The Graduate School

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Before You Apply

   1. Application Fee
   2. Multiple Applications
   3. Deadlines/Graduate Programs
   4. English as a Second Language
   5. Financial Aid/Tuition Cost
   6. Letters of Recommendation
   7. Requirements
   8. Testing/GRE/English Proficiency Tests
   9. Residency
   10. Wisconsin - Minnesota Reciprocity

2. Processing Your Application

   1. Admission Process
   2. Checking your Application Status
   3. Requesting Application Changes
   4. Transcripts/Academic Records

3. After You Are Admitted

   1. Accepting/Declining Admission
   2. Enrollment Issues
   3. ESLAT requirements
   4. Missing Academic Records
   5. Residency Requirements

1. Before you apply

   1. Application Fee

      How much is the application fee?
      The application fee is non-refundable and can be paid by credit card (Mastercard or Visa), Debit/ATM card, personal check or money order, drawn on an U.S. bank. After you submit your application you will be directed to the fee payment section. Please do not send cash.  The application fee is $56.00 US.

      Can I apply to more than one program with one application and one fee?
      Yes, you can apply to 3 programs on with one application and one fee.

      I have submitted my application. Can I still pay my fee by credit card?
      Yes. Log back into your application and click on the fee payment section.

      My program will not consider my application because the deadline has passed for that term. Can I get a refund?
      No. The application fee is non-refundable.

      Back to To
   2. Multiple Applications
      
      Can I create 2 applications?
      Not for the same term. If you create another application, it will
      not be processed. Only the first submission will be processed. If you have any questions or encounter any problems with your application, please contact webapp@grad.wisc.edu.
      
      Can I apply to an MS and PhD level in the same program?
      You should apply to only one degree within a program. If you select both the MS and PhD, only the PhD will be entered into our student admin system. If you are unsure which program to apply to, contact your program.
      
      Back to Top

   3. Deadlines/Graduate Academic Programs

      When is the application deadline?
      Application deadlines vary between programs. Before starting your application, it is very important to check your academic program's deadlines.

      Where do I get academic program contact information?
      Programs are listed alphabetically on the UW-Madison Graduate School homepage under the Academic Programs link.

      Do I have to fill out separate applications to the academic program and the Graduate School Admissions office?
      No. Both the academic program and the Graduate Admissions office will have access to your online application. Some academic programs require a supplemental application.

      Back to Top

   4. English as a Second Language

      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 upon arrival at UW-Madison.
      TOEFL: 92 for internet based test (IBT) and 580 for paper test
      MELAB: 82
      IELTS: 7
      Depending on your test result you may need to register for a recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester you are enrolled.
      For more information on English proficiency test requirements, click here.
      

      If I enroll in the English as a Second Language Program, am I guaranteed admission to the university?
      No. Enrollment in the English as a Second Language program (ESL) does not assure admission to an academic program at the UW-Madison Graduate School. You will not be able to register for courses outside the ESL curriculum during your enrollment in ESL.

      If I take an English as a Second Language program, 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 English, an English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB) is required.

      Back to Top 

   5. Financial Aid/Tuition Costs

      How do I apply for financial assistance?
      Programs are a main source for funding. Fill out the 'additional funding' section of the online application. If you are interested in a Fellowship, Project/Program, Research, or Teaching Assistantship, you should 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 Services.

      How much is tuition for the UW Madison Graduate School?
      Tuition rates for the 'current' term are located on the Registrar's web site. Tuition costs for future terms may not be available.

      I am an international applicant. Do I need to send my financial documents with my application materials?
      No. Financial documents will be requested by the Graduate Admissions office after the academic program has recommended you for admission. The Graduate School will request this information you via your online status check in My UW.

      Back to Top

   6. Letters of Recommendation

      What is the process for the letters of recommendation?
      All letters of recommendation are done electronically through our 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.
      
      Who sends the requests to the recommenders?
      The applicant has control of when each recommender receives the request.  Be sure the email address for each recommender is correct.  If you are applying to multiple programs, be sure to check the box for all of the program(s) you want the recommender to respond to.  Check the box that requests an email be sent, located at the bottom of each person's section, then save the page.  Your recommender will receive an email that contains the program(s) specific recommendation form.  After you save your work, please allow 24 hours for the recommender to receive the message.
      
      What happens to the recommendations if they are completed before I submit my application?
      If your recommenders send their recommendations before you submit your application, they will be stored in our database. Once you submit your application, they will be matched up and made available to your program.
      
      Can the recommendations be sent by paper or pdf file?
      This is at the program's discretion. Please contact the Academic Program directly.
      

      What if my letters of recommendation are stored at a file service (a career service center) and are sent out by request?
      Contact your academic program to inquire if this method is acceptable.

      Back to Top

   7. Requirements

      I am currently pursuing my bachelor degree. Can I still be considered for admission?
      Yes, but degree requirements must be completed before you begin enrollment as a Graduate student.

      Will my post graduate credits/degree transfer from another institution to UW-Madison?
      Your academic program may decide to use course work completed at another institution toward fulfillment of department course requirements. This work will not appear on your UW-Madison transcript. The Graduate School's minimum requirement can be satisfied only with courses taken as a graduate student at UW-Madison.

      I am an international applicant. My degree is not called a bachelor degree and it is not graded on a 4.0 scale. Can I still apply?
      International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor's degree, with a strong academic performance comparable to a "B" or above average grades. The Graduate School views your overall performance using your institution's grading scale. Please do not convert your grades to a four point scale. Degree, academic documents and language requirements vary by location of your undergraduate institution. For specific information select a country from the list below.

      Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic Of) Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Rep Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Rep Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent and the Grenadines Sth Georgia & Sth Sandwich Is Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Republic of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S.) Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Western Samoa Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe
      
      
      

      Who should I ask to translate my documents into English?

      Your school should provide an official translation; otherwise have a translation done by your school or an official translator. In some countries these people are also notaries. Do not submit an evaluation from a credential evaluation service in lieu of a translation.

      Back to Top

   8. Testing/GRE/English Proficiency Tests

      What if I can't take the GRE prior to the specific deadline for the application?
      The GRE is a program requirement. Please contact the academic program you intend to apply for.

      Will a paper copy of my GRE scores be considered 'official'?
      No.  Official scores must be sent from ETS to UW-Madison via electronic transmission (institution code: 1846).

      I previously applied and had my test scores sent. Are they still valid? The GRE is a program requirement. Please contact the academic program to which you intend to apply.
      The English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB) is required by the UW-Madison Graduate School. Test scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term.

      Back to Top

   9. Residency

      I am an international student who will be living in Wisconsin. Do I select "Yes I am a resident" in the Residency Section?
      No. If you are not currently a resident of Wisconsin, you should select "No".
      
      How do I qualify as a resident for tuition purposes?
      Residence for tuition is governed by Wisconsin Statute 36.27(2), which states that with few exceptions one must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin for a full twelve months, without attending any college or university, to qualify for resident tuition. However, if you graduated from a Wisconsin high school and your parent(s) are Wisconsin residents, or you are a dependent on a parent’s taxes, and have a parent who is a bona fide resident of Wisconsin, or you, your spouse, or someone you are a dependent of on taxes, recently moved to Wisconsin for full-time employment, the statutory twelve months might be waived. More information can be found at http://registrar.wisc.edu/residence.htm.

      Back to Top

   10. Wisconsin - Minnesota Reciprocity

       I'm a resident of Minnesota. Do I select "Yes I am a resident" in the Residency Section?
       No. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you should select "No".
       A tuition reciprocity agreement exists between Wisconsin and Minnesota. This agreement stipulates that residents of Minnesota can attend Wisconsin institutions in approved programs and be assessed the approved reciprocity tuition rate, plus segregated fees assessed all students. Students in the professional programs of the Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, however, are not covered under the reciprocity program.

       Minnesota residents must apply to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (MOHE) for verification of their eligibility for reciprocity.

       Please check the Registrar's website for more information on Reciprocity.

       Back to Top

2. Processing Your Application

   1. Admission Process

      What is the admission process?
      Processing time depends upon when you apply, when your file is complete at the academic program and when the program's admission committee meets.

      The admission process is as follows:

      • Your application data is entered into a central database. You receive an email acknowledgement regarding receipt of your application and fee (this email includes information about your campus ID and how to activate your online application status check).
      • The academic program(s) to which you are applying has a faculty admission committee review your application and materials.
      • The academic program makes a recommendation for admission to the Graduate School Admissions Office.
        If you are not selected for admission, the program will notify you.
      • The academic program to which you have applied will forward supporting materials to the Graduate School's Office of Admissions for review.
      • The Graduate School's Office of Admissions reviews your application and materials to ensure that the Graduate School minimum requirements are met. (Includes financial support requirements for International Students).
      • The Graduate School makes the final admission decision.
      • Your residency (Wisconsin resident or non-resident) is determined by the Office of the Registrar's Tuition Residency Counselors.
      Back to Top

   2. Checking Your Application Status

      How do I check the status of my online application?
      Use the email link you received after you submitted your online application or go to MyUW.  Enter your net ID and password.  In the upper left corner is the Graduate School status check.  Click "Enter" for more information.
      
      
      What if I do not receive the link to check my status after I submitted my application?
      The link to set up your MyUW account and net ID is sent automatically after you submit your application. The submission process is an overnight process, so expect your email within 24 hours. It is very important that you set up your MyUW account to check your application status.
      
      If you do not receive this link, please contact webapp@grad.wisc.edu.

      Why does the online status check show that my test scores were not received?
      It may take up to four weeks for scores to be sent to UW-Madison.   If any information on the test is different from the information you provided on your application (family name, surname, birth date or gender), the test scores may not match to your application.  You should contact the Graduate School if this is the case at gradadmiss@grad.wisc.edu.

      My status check indicates that I must provide notarized documents. What does 'notarized' mean?
      To notarize your signature, an official witness can be a bank official, government official, accountant, lawyer, commissioner of oaths or anyone that is in the official capacity to authenticate signatures.  The official notary seal or stamp must denote the position the official witness holds.  A signature stamp or chop mark will not be accepted.

      Back to Top

   3. Requesting Application Changes

      How do I add, change a program or make a correction after submitting my application?
      Email the UW-Madison Graduate Admissions office with your request: gradadmiss@grad.wisc.edu  They will determine whether or not a change can be made.

      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, then edit.   For assistance contact our Division of Information Technology 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?
      Your admission is only valid for semester indicated on your letter of admission from the Graduate School. You can request a change of session for your application if the new semester is an adjacent semester. You can only request a change of session one time without a new application form or application fee. The program will consider your application again. You are not guaranteed admission for the new semester. To begin this process, contact the Graduate School or your intended program.
      
      To be considered for a semester that is not an adjacent semester from when you originally applied, you must start over with a new application and new application fee. You can do this online.
      
      Back to Top

   4. Transcripts/Academic Records

      I am an International applicant. I have only one transcript/academic record. Do you accept photocopies?
      The Graduate School can begin processing with photocopies if they are legible with appropriate stamp(s)/signature(s) of a school official.

      Where do I send my transcripts/academic records?
      All transcripts/academic records should be sent to the program to which you are applying.
      
      How do I order UW-Madison transcripts?
      Transcripts can be ordered electronically through the Registrar's web site.

      Back to Top

3. After You Are Admitted

   1. Accepting/Declining Admission

      How do I accept/decline the admission to my program?
      Contact your Academic Program.

      Back to Top

   2. Enrollment Issues

      When do I enroll for classes?
      Newly admitted graduate applicants will receive an 'invitation to enroll' email from Enrollment Services approximately six weeks prior to the start of classes.

      When do classes begin?
      Check the Academic Calendar.

      Back to Top

   3. ESLAT Requirements

      Why have I been required to take the ESLAT?
      An admitted applicant with test scores are less than those listed below must take an English assessment test on arrival at UW-Madison.
      TOEFL: 92 for internet (IBT) and 580 for paper test
      MELAB: 82
      IELTS: 7
      Depending on your score you may need to register for a recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) in the first semester you are enrolled.
      Note: 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.

      Back to Top

   4. Missing Academic Records

      I don't have a transcript with a degree posted. When do I submit my final transcript?
      The Graduate School requires that an official final transcript which includes the bachelor degree (or equivalent) and date conferred be received by the end of the third week of classes.

      I am an international student. I am required to submit my official academic documents to the UW Graduate School. When do I do this?
      When you arrive on the UW-Madison campus, go to the International Credential Evaluators office, Room 228 Bascom Hall. Please bring the required documents with you. We will make copies here and return the originals to you.

      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.

      Back to Top

   5. Residency Requirement

      I've been admitted. Why has my 'Residency Decision' not been determined?
      The determination may not yet be complete.  After you have been admitted by the Graduate School, the Office of the Registrar's Tuition Residency Counselors determine if you are a Wisconsin Resident for tuition purposes. This does not affect your admission.

      Back to Top