International Student Admission
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Application Process and Dates
We practice rolling admissions, reviewing complete applications in the order received. Application materials are due in the Office of Admissions by February 1 for summer and fall terms and by October 1 for the spring term. International admission decisions are generally made eight weeks from the time your application file is complete.
Quicklinks
- How to Apply
- Deadlines
- Application Materials
- Submitting Your Application
- Admission Decisions
- Admission to Majors
How to Apply
We make it convenient and easy to apply:
- Apply Online. You may apply online using the International Application for Undergraduate Admission. The same application is used for freshman and transfer admission. The online application is secure and easy to use, and allows you to save your work and come back later. Applying online also provides you with immediate notification that your application has been received, and will likely speed up the processing of your application.
- Download a Paper Application. If you prefer to apply on paper, you can download and print a copy of our International Application for Undergraduate Admission (pdf, 41K). The same application is used for freshman and transfer admission.
- Request a Paper Application.If you would like us to mail you a copy of our international application, please use our online information request site. Be advised that it may take up to six weeks to receive our International Application for Undergraduate Admission.
Deadlines
All complete applications received by the dates indicated below will receive equal consideration for admission. Applications received after these dates will be considered only if space is available.
- Summer/Fall Terms - February 1
- Spring Term - October 1
Application Materials
A complete international application file consists of the following:
- Application for Admission. You can apply online or download a paper application (pdf, 41K).
- Application Fee. This nonrefundable $44 application
fee must accompany your application. Online applicants can pay the
fee by credit card at the time of submission. Paper applicants and
online applicants who did not submit credit card payment at the time
of submission can pay by personal check, international
money order, or a bank draft drawn on a U.S. bank payable to the
University of Wisconsin. Do not send cash or currency. If you live
in a country where regulations make it difficult to send the fee,
we suggest that you ask a friend or relative living in another country
to send the fee for you. Be sure your full legal name is included
on the payment.
Transfer Applicants: If your last institution attended is one of the two-year University of Wisconsin Colleges (freshman/sophomore campuses), you do not have to pay the $44 application fee. - Academic Records. We require official academic
records (bearing the original stamp or seal of the school or examination
board) for each year of secondary and post-secondary course work.
Records should contain the dates of attendance, level of study, a
list of subjects studied, grades (marks) earned, grading scale, and
rank in class (when possible). Include both internal school reports
and external board exam results. All records must be in the original
language accompanied by an official English translation.
Transfer Applicants: Please also send course descriptions or syllabi for all university-level work for which you are requesting transfer credit. - Courses in Progress. As requested on the application, provide a list of courses you are currently attending at the time of application, as well as courses you intend to complete prior to your desired term of enrollment at UW-Madison. If you are attending a university, include the department name, title, course number, and number of credits for each course. Submit course descriptions or syllabi for all courses for which you are requesting advanced standing (transfer) credit.
- ACT and/or SAT Test Scores (freshmen
only). We
require freshman applicants to submit results from either the ACT
or the SAT. We must receive your test scores directly from the
testing agency. Our test codes are 4656 for the ACT and 1846
for the SAT. Students applying for freshman admission for the
fall 2006 term and after must also submit results from a standardized
writing test. This writing requirement must be fulfilled either
with the ACT Assessment plus the ACT Writing Test or the new
SAT (administered beginning March 2005). Review our New SAT/ACT Writing Test Frequently Asked Questions page for
complete details.
Transfer Applicants: ACT and/or SAT test scores are not required for transfer admission. However, we do like to review these results for students applying for sophomore standing (approximately 24 or fewer credit hours completed). - TOEFL Score. International applicants must submit
results from the Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) that meet our minimum English proficiency
requirement for admission consideration. A minimum score of 550 on
the paper test, 213 on the computer test, or 80 on the Internet-based
test is required of all students whose native language is not English
and who were not educated in an entirely English-speaking country.
We must receive your score directly from the testing agency. Our TOEFL
code is 1846.
Transfer Applicants: Students interested in transferring into programs in the College of Engineering, the School of Pharmacy, and the School of Medicine and Public Health must meet higher TOEFL score requirements. Refer to the appropriate program for more information. - Statements. The statements are a crucial part of your application. They are your opportunity to clarify your academic goals and explain any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance. Ultimately, you'll want to provide us with all the details you would like us to know before we make a decision on your application.
- Letters of Recommendations. Though not required, we do like to see at least one recommendation from someone who can attest to your academic ability (i.e., classroom skills, knowledge, and work ethic).
- Financial Verification Form and Bank Letter. U.S. immigration law requires international students to document their ability to pay all tuition and living expenses for the time they are studying in this country. Therefore you must complete and submit the UW-Madison Financial Verification Form with an original bank letter verifying at least $70,000 (U.S.) on deposit. Download and print the Financial Verification Form, (pdf, 37K) which also includes complete details on the financial documentation you will need to provide.
- Copy of Passport. If available, send a copy of the page of your passport that includes your full legal name and birth date. If you are currently studying in the United States, please also submit a copy of your I-94 card.
Submitting Your Application
To ensure proper and efficient processing of your application, keep these tips in mind:
- Use Your Full Legal Name on All Documents. It is extremely important that you use your full legal name, exactly as it appears on your passport, when completing your application. We will not be able to issue the necessary immigration documents if the name you provide on your application is different from your name as it appears on your passport. Be sure to write this same full legal name on all of your application materials (application fee, test scores, Financial Verification Form, academic records, etc.).
- Do Not List a Post Office Box as Your Permanent Foreign Address. In order for us to issue your I-20 form, the permanent home address listed on your application for admission must be a foreign address. When completing your application, be sure to provide a foreign street address (not a P.O. box) as your permanent home address.
- Submit All Materials Together. If possible, submit all application materials together. This includes your application (if applying on paper), application fee, academic records, personal statement, recommendations, Financial Verification Form, and financial documentation. Your official ACT and/or SAT and TOEFL scores must be sent directly from the testing agencies. However, to assist in matching your official scores with your application, please submit copies of your test score reports with your application materials.
- Avoid Submitting Unnecessary Materials. The items listed above, in the Application Materials section, are all we will need to review your application. Please do not send unnecessary supporting documents or items such as photographs, recordings, writing samples, awards or commendations, etc. If you would like us to know about a relevant activity, talent, or award, please include that information in your personal statement.
- Use the Correct Mailing Address. Send all materials to the University of Wisconsin, Office of Admissions, 716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706-1481, USA.
- Watch for your application acknowledgement letter or e-mail to arrive. If you provide us with an e-mail address, the acknowledgement will be sent via e-mail, otherwise via postal mail. This important document will include your assigned campus ID number, as well as other key information.
Admission Decisions
International applications are reviewed in the order completed, and decisions are generally made in eight weeks. We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received. Review our list of required application materials to ensure you submit a complete application.
Admission to Majors
All students are initially admitted to the university and not into specific programs and majors. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission into a specific major program or college. In all cases, admission to intended majors is a separate procedure, application, and/or review process. Most programs have additional GPA, prerequisite course work, and/or audition or portfolio requirements. To learn more about the admission expectations, requirements, and procedures for the major or program of interest to you, consult our Entrance Requirements for Undergraduate Majors.