The international application priority date is December 15 for the fall term and October 1 for the spring term. All international students must submit applications by December 15 or October 1 to receive full and equal consideration. Please note: The application notification periods referenced in the freshman application section of this Web site apply to domestic freshmen only. International applicants are those who need visas to study or live in the United States.

How to Apply

We make it convenient and easy to apply:

1. Apply Online. You may apply online using the 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.
2. 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, 77K). The same application is used for freshman and transfer admission.

Back to Top

Dates & Deadlines

The international application priority date is December 15 for the fall term and October 1 for the spring term. All international students must submit applications by December 15 or October 1 to receive full and equal consideration.

To meet the priority date for fall admission, your application must be submitted or postmarked by December 15. Applications received after December 15 may not receive equal consideration and could be returned.

This December 15 priority date applies to all freshman and transfer applicants who need a visa to study or live in the United States.

Please note: The application notification periods referenced in the freshman application section of this Web site apply to domestic freshmen only.

Back to Top

Application Checklist

A complete international application file consists of the following:

1. Application for Admission. You can apply online or download a paper application (PDF, 77K).
2. Application Fee. This nonrefundable $44 application fee must accompany your application. You can submit payment by personal check, international money order, or by credit card online. 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 the last institution you attended is one of the two-year UW Colleges (freshman/sophomore campuses), you do not have to pay the $44 application fee.
3. Academic Records. We require official academic records 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, if applicable (i.e., O-levels, A-levels, IB, etc.).
   
   Be sure to give a complete account of your educational history from ninth grade (approximately age 14–15) forward. Include schools attended, dates attended, and location of schools. Also provide an explanation for any gaps in time between secondary and post-secondary study in the essay section of the application.
   
   All records must be official in the original language, accompanied by an unofficial English translation if necessary.
   
   Transfer Applicants: Please also send course descriptions or syllabi for all university-level work you will complete prior to transferring.
4. Courses in Progress. As requested on the application, provide a list of courses in which you are currently enrolled 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.
5. 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.
6. TOEFL or IELTS. Students for whom English is not their first language, and who have studied in a language other than English must take an official test of English as a foreign language. UW–Madison accepts both the TOEFL and the IELTS tests. These tests are meant to give our admission counselors a more accurate reading of the applicant’s English level. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, 213 on the computer test, or 80 on the Internet-based test is required. The minimum score for the IELTS test is 6.0. We must receive all TOEFL and IELTS scores directly from the testing service. Our TOEFL test code is 1846.
   
   Transfer Applicants: Students interested in transferring into programs in the College of Engineering and the School of Pharmacy must meet higher TOEFL score requirements. Refer to the appropriate program for more information.
7. Personal Statement. The personal statement is a crucial part of your application. It’s your opportunity to clarify your academic goals and explain any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance. Ultimately, you should provide us with all the details you would like us to know before we make a decision on your application.
8. Letters of Recommendation. Though not required, we do like to see at least one recommendation from a teacher, principal, or headmaster who can attest to your academic ability.
9. Financial Verification Form and Bank Letter. U.S. 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 (PDF, 191K) with an original official bank letter verifying at least $41,000 (U.S.) on deposit.
10. 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 visa and 1–20 or DS–2019 form, if applicable.

Back to Top

Submitting Your Application

To ensure proper and efficient processing of your application, keep these tips in mind:

1. 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 and your date of birth and/or campus ID number on all of your application materials (application fee, test scores, Financial Verification Form, academic records, etc.).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Avoid Submitting Unnecessary Materials. The items listed above, in the Application Checklist 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.
5. Use the Correct Mailing Address. Send all materials to the University of Wisconsin, Office of Admissions, 716 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706-1481, USA.
6. 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.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top