International Students
Whether your career goal is to do research that will advance global knowledge or to hold a leadership position in your field with government or industry, UW–Madison is a great place to start.
Our graduate programs attract students of diverse cultural backgrounds and roughly one third of our current graduate students hail from around the globe — China, India, Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, Iran, Germany, Nigeria, Australia, Brazil, and a host of other countries.
UW–Madison ranks 12th among public institutions in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 edition of America’s Best Colleges. Graduate programs at UW–Madison consistently earn high rankings from U.S. News & World Report, including some top-ranked programs in the nation. In addition, UW–Madison ranks 5th in the national research rankings for public and private universities.
Explore our programs to find the best fit for you. You’ll find UW–Madison to be an excellent choice for graduate study.
International Student Services
International Student Services (ISS) serves UW–Madison students on F and J visas by providing holistic support through advising on immigration, personal, and cultural matters, and by organizing events and activities to support students’ engagement and development within the campus community.
Were you just recently accepted to UW–Madison for graduate school? Check out the ISS page on Becoming a Global Badger, which includes resources about:
- the step-by-step process of becoming a UW–Madison international student
- estimated expenses
- explanations of visa types, such as the difference between F-1 and J-1
- resources to help you transition to life at UW–Madison
Funding opportunities for international students
Though citizenship requirements restrict international students from holding some fellowships, there are other fellowships for which international students are eligible to be nominated, including University Fellowships and some departmental fellowships. Graduate assistantships are also available to international students. To find out about these options, contact your program.
Resources
- International students will find numerous resources for funding your education from International Student Services.
- The Grants Information Collection at UW–Madison lists funding databases for international students.
- The Graduate School’s fellowships information includes suggestions of where to browse fellowships for which international students can to apply.
The Graduate School
217 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706
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