Office of Admissions and Recruitment
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Connections Program

The University of Wisconsin–Madison educates thousands of the state’s citizens every year by admitting some of the best and brightest students from throughout Wisconsin. The Connections Program offers select Wisconsin residents 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

Program Benefits

Connections Program students receive a campus ID and are granted access to campus resources and student services at UW–Madison while at their home institution.

  • Participation in over 1,000 student organizations
  • Access to special events and guest speakers
  • Use of more than 40 on-campus libraries
  • Campus technology tools and software training
  • Campus email and computer lab access
  • Discounts at the DoIT technology store
  • Use of recreational facilities (with nominal fee)
  • Badger athletic ticket eligibility
  • UW–Madison Student ID (Wiscard)

Each year, we invite select first-year applicants to participate in the Connections Program. Students from Wisconsin who are wait-listed or admitted to UW–Madison are also eligible for Connections. If you have been invited to participate in the program for next fall, complete and return the Program Agreement by May 15.

Program Requirements

Students who accept admission to the UW–Madison Connections Program agree to meet the following requirements:

  1. Submit the UW–Madison Connections Program Agreement.
    • As a program benefit, your UW–Madison admissions application and materials are automatically and securely shared with your designated partner campus for admission. You do not need to apply to your partner campus.
  2. Submit an official final high school transcript showing high school graduation and successful completion of senior year by July 10.
  3. Complete 54 transferable credits within three years at the chosen partner campus. These credits may include AP, IB, college credit earned while still in high school, or summer courses taken at approved post-secondary institutions.
  4. Satisfy UW–Madison’s General Education Requirements with the exception of Communication Part B. These requirements include:
    • Communication Part A (3 credits)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Parts A and B (6 credits)
    • Natural Science (4–6 credits)
    • Humanities/Literature/Arts (6 credits)
    • Social Studies (3 credits)
    • Ethnic Studies (3 credits)
  5. Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 each term. (Specific major/program admission requirements may be higher than a 2.0 GPA. Review our entrance requirements for undergraduate majors for more information.)
  6. Complete the Connections Program Transition Checklist and submit it along with required documents (official transcripts, AP score reports, etc.).

Upon fulfilling these requirements, students transition directly to UW–Madison without completing a separate application for admission. Connections offers admission to the university but does not offer direct entry to all programs/majors. Please note:

  • Students interested in a major within the College of Engineering are encouraged to Apply as a Transfer Student instead of completing the Connections Program, in order to be considered for Direct Entry into a major within the college.
  • Students interested in a major within the Wisconsin School of Business will need to complete an additional School of Business transfer application to be considered for admission into those majors.

Partner Campuses

All of the University of Wisconsin Colleges two-year campuses participate in the UW–Madison Connections Program, as do three of the UW four-year campuses and several technical and tribal colleges.

Partner campuses include:

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Technical and Tribal Colleges

UW System Campuses

Four-Year

Regional

For More Information, Contact:

UW–Madison Connections Program
702 West Johnson Street, Suite 1101
Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1007
608-262-3961
connections@admissions.wisc.edu