The University of Wisconsin-Madison has offered graduate study for more than a century. Its advanced instruction actively involves graduate students in research. The faculty of more than 2,000 distinguished scholars and teachers, supported by an academic staff exceeding 4,600, confers graduate degrees in more than 160 fields of study.
As one of the nation's major research institutions, the university maintains extensive research facilities. More than 40 campus libraries, three museums, and numerous research centers support nearly 7,500 active local, national, and international research projects.
The Graduate School home page at www.grad.wisc.edu offers links to admission information, including department contacts, Web sites and the online application, funding resources, diversity, graduate student life and other resources.
Deadlines for applications, fellowships and other types of funding vary among departments. Requirements also vary; therefore, it is important to check department Web sites before applying. All transcripts are sent directly to the department. If applying to more than one department, all transcripts become part of the university files and will not be returned. Wisconsin legislation requires that an application fee accompany each Graduate School application. The application fee is set by the legislature and is nonrefundable.
When the Graduate School receives the application, the data are entered into a campuswide student administration system. The department performs the initial application review, and if desired, makes a positive admission recommendation to the Graduate School. Admission is based on demonstrated scholastic ability, letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose/reasons for graduate study, and in most departments, scores on standardized tests, such as the GRE, TOEFL or IELTS (for international students) and GMAT for Business School applicants. Department requirements may be more rigorous than Graduate School requirements.
Upon receipt of a positive admission recommendation from the department, the Graduate School will review the application and make the final admission decision. All applicants must meet the following requirements:
Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English-proficiency test score. Puerto Rican residents are no longer required by the Graduate School to provide an English-proficiency test score, but departments may require one. The required minimum scores are:
An applicant whose TOEFL paper-based test score is below 580; TOEFL computer-based (CBT) score below 237; TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) score below 92; IELTS score below 7; or MELAB below 82 must take an English-assessment test upon arrival. Depending on the score, an applicant may need to register for a recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course in the first semester he or she is enrolled.
International applicants are required to have adequate financial resources to cover expenses for the duration of their studies at UW-Madison. Financial information for international applicants is available at /education/admissions/financialinfo.html. Do not send financial statements until requested to do so by the Graduate School at the time of admission.
Applicants admitted with full graduate standing must have satisfied the minimum Graduate School requirements and the requirements of the department in which they plan to enroll. A department may justify a recommendation of full standing to the Graduate School even though the applicant does not meet the minimum requirements. The Graduate School makes the final admission decision based on the department's recommendation.
The department may decide to recommend an applicant for the master's degree only. The department is responsible for monitoring this decision.
An applicant may be admitted with deficiencies on departmental recommendation. Applicants normally have at least 12 credits of academic work in the field of proposed graduate study or, in special cases, 12 credits of academic work in related fields approved by the department. Students are ordinarily expected to make up deficiencies by the end of the first full semester of enrollment. The Graduate School makes the final admission decision based on the department's recommendation. The department is responsible for monitoring the deficiencies.
An applicant who does not meet Graduate School minimum GPA or institution/degree requirements may be admitted on probation, provided other substantial evidence of capacity to do satisfactory graduate work is presented. For information on minimum requirements for international schools, refer to the Graduate School Wisconsin Directory of International Institutions at /admin/gradcoordinators/iadmiss/index.html. The Graduate School makes the final admission decision based on the department's recommendation. If the applicant is admitted, the Graduate School will monitor the department review of probation and automatically end probationary status if the student meets the stipulated requirements. Failure to meet the requirements may result in the student being dropped from graduate school. It is the department's responsibility to inform students who have been admitted on probation.
An applicant may be admitted on probation with deficiencies. The department is responsible for monitoring the deficiencies, and the Graduate School will monitor the department review of probation.
Applicants may be admitted on probation with the stipulation that they receive no grade below B in the first semester as a UW-Madison graduate student. The Graduate School will monitor the department review of probation.
Applicants may be admitted on probation with the stipulation that they receive a specified first-semester GPA. The Graduate School will monitor the department review of probation.
In some cases, strong performance as a University Special student will be considered as evidence leading to favorable action on a request for admission. Course work taken as a University Special student cannot be used to fulfill the Graduate School Minimum Credit Requirement, but may fulfill the department's course requirements. The Graduate School may advise a department to defer an admission decision until a student completes a specified number of graduate-level credits as a University Special student. A University Special student who has previously applied to the Graduate School must reapply for a future semester to become a degree candidate. For more information, contact: Adult and Student Services Center, 1305 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/263-6960; assc@dcs.wisc.edu; www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/univspec.htm.
Senior-graduates are UW-Madison undergraduate seniors who are within 1-6 credits of completing the requirements for a bachelor's degree and enroll in the Graduate School simultaneously.
The student applies through the normal Graduate School process, and must meet minimum requirements. In addition, the student must submit a senior-graduate form which verifies courses/credits needed to complete the bachelor's degree. The admitting department must recommend admission in full standing. Senior-graduates may not be admitted on probation.
All senior-graduates pay graduate fees and are eligible for TA or PA appointments, including tuition remission. They are not eligible for fellowships or research assistantships.
All grade points earned as a senior-graduate are counted in the computation of the cumulative undergraduate grade-point average. The student's program is subject to the regulations and requirements of the Graduate School. Graduate credit will be awarded only if the requirements for the bachelor's degree are completed by the end of the semester of senior-graduate enrollment. Failure to earn the bachelor's degree within one semester will result in termination of senior-graduate status and loss of credits toward the graduate degree. The student will be granted graduate standing the semester following receipt of the bachelor's degree.
Application for senior-graduate status is made at time of application to the Graduate School. For information and a senior-graduate request form, contact the Graduate School Office of Admissions, 228 Bascom Hall, 608/262-0735.
Students (nondissertators) interested in receiving two degrees from two separate Graduate School majors may apply for an additional major at any time during their enrollment at UW-Madison. To receive double degrees, students must complete the specific degree requirements for each major.
To receive dual degrees, students must be admitted to a professional school of UW-Madison (e.g., law, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine) and the Graduate School in full standing.
Students may apply for a joint degree, which consists of one degree and two majors, by submitting a proposal for the degree after being enrolled full-time in one graduate major at UW-Madison for at least one semester. Some departments have prior Graduate School approval for joint-degree programs. Students should check with the department to see if prior approval exists.
The Graduate School can authorize special committees to supervise master's or doctoral programs for students whose needs cannot be met within an established program. Students must first be accepted into a graduate-degree-granting program, establish one semester of full-time graduate work at UW-Madison, and then the faculty advisor should submit a proposal for a special committee degree. Students should check with the Graduate School and the individual faculty with whom they are interested in working.
A UW-Madison faculty member may pursue a graduate degree provided arrangements have been made to avoid conflicts of interest and time commitment. Faculty should refer to section 8.03 of Faculty Policies and Procedures for specific regulations.
Previously enrolled graduate students must reapply for admission to the Graduate School if they wish to resume studies after an absence of a semester or more (not including summer session). The reentry procedure assures the Graduate School that a student is in good standing with his/her academic department and activates the student's registration eligibility. Procedures for returning to Graduate School are available at /education/admissions/reentry.html.
The Graduate School has no formal policy regarding leaves of absence but recommends that students contact the department when they desire a leave. Some departments have strict leave-of-absence policies.
Students wishing to return to graduate school after an absence of five or more years must submit a new Graduate School online application, application fee, and official transcripts from all previous institutions. Applications for reentry can be made only within one year of the semester in which the student wishes to return.
The best way to identify sources of financial support is through the departments, the Office of Student Financial Services, and various library resources. Establishing a network of faculty, staff, and currently enrolled graduate students can be helpful in finding financial assistance outside the department. Current fee and tuition rates are available from the department, through the registrar's Helpline, 608/262-0920, and at the registrar's Web site, registrar.wisc.edu/.
Many financial aid awards include payment of tuition and fees for the student. Federal awards usually pay all tuition for the fellows and trainees. In addition, the university offers assistantship holders and selected fellowship recipients, with 33.33% or more award, eligibility for comprehensive health insurance coverage. For RAs, TAs, and PAs, the segregated fees are the responsibility of the student each term.
The department is the most important source of funding for the majority of graduate students. Most students who receive support serve as teaching, research, or project assistants. These assistantships, along with traineeships and some fellowships, are awarded directly by departments. To be considered for most fellowships and assistantships, applicants must fill out the funding form included in the application packet. Continuing and returning students should contact the department.
The Graduate School administers university-funded fellowships for different purposes and in different disciplines. For example, fellowships are awarded by division, while others are offered by school or college. Applicants do not apply directly to the Graduate School for fellowship support. Academic departments nominate their most competitive students for university-wide awards, as well as departmental fellowships.
The stipend level varies according to the type of fellowship. In 2008-2009, fellowship awards will range from $8,785 to $21,032. Most awards provide for payment of tuition and fees and include eligibility for comprehensive health insurance benefits. Awards may be made for a semester, academic (nine-month), or annual (12-month) tenure.
Federal or national fellowships administered by the Graduate School include: Ford Foundation Predoctoral and Dissertation Fellowships; Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program; National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC); National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowships. These programs require direct application by the student to the agency and generally have early fall deadlines.
The International Fellowships Office, an activity of the International Institute, serves as a resource center and provides information and support to faculty, students, and staff interested in identifying international research, grants, scholarship, and other funding opportunities. The International Fellowships Office also manages and coordinates international fellowship competitions for UW-Madison faculty and students, including programs sponsored by Fulbright, Social Science Research Council (SSRC), National Security Education Program, the International Research and Exchanges Board, and other major national competitions. Contact the International Institute at 266 Bascom Hall; 608/262-5590 (communications director); www.intl-institute.wisc.edu.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are required for most major fellowship programs and by many departments and programs for admission. Some departments and programs also require a subject test. Applicants should take the exam as soon as possible following the junior year so that scores will reach the Graduate School by fellowship deadlines beginning in December. To facilitate reporting of scores for national fellowships, a number of national fellowship programs (for example, National Science Foundation, Hertz, Mellon) have specific score-reporting codes. The code for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is 1846.
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Student assistants are enrolled graduate students. There are several general categories of student assistant appointments at the UW-Madison.
Teaching assistantships afford support to graduate students as well as opportunities for acquiring valuable teaching experience. A teaching assistant (TA) is a graduate student enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System who is regularly assigned to teaching and related responsibilities, other than manual or clerical responsibilities, under the supervision of a faculty member or under the supervision of an academic staff employee who has instructional responsibilities. Teaching assistants are included in a labor agreement between the state of Wisconsin and the Teaching Assistants Association.
Teaching assistants who are awarded a minimum appointment of 33.33% receive full tuition remission and are eligible for comprehensive health insurance benefits. They are, however, still responsible for paying segregated fees.
During fall and spring terms, nondissertator teaching and project assistants (TAs, PAs) who hold a term appointment of at least 33.33% and are enrolled for 6 graduate credits, or who hold an appointment of at least 50% and are enrolled for 4 graduate credits, are considered part-time by the Graduate School, but full-time by the registrar for loan deferment purposes and for certification of student immigration status.
To hold a teaching assistant appointment during the academic year, graduate students who have nondissertator status must enroll for a minimum of 2 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits. It is the student's responsibility to confirm the minimum enrollment requirement with his or her academic department, since the department's minimum enrollment requirement may be higher. Students who have dissertator status must enroll for 3 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits.
Students holding summer appointments need not necessarily enroll during the summer session, although they must either have been a graduate student during the preceding semester or have a letter to enroll for the upcoming fall. International graduate students who are new to the university and have admittance for the fall term cannot be appointed unless they have admittance for the summer term and are enrolled for 2 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits.
A program assistant or project assistant (PA) is a graduate student enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System who is assigned to conduct research, training, administrative responsibilities or other academic or academic support projects or programs, except regular preparation of instructional materials for courses or manuals or clerical assignments, under the supervision of a faculty member or academic staff, primarily for the benefit of the university, faculty, or academic staff supervisor or granting agency.
Program/project assistants are included in a labor agreement between the state of Wisconsin and the Teaching Assistants Association.
Program/project assistants who are awarded a minimum appointment of 33.33% receive full tuition remission and are eligible for comprehensive health insurance benefits. They are, however, still responsible for paying segregated fees.
During fall and spring terms, nondisserator teaching and project assistants (TAs, PAs) who hold a term appointment of at least 33.33% and are enrolled for 6 graduate credits, or who hold an appointment of at least 50% and are enrolled for 4 graduate credits, are considered part-time by the Graduate School, but full-time by the registrar for loan deferment purposes and for certification of student immigration status.
To hold a program or project assistant appointment during the academic year, graduate students who have nondissertator status must enroll for a minimum of 2 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits. It is the student's responsibility to confirm the minimum enrollment requirement with his or her academic department, since the department's minimum enrollment requirement may be higher. Students who have dissertator status must enroll for 3 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits.
Students holding summer appointments need not necessarily enroll during the summer session, although they must either have been a graduate student during the preceding semester or have a letter to enroll for the upcoming fall. International graduate students who are new to the university and have admittance for the fall term cannot be appointed unless they have admittance for the summer term and are enrolled for 2 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits.
A research assistant (RA) must be a graduate student working toward a master's or Ph.D. degree. The activity performed is primarily to further the education and training of the student, and for the benefit of the individual's course of study and research directly applicable to the thesis or dissertation.
Research assistants who are awarded a minimum appointment of 33.33% receive full tuition remission and are eligible for comprehensive health insurance benefits. They are, however, still responsible for paying segregated fees.
To hold a research assistant appointment, graduate students who have nondissertator status must enroll for 8 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits. Students who have dissertator status must enroll for 3 graduate (courses numbered 300 or above) credits. Students holding summer appointments are required to enroll. Graduate students who have nondissertator status must enroll for 2 graduate level (300 level or above) credits during the eight-week summer session. Graduate students who have dissertator status must enroll for 3 credits during the eight-week summer session.
Many colleges and departments have fellowships, scholarships, and traineeship awards for students at all stages of graduate study. Awards are made available from federal training programs, research grants, gifts and trusts, and special program funds. Information is available from the major department.
The Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) assists students (U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) whose personal and family resources are not adequate to cover the expenses involved in attending UW-Madison.
To apply for Federal Work-Study and Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) a student must submit to the OSFS a signed copy of the most recent federal income tax return. Students must also submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA to the federal processor at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Eligibility is based on financial need as calculated by the OSFS. Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS) forms are not used or accepted at UW-Madison. By checking "yes" to loans and work-study on the Graduate School application for admission, applicants are automatically sent information from the OSFS.
Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 per year through the Federal Stafford Loan to a cumulative maximum of $138,500 for undergraduate and graduate years combined. The interest rate is variable and set annually with a cap of 8.25% for new borrowers. Neither interest nor principal payments begin until the borrower leaves school or is no longer enrolled at least half-time.
The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan has the same terms and conditions as the Federal Stafford Loan except that the borrower is responsible for interest that accrues while the student is in school. Graduate students may borrow up to $18,500 per year less any subsidized Stafford Loan. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but the loan amount cannot exceed the difference between the student cost-of-attendance and other aid.
The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time employment either on campus or in a nonprofit, off-campus community agency. Amounts range from $500 to $2,600 per academic year.
There is no deadline for applying for financial aid. However, students should apply as early as possible. This will allow a timely response from OSFS, and timely receipt of aid. Students must reapply for financial aid each year. Students who become ineligible for aid by failure to meet departmental satisfactory progress standards, or by exceeding maximum years of support under these programs, may appeal through the OSFS.
Short-term loans are available on a limited basis. They are given only to assist in unanticipated emergency situations, and must be paid within the semester in which they are borrowed. To be considered for a short-term loan, a student must be currently enrolled and meet with a financial aid counselor.
Student employment opportunities are available both on campus and in the community. Openings for full- and part-time jobs for students and their spouses are listed on the Student Job Center Web site at jobcenter.wisc.edu.
Counseling is available to students who would like more information about financial assistance, debt management, or personal budgeting.
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Acceptance of an offer of financial aid (such as graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by an actual or prospective graduate student completes an agreement which both the student and graduate school expect to honor. In those instances in which the student accepts the offer before April 15 and subsequently desires to withdraw, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15.
However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.