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.

After submitting and paying for the application, I realized I am not qualified and/or that the program’s posted deadline has passed. Can I receive a refund?

The application fee is non-refundable. Before submitting an application, we encourage all applicants to make sure you have:

• Reviewed the program’s application deadline and admission criteria, which can be 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

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

Submitted application materials cannot be updated or changed. If you wish to add application materials after submission, you must contact your program to see if their review timeline and policies allow applicants to provide new documentation. Any new documentation accepted by the program will be added to your application, and will not replace existing documentation. You can find contact information for your program on your academic program’s Graduate Guide page.

You can update your recommendations after submission by following the directions below:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ and then select the Graduate Application link  
2. Below the Application Checklist, select the recommendations page link 
3. From there, you can choose to add new recommenders, exclude recommenders, or send a reminder email

How do I update/correct email address or password in the application?

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page
3. Scroll to the bottom of the Status Page, where you will see options to Change Email Address or Change Password

Can I change the term that I originally applied for?

Once you have submitted your application, you cannot change your term. You will need to submit a new application for the same program for the correct term which will require creating a new application and paying an additional application fee.

Can I apply to more than one program for one fee?

You can apply for up to 3 programs within the same entry term (spring term, summer term, or fall term) for one application fee. You will pay the application fee for the first submitted application. The fee will automatically be waived for the next two applications submitted for the same entry term. 

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.

When should I send my official transcripts?

When you apply, you will be asked to upload copies of your transcripts. The copies of your transcripts uploaded into the application are used for review purposes only and are considered unofficial transcripts.

If you are recommended for admission by your program, the Graduate School will email you directions on how to provide official transcripts to the Graduate School Office of Admissions for final review and processing.

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

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

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

After you have applied, you can check which official transcripts have been received by the UW-Madison Graduate School Office of Admissions by following the directions below:

1. Log in to your application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page
3. Scroll down to the Official Transcript Status section; there you will see a list of the institutions from which the Graduate School has received official documents. If no institutions are listed there, we have not yet received your official transcripts.

Please note that University of Wisconsin-Madison students applying to the Graduate School do not need to send an official University of Wisconsin-Madison transcript. We will access those transcripts internally.

I am still finishing my undergraduate degree. When should I send my official transcript(s)?

If you are recommended for admission by your program, the Graduate School will send you an email requesting official transcripts. You will need to have your most current official transcript sent from your undergraduate institution 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 have a final transcript (and degree certificate if needed) sent to the Graduate School, or else an enrollment hold will be put on your account for your second term.

How will my admissions committee take 2020 grades into consideration?

Many institutions introduced new grading schemes such as satisfactory/unsatisfactory, pass/fail, or credit/noncredit during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some institutions enforced the new grading schemes while others let students choose between the new grading scheme or traditional letter grades. In either case, we trust 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 2020 grades.

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. Please visit the Graduate School’s Application Fee Grant webpage for additional information and directions for requesting a fee grant. 

Please note: the Wisconsin School of Business has its own criteria for granting fee waivers. For more information on those waivers, contact the admissions team for the program to which you are applying. Please visit the Business School’s contact page.

How do I check the status of my application after I have submitted my application?

If you have submitted and paid for your application, you can access your Status Page following the directions below:

1. Log in to your application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page, where status updates will be provided

Once you reach your status page, you can review the items we have received and any status updates. If you do not have a status update, your application is still under review. 

Since the academic program receives your materials and reviews your application first, you will need to contact the program directly about the completion or status of your application. Contact information for each program can be found in the Graduate Guide. Search for your program and a contact list will be listed in the program’s specific page.

How will I know you have received my test scores?

If you have submitted and paid for your application, you can access your Status Page following the directions below:

1. Log in to your application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page
3. Scroll down to the Application Checklist section, where you will see any official test score we have received from IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or GRE

If you have not submitted an application yet, your submitted test scores will not show up; they will only be matched to your application after your application has been submitted.

Why aren’t my test scores showing up in my Status Page?

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

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. Contact information for your program can be found in the Graduate Guide.

Did I score high enough on my English proficiency test?

You can find our minimum requirements for English proficiency scores on the Requirements for Admission page.

I need a fee waiver to take the Duolingo English Test. Can you provide me with one?

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

Do you accept “MyBest” or combined scores?

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

Do you accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition?

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

I sent my official test scores to UW-Madison Graduate School (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or GRE). When will those test results be connected with my application?

Test scores typically take 2-3 weeks to be processed and connected to your application once received by the Graduate School. Your test scores will not connect to your application until the application has been submitted. If you sent your test scores before you submitted your application, it will take 2-3 weeks for your scores to match. Much of our test score and application matching is done manually, and we appreciate your patience, especially during busy times (November – February) when we are processing thousands of test scores and applications.

If you have submitted and paid for your application, you can access your Status Page to check test scores following the directions below:

1. Log in to your application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page
3. Scroll down to the Application Checklist section, where you will see any official test score we have received from IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or GRE

If it has been more than 3 weeks since your test scores were sent and more than 3 weeks since you submitted your application, you can reach out to admissions@grad.wisc.edu to check in on the status of your test scores. Please provide the following information based on your test:

TOEFL

Personal Info 

• UW-Madison Campus ID / Application ID
• Birthdate
• Name changes or discrepancies

Test Info

• Appointment number (16 digits)
• PDF of test report
• Date of the test
• Date the scores were sent
• Receipts or email confirmations

IELTS

Personal Info

• UW-Madison Campus ID / Application ID
• Birthdate
• Name changes or discrepancies

Test Info

• TRF number (18 digits)
• PDF of test report
• Date of the test
• Date the scores were sent
• Delivery method (e.g., mail)
• Receipts or email confirmations

Duolingo English Test

Personal Info

• UW–Madison Campus ID / Application ID
• Birthdate
• Name changes or discrepancies

Test Info

• Certificate ID Number
• Email associated with your Duolingo account
• PDF of test report
• Date of the test
• Date the scores were sent
• Receipts or email confirmations

GRE

Personal Info

• UW–Madison Campus ID / Application ID
• Birthdate
• Name changes or discrepancies

Test Info

• Registration number (7 digits)
• PDF of test report
• Date of the test
• Date the scores were sent
• Receipts or email confirmations

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

No. Do not send any financial documentation until requested to do so by International Student Services after you have been admitted.

I haven’t completed my degree yet but need to apply for my I-20 right away. How can I get the immigration process started?

If you are recommended for admission by your program, the Graduate School will send you an email requesting official transcripts. You will need to have your most current official transcript sent to the Graduate School so our office can review your credentials and admit you. When we have processed your official transcript and admitted you, you will receive an email on the I-20 application process.

Once you have earned your undergraduate degree, you will need to send a final transcript and degree certificate to the Graduate School, or an enrollment hold will be put on your account for your second term.

Why can’t I access Terra Dotta?

Access to Terra Dotta is granted after an international applicant has been both recommended by the program and admitted to the Graduate School. Admitted applicants will be emailed specific instructions explaining how to log in to Terra Dotta.

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 48 hours; please check the system again for the update. If it has not been updated within 48 hours, email the Admissions Office at admissions@grad.wisc.edu.

How do I apply for financial assistance?

Programs are the main source of funding. If you are interested in a fellowship, project assistantship, research assistantship, 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. 

After you submit and pay for your application, you can edit your recommenders following the steps below: 

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ and then select the application link
2. Below the Application Checklist, select the recommendations page link 
3. From there, you can choose to add new recommenders, exclude recommenders, or send a reminder email to your recommenders

How will I know a letter of recommendation has been submitted?

When your recommender completes a letter of recommendation for your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You can also check which recommendations have been received by going to your Status Page following the directions below:

1. Log in to your application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ 
2. Select the Graduate Application link to enter into your Status Page
3. Scroll down to the Application Checklist section, where you will see which letters of recommendation have been received and which recommendations are still awaiting

My recommender has not responded. Can I send them a reminder?

Yes, you can send a reminder to your recommenders to complete their recommendation.

If you have not submitted your application, follow the directions below to send a reminder:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ and then select the Graduate Application link  
2. Navigate to the Recommendations section of the application
3. Select the recommender you wish to remind
4. Select the Send Reminder button

If you have submitted your application, follow the directions below to send a reminder:

1. Log in to your Graduate School application portal at https://gradapply.wisc.edu/apply/ and then select the Graduate Application link  
2. Below the Application Checklist, select the recommendations page link 
3. Select the recommender you wish to remind
4. Select the Send Reminder button

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

These services cannot be used with our online recommendation system. If your recommender is facing technical difficulties submitting a letter of recommendation, your recommender should reach out to admissions@grad.wisc.edu with their issue. 

Can the recommendations be sent by paper or PDF file?

No. Recommendations are provided through our online application. If your recommender is facing technical difficulties submitting a letter of recommendation, your recommender should reach out to admissions@grad.wisc.edu with their issue.

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

Your program may still choose to consider your application if you have a GPA below the Graduate School’s posted requirements for admissions. To learn more about a program’s GPA requirement, search for your intended program in the Graduate Guide and use the contact information listed to reach out to the program.

Does my program require the GRE?

Search for your program in the Graduate Guide and select the Admissions tab to see if the program requires the GRE or any other tests. If you have questions about test requirements, reach out to the program directly using the contacts listed on the program’s Graduate Guide page.

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

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.

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 Registrar’s Dates and Deadlines page.