESLAT) upon arrival at UW–Madison.

TOEFL: 92 for internet based test (IBT) and 580 for paper test
IELTS: 7

Depending on your test result you may be required to register for an English as a Second Language (ESL) course in your first semester. 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. See more information on English proficiency test requirements.

If I enroll in the English as a Second Language Program, am I guaranteed admission to the university?

Enrollment in the English as a Second Language program (ESL) does not ensure admission to a graduate program at UW–Madison. You will not be able to register for courses outside the ESL curriculum during your enrollment in ESL.

If I take English as a Second Language, 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 exclusively English, an English proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS) is required. All electronic test scores should be sent to institution code 1846.  IELTS scores can be mailed or submitted electronically.

Why do I have to show a permanent home address?

In order for an I-20 or DS-2019 to be printed, the SEVIS system requires that you list a permanent address in your home country. It must be a residence address. No post office box numbers, businesses or university addresses are allowed.

Does the UW–Madison Graduate School offer “conditional admission”?

UW–Madison does not offer conditional admission. All students must apply through the Graduate School website.

I received an offer letter from my program. Should I provide that letter as financial documentation? Are additional documents like a personal bank statement required? If so, what should be a minimum sum of money?

You should upload your offer letter that shows your stipend amount into Terra Dotta. Please refer to our international students webpage for the minimum amounts needed. Personal bank statements are acceptable, but please ensure that the funds are in a liquid form in a checking or savings account. Educational loans are also acceptable, you just need to upload your final letter showing the loan amount.

I have been admitted but I am unable to access Terra Dotta.

Applicants will not have access to Terra Dotta until they have been admitted and have been given instruction from the Graduate School. If you have received both communications and had issues, please try logging in again. You may not have been granted access when you first tried logging in.

I updated my address in my Student Center. Why is the information still wrong in Terra Dotta?

Uploading the information into Terra Dotta takes at least 24 hours; please check the system again for the update. If it has not updated within 24 hours, email the Admissions Office at admissions@grad.wisc.edu.

How do I apply for financial assistance?

Programs are the main source for funding. Fill out the funding section of the online application. If you are interested in a Fellowship, Project/Program, Research, or Teaching Assistantship, 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 Aid.

How much is tuition for the UW–Madison Graduate School?

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

How do I submit letters of recommendation?

All letters of recommendation are submitted electronically through the 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.

What happens to the recommendations if they are completed before I submit my application?

All recommendations are attached to your application.

My recommender has not responded. Can I send them another request?

Yes. To send another request to your recommender, you should go back into the recommendation section of your application and click the “Send Reminder” button. An email should be sent within 24 hours. You should contact your recommender to let them know to watch for the new message to arrive.

What if my letters of recommendation are stored at a file service (a career service center) and are sent out by request?

These services cannot be used with our online recommendation system.  You may contact your academic program to inquire if this method is acceptable.

Can the recommendations be sent by paper or PDF file?

Recommendations are done through our online application.

What are the requirements for admission?

Refer to the requirements page.

Am I eligible for consideration if my GPA is less than 3.0?

Your program may choose to consider your application if you have less than a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credit hours of your bachelor’s degree. Contact your program directly.

Does my program require the GRE?

Due to COVID-19 and difficulties of access to GRE, some programs have either dropped or become more flexible with their GRE requirement.  Please check program webpages for more information or contact them directly.

How do I accept or decline the admission offer from my program?

You can choose to accept or decline admission through the Online Status Check.  If you decline, there are a few simple questions to answer.

When do I enroll for classes?

Newly admitted graduate students will receive an invitation to enroll through MyUW from Enrollment Services approximately six weeks prior to the start of classes.

When do classes begin?

Check the Academic Calendar.