Life as a Badger
Student life is a huge part of your college experience. It’s important to find opportunities to explore your interests and passions, exciting ways to spend time outside of the classroom, and to connect with others who will shape you as an individual and become friends you will have for the rest of your life.
Our campus and Madison community offers thousands of options to find your community—making our big campus feel small.
There are so many opportunities to explore yourself and become a better person. With over 1,000 student organizations and endless ways to get involved, I knew this was a place where I could keep discovering new sides of myself for four years, and that felt like exactly what I was looking for.
Explore Resources and Stories
At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, we share the belief that learning from and with those from different backgrounds and world views enriches the academic experience, nourishes the expansion of critical thinking, and encourages growth and development, enabling us to robustly embody the values of the Wisconsin Idea.
Our UW–Madison community welcomes and celebrates all students.
Find Your Community
Connect with students with similar backgrounds and interests. Make friends. Experience new cultures. Meet people you never would have met outside of your experience as a Badger.
Get Involved
Join one of over 1,000 student organizations and leadership opportunities. There are many ways to become involved on campus, from research and internships to rec sports and volunteering. It’s up to you to create your own Wisconsin Experience.
Cheer on the Badgers
Cheer on our Badger Athletics teams in the student sections of our 11 men’s and 12 women’s varsity sports. We also offer sport clubs and intramurals to quench your competitive thirst and recreational sports to keep you active.
Decide Where to Live
Become familiar with our 19 University Residence Halls in two distinct neighborhoods and decide which one is right for you. No matter where you live, you’ll have access to academic resources, support, and top amenities.
Explore numerous off-campus housing options with the assistance of Off-Campus Housing Services and the Off-Campus Housing Marketplace website.
Live Well. Be Well.
UW–Madison offers a wealth of ways to stay healthy and happy and take care of yourself. We offer two new, state-of-the-art fitness and wellness centers that are yours to use when you like. You can also participate in group fitness classes, intramural sports, sport clubs, climbing walls, join a cooking class, and make new friends joining a drop-in game.
Experience Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
The arts are an integral part of UW campus life. See what the University Theatre is performing. Catch the Dance Department’s Friday Forum. Check out the Chazen Museum of Art’s newest exhibit. See a live band or a movie at Memorial Union Terrace. Do an art project at the Wheel House. Cheer on your favorite team at a watch party.
Explore Madison, WI
Rated highly and frequently topping many “best” lists, including the Best Places to Live, Greatest College Towns, and Happiest Cities in America, Madison offers the perks of a big city and the comfort and friendliness of a small town.