Deadlines and Decisions
The following deadlines pertain to both domestic and international applicants.
Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.
We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.
We begin processing applications on September 1.
Apply as a First-Year Student
First-Year Application and Materials Deadlines
Fall Early Action
Application Deadline: November 1
Materials Deadline: November 9
Decision Release: on or before January 31
Fall Regular Decision
Application Deadline: January 15
Materials Deadline: January 22
Decision Release: on or before March 31
Spring Regular Decision
Application Deadline: October 1
Materials Deadline: October 15
Decision Release: on or before December 31
First-year fall and spring term applications open August 1.
Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.
Please note that it may take up to 72 hours for our system to reflect that you have submitted an application; you will receive an email the next business day acknowledging its receipt.
Students who submit their application within 5 days of the deadline will not receive a reminder of materials that are missing from their application.
Early Action is non-binding. You’ll receive your admissions decision earlier but will not be required to commit until the national deadline of May 1.
First-Year Admissions Decisions
We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.
Types of admissions decisions applicants can receive in our Early Action review period:
Admission to UW–Madison is competitive and selective, and we review applications using a holistic process. We admit students based on academic strengths who will thrive in our rigorous curriculum and who will also add unique perspectives to our student body. We consider essays, extracurricular involvement (both in and outside of school), letters of recommendation, talent, and interests to consider how students may contribute to our campus community.
Applicants who are deferred are neither admitted nor denied upon initial review. Deferred applicants have the potential for success at UW–Madison, however, we would like to review mid-year grades prior to making a final decision. Decisions on deferred students will be made by the end of March.
Note: Students who receive a defer decision are emailed information on self-reporting grades and updating their file at the email address on their application.
Students who are not competitive for admission are denied admission.
Every application denied has already been through an extensive review. For an appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new compelling academic and/or personal information, as well as details pertaining to extenuating circumstances that were not addressed in the initial application. Essentially, the appeal must present information that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced.
Appeals must be submitted via webform and must be submitted by the applicant using the link below to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment within 30 days of their decision notification. Be sure to clearly outline the reasons for appealing and present new and compelling information. Do not simply repeat information that was presented at the time of application. Please do not email additional materials regarding your appeal unless specifically asked to do so by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Defer and wait list decisions cannot be appealed. Any application that is incomplete will not be eligible for an appeal. Applicants can only appeal once and decisions resulting from an appeal are final. We will not accept appeals filed on behalf of the student by a parent, counselor, teacher, friend, etc.
It is our usual practice to respond to appeals within four to six weeks of the date we receive them. While all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the rate of a decision being reversed based on an appeal has historically been very low. Application fees are nonrefundable regardless of the result of an appeal.
Students who are offered a spot on our wait list are neither admitted nor denied. If space becomes available after May 1, admission may be extended to some students who have accepted the wait list offer.
A select group of Wisconsin residents who are offered a spot on our wait list will be offered a spot in the Connections Program. Students who participate in the Connections Program are granted the opportunity to start at a partner college or university before finishing their bachelor’s degree at UW–Madison—all while holding the distinctive UW–Madison student status from the beginning. Students offered Connections can choose to accept both offers, accept only their wait list offer, or accept only Connections.
Deferred Enrollment
Eligible admitted first-year students who wish to defer their enrollment to a future term can do so through the deferred enrollment process.
Apply as a Transfer Student
Transfer Application and Materials Deadlines
Fall Priority Decision
Application Opens: December 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Materials Deadline: February 16
Decision Release: on or before March 31
Fall Regular Decision
Application Opens: December 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Materials Deadline: March 15
Decision Release: on or before April 30
Spring Regular Decision
Application Opens: August 1
Application Deadline: October 1
Materials Deadline: October 15
Decision Release: on or before December 31
Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.
Please note that it may take up to 72 hours for our system to reflect that you have submitted an application; you will receive an email the next business day acknowledging its receipt.
Students who submit their application within 5 days of the deadline will not receive a reminder of materials that are missing from their application.
Transfer Admissions Decisions
We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received.
Types of admissions decisions applicants can receive:
Admission to UW–Madison is competitive and selective, and we review applications using a holistic process. We admit students based on academic strengths who will thrive in our rigorous curriculum and who also add unique perspectives to our student body. We consider essays, extracurricular involvement (both in and outside of school), letters of recommendation, talent, and interests to consider how students may contribute to our campus community.
Applicants who are deferred are neither admitted nor denied upon initial review. Deferred applicants have the potential for success at UW–Madison, however, we would like to review final term grades and other supporting material prior to making a final decision. Decisions on deferred transfer students will be made after final grades are received and reviewed and by the end of June.
Students who are not competitive for admission or who fail to complete their application are denied admission.
Every application denied has already been through an extensive review. For an appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new compelling academic and/or personal information, as well as details pertaining to extenuating circumstances that were not addressed in the initial application. Essentially, the appeal must present information that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced.
Appeals must be submitted via webform and must be submitted by the applicant using the link below to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment within 30 days of their decision notification. Be sure to clearly outline the reasons for appealing and present new and compelling information. Do not simply repeat information that was presented at the time of application. Please do not email additional materials regarding your appeal unless specifically asked to do so by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Any application that is incomplete will not be eligible for an appeal. Applicants can only appeal once and decisions resulting from an appeal are final. We will not accept appeals filed on behalf of the student by a parent, counselor, teacher, friend, etc.
It is our usual practice to respond to appeals within four to six weeks of the date we receive them. While all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the rate of a decision being reversed based on an appeal has historically been very low. Application fees are nonrefundable regardless of the result of an appeal.
Deferred Enrollment
In most cases, transfer and reentry students cannot defer enrollment. The University of Wisconsin–Madison provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and for active-duty military personnel.
Transfer students who have confirmed enrollment and are unable to enroll at UW–Madison in the term specified on their acceptance letter due to one of the reasons listed above may request to defer their enrollment.
Apply as a Reentry Student
Reentering Application Deadlines and Materials
Fall Term
Application Opens: December 1
Deadline for Decision Prior to Term Start: August 25
Deadline for Priority Enrollment: March 1
Summer Term
Application Opens: December 1
Deadline for Decision Prior to Term Start: July 15
Deadline for Priority Enrollment: March 1
Spring Term
Application Opens: August 1
Deadline for Decision Prior to Term Start: January 16
Deadline for Priority Enrollment: November 1
Note: The application closes one week after the start of the term/session.
Apply as a Second Degree Student
Second Degree Application and Materials Deadlines
Fall Regular Decision
Application Deadline: March 1
Materials Deadline: March 15
Decision Release: on or before May 31
Summer Term (accelerated BSN only)
Application Deadline: October 1
Materials Deadline: October 15
Decision Release: on or before December 31
Spring Regular Decision
Application Deadline: October 1
Materials Deadline: October 15
Decision Release: on or before December 31