International Student Admission
Frequently Asked Questions
We have provided answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have other questions, contact our Office of Admissions.
Applying
Questions about the application process, admission expectations,
freshman vs. transfer admission, deadlines, decisions, test scores,
and more.
Admitted Students
Questions about visas, tuition, financial aid, transfer credit,
majors, ESL, immunizations, and more.
Student Life
Questions about international students on campus, student organizations,
housing, transportation, the weather, and more.
Applying
Q. How do I apply?
We make it convenient and easy
to apply. You can apply
online, download
a paper application (pdf, 41K), or request
a paper application.
Q. When should I apply?
The application deadline for the spring term (classes beginning in
January) is October 1. The application deadline for the fall term
(classes beginning in September) is February 1.
Q. Should I fill out an international application?
If you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the United States,
you should use the domestic
application, even if you have completed schooling outside of
the United States. If you will be attending UW–Madison on a visa,
please use the international application.
Q. What should I send with my application?
Send only the required application materials. Do NOT send additional certificates, awards, or notary books. Submitting excess material will delay the processing of your application.
Q. Should I apply as a freshman or a transfer student?
If you have completed (or are completing) at least 24 semester hours
(approximately one year of full-time university study) of transferable
course work, you should apply as a transfer
student. We do not accept transfer students at the freshman
level. There is no maximum limit to the number of credits you can
transfer for most programs; however, you must complete your last
30 credits on campus (the exception is the School
of Business.) If you have not completed any post-secondary
work, you should apply as a freshman.
Q. My grades at my previous university are low. Can I apply
as a freshman?
NO, you must apply as a transfer
student if you have completed any course work at another university.
When you apply, you MUST provide us with a complete
educational history. Failure to give us a complete and accurate history
is considered academic dishonesty and may result in disciplinary
action, recision of admission, and/or invalidation of credits or
degrees earned.
Q. If I’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree from another
institution, can I apply as an undergraduate student?
UW–Madison does not generally consider second-degree candidates.
If your first bachelor’s degree is a four-year, full-time degree,
you are encouraged to apply to the Graduate
School.
Q. How soon can I expect a decision on my application?
International applications are reviewed in the order completed, and
decisions are generally made eight weeks after we have received
all required materials. (Our international admissions counselors
do not begin reviewing applications for the spring term until September.)
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. Be sure
to read our tips
for receiving a decision in a timely manner.
Q. How do I know if my application is complete?
Your application will be complete when you have submitted all 10 required
application materials. If you have submitted all of these requirements,
and we determine that more information is needed in order for us
to make a decision, we will contact you. You can also check
your application status online. You will need your campus ID
number and birth date to access this information. This application
status check Web site will indicate if we have received your application,
if we have reviewed your application, or if more information is needed
from you.
Q. Do I need to submit a TOEFL score?
Freshman Applicants: All applicants for whom English
is not a native language 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 will consider waiving your
TOEFL requirement if you submit an SAT Verbal score of 600 or above
or an IELTS score of 6.0 or above.
Transfer Applicants: All applicants for whom English
is not a native language must submit official TOEFL results 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. Students
interested in transferring into programs in the College
of Engineering or the School
of Pharmacy must meet higher TOEFL score requirements. Refer
to the appropriate program for more information.
Q. What is my campus ID number and how can I obtain it?
Your campus ID number is a 10-digit number unique to you. This number
is used for a variety of things, including general identification.
It can also be used to check your application status online. Once
we receive your application, an acknowledgement letter or e-mail
will be sent to you, which will include your campus ID number.
Keep a copy of this communication for your reference. If
you have not yet received your acknowledgment e-mail, please check
your e-mail account’s junk-mail filter to ensure that it has not
been incorrectly filtered out of your inbox. If for some reason
you do not receive your acknowledgement letter or e-mail or if
you have misplaced your campus ID number, you can send
us an e-mail with your full name exactly as it appears on your
application, your date of birth, permanent home address, and correct
mailing address. With that information, we will verify your record
and send you your campus ID number.
Q. How can I update my address if I move?
After you have submitted your application, be sure to keep your mailing
address updated online through the MyUW Web
portal. Correspondence regarding application decisions, housing
options, visa status, and other information will be sent to this
address. Do NOT change your permanent foreign street address. This
address is important for obtaining your student visa; it may not
be a P.O. box. Some information may be sent to you via e-mail.
Therefore it is important to keep your e-mail address updated as
well. Please be sure to modify your e-mail settings so that important
university correspondence will not be filtered out by your e-mail
system.
Q. Does UW–Madison offer conditional admission?
The university does not offer conditional admission. We will not
be able to make a final decision on your application until it is
complete.
Q. Can I defer my admission?
UW–Madison does not defer admission. If for some reason you
are unable to attend for the semester for which you are admitted,
please reapply for a semester that you will be able to attend.
Admitted Students
Q. How do I obtain my student visa?
A visa is required to enter the United States. Most international
students enter the country on an F-1 student visa. F-1 visas are
nonimmigrant visas granted to applicants who want to pursue a full
course of academic study at a U.S. university. After you have been
admitted to the University of Wisconsin, we will send you an I-20
form, which is required to apply for or maintain an F-1 visa. Before
you can be admitted and receive the I-20 form, you must submit
the UW–Madison
Financial Verification Form and proof of full financial support
(both are required parts of your application for admission). To
apply for a student visa, you will need to take your letter of
admission, I–20 form, original copies of your financial support
documents, and other supporting materials (as needed) to a U.S.
embassy or consulate. You should do this as soon as possible. Recent
changes in U.S. visa laws and regulations have increased the amount
of time it can take to get a visa. Processing times will vary.
Please contact your nearest
embassy or consulate for a current time estimate and planning
recommendations.
Q. How much does it cost to attend the UW–Madison?
Wisconsin is recognized both for its quality and value. While the
cost of attendance varies from student to student, we provide estimates
to help you plan for your education. For official university tuition
figures, visit the Registrar’s
Office Web site. You can learn more about student finances
and tuition payments, including methods of payment and deadlines.
Q. Can I receive financial aid?
ONLY U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or refugees
can receive federal financial assistance from the University of Wisconsin.
If you are attending UW–Madison on an F–1
or J–1 student visa, you are NOT eligible to receive federal financial
aid from the university. While employment opportunities are available,
it is generally not feasible for you to support yourself financially
by working a part-time job. International
Student Services at
UW–Madison maintains a scholarship
reference page with detailed information on some of the awards,
scholarships, grants, fellowships, and special programs available
to international students.
Q. I have taken post-secondary courses. Will they transfer
for credit?
In general, liberal arts courses taken at a degree-granting tertiary
institution recognized by the government will transfer for credit.
Courses of a technical or vocational nature typically do not transfer
for credit. Only students who have been admitted and have confirmed
their enrollment will receive an evaluation of transfer credit.
Q. How do I register for classes?
After admission, you will receive information about the Student
Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program. At SOAR
you will take all necessary placement tests, consult with an academic
advisor, register for first-semester classes, and meet future friends
and classmates. If you would like to take a look at the classes offered
before you register for classes at SOAR, reference the online
course listing (Timetable) and our Undergraduate
Catalog.
Q. Can I enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes?
If you want to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses
as a full-time student, you must apply directly to the ESL
program. Admission to the ESL program does not guarantee
admission to an undergraduate degree program. The Program in English
as a Second Language (ESL) offers a number of ESL courses. After
admission to the university, non-native speakers of English will
take an English placement test during orientation. Some undergraduate
students may be required to enroll in ESL course work in addition
to their academic course work.
Q. What academic majors does UW–Madison offer?
The complete list
of majors is available online and/or in our Undergraduate
Catalog.
Q. How do I declare my major?
All students are initially admitted to the university with intended majors
and not into specific programs and majors. Admission to the university
does not guarantee admission into your chosen major program
or college. Admission to intended majors is a separate 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 and requirements for the major
or program of interest to you, consult the appropriate major or school
or college.
Q. Do I need to send immunization/medical records?
The university does not require you to send in any official immunization
or medical records. You do not need to have a physical examination
before attending. University
Health Services requests that all students fill out an online Immunization
and Health History Form, but this form is not required. If
you are living in University
Housing, you are required by law to inform the university if
you have received hepatitis B vaccine and meningococcal vaccine.
The UHS
Immunization and Health History Form is the way the university
collects this information. Completion of the form will satisfy
the legal requirement for students.
Student Life
Q. How many other international students attend UW–Madison?
Our international student population is among the largest of any
university in the country. There are more than 3,000 international
students enrolled at UW–Madison, representing more than 100 countries.
Nearly one-third of UW–Madison’s international students are undergraduates.
Most of the international undergraduates are from Korea, China,
Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, India,
and Malaysia. For a more comprehensive listing of countries represented
on our campus, visit our International
Student Population Web page.
Q. What resources are available to me as an international
student on campus?
International
Student Services (ISS) offers a wide variety of services to
international students. ISS assists international students with
visa and visa-related issues, while also providing peer mentors,
workshops, social events, and advising on cultural adjustment and
social matters. New students are required to register with ISS
during orientation prior to the start of classes. Another resource
for international students on campus is the Madison
Friends of International Students (MFIS), a non-profit organization
of volunteers from the Madison area who befriend and help international
students through a variety of services and programs.
Q. How can I get involved in student organizations on campus?
Joining one of our 700 student organizations is a great way to get
involved on campus, make friends, and develop your leadership skills.
Whether you love to dance, debate, play sports, write poetry, volunteer,
or sail, there’s a group for you. And if you don’t find the organization
that captures your interest, you can start your own. Check out
our complete listing of student
organizations. There are also more than 75 international student
organizations on campus. These groups offer pre-arrival advice
and guidance to international students who are coming to Wisconsin
to study, as well as an on-campus network of friends and scholars.
Visit the ISS
Web site for the full list of international student organizations,
or search the online
Student Organization Directory.
Q. What housing options are available to me?
UW–Madison students are free to choose from a variety of housing
options, including our on-campus University
Residence Halls and a variety of privately owned residence
halls, apartments, houses, and condos that surround campus. Most
first-year students live in residence halls, while students in
their second, third, and fourth years of study typically live in
campus-area housing. Learn more on our International
Student Housing Web site.
Q. Once I am in the United States, how do I get to Madison?
There is more than one way to reach Madison. Madison is approximately
130 miles from the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and bus
service is available (for a fee) from the airport to campus.
You can also fly into the Madison
Dane County Regional Airport (international airport code MSN).
After you arrive at the airport, the easiest way to reach campus
is by taxi.
Q. How do I get around in Madison?
Getting around campus is incredibly easy, as all of your classes
will generally be within walking distance. Many students choose
to use a bicycle to navigate campus, and there are also free bus
routes that cover all parts of campus. Getting around the city
of Madison is also very easy. The city bus (Madison
Metro) will take you almost anywhere you need to go, and all
students are provided with a free
bus pass that is valid through both semesters and all breaks,
including the summer break. Most roads have designated bike lanes,
which make it easy to use a bike to get around Madison. Madison
also has an extensive system of scenic biking trails, which are
great if you are interested in biking for leisure. We recommend
that you do not bring a car to Madison. Parking is scarce and expensive
and driving is simply not necessary given the existence of bike
lanes and buses.
Q. Is it really cold in Wisconsin?
You can enjoy a variety of weather while living in Madison. During
our warm summer months of June, July, and August, high temperatures
average 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius). You can also experience
the cold and snow of our winter months. From November through March,
temperatures average 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 Celsius). You can
view Madison’s
monthly averages online. It is important that you have adequate
clothing for the cold winter months. You will need a heavy coat,
snow boots, gloves, and a hat. Madison
Friends of International Students, a volunteer organization, loans
warm winter coats to international students for the duration
of their stay.