International Students

Over 6,000 International (F and J visa) students from more than 116 countries choose to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including over 3,000 undergraduate students. Our university is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the United States with the largest number of international students. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is ranked 28th among world universities by the Center for World University Rankings.

Admission Application Process

International students need to apply as either a first-year or a transfer student. There is not a separate application process for an international student. Applications, required materials, and additional common international curricula (below) must arrive in our office by our published deadlines.

Specific Requirements for Common International Curricula

Click on the appropriate drop-down item below for a detailed explanation of the documents required based on your curriculum or country of study. These requirements are based upon a student’s level of education at time of application. All students currently enrolled in high school/upper/senior secondary will be required to provide us with a list of their courses in progress. Before enrolling, we must receive official transcripts and graduation credentials confirming that the student completed their planned coursework and is eligible to progress to higher education.

If your country or curriculum is not listed on this page, please send official transcripts for the equivalent of grades 9–12 in the U.S., as well as any external examinations or credentials required to complete secondary school and move on to university in your country.

If you attended a non-English institution: If your school or institution does not issue transcripts in English, we will require an official translation of the entire original transcript with all course names and grades included, preferably in the same format as the original. That translation must be completed either by the school or institution (e.g. a school counselor, English teacher, or other school staff member who can complete the translation) or by an Education USA official within your home country or region. It must also be submitted via the same official methods required for other official documents; email is not considered official. We must receive both the original non-English transcript and the official English translation to complete your application.

Note: We continue to monitor the changes and delays impacting external exams including the Indian Boards and GCSE/AS/A-levels. You will be messaged later in the year with specific instructions as to how to turn in your final exams.

Brazil

If you are currently in high school at time of application:

Official transcripts from years 9, 1, 2
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript from year 3 as well as proof of graduation (Certificado de Ensino Médio)

If you have already completed high school at time of application: Official transcripts from years 9, 1, 2, 3. (Completion of Certificado de Ensino Médio)

Canada (Excluding Quebec)

If you are currently in high school at time of application:

Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript with grades from year 12 as well as a graduation date or statement that diploma was awarded.

If you have already completed high school at time of application: Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, 12 with proof of graduation.

Canada (Quebec)

If you are currently in year 1 of CEGEP (colleges d’etudes general et professionnelles):

Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11
Official copy of Diplome d’Etudes Secondaires (SSD/DES)
English translation of all documents

If you are currently in year 2 of CEGEP (colleges d’etudes general et professionnelles):

Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, 12
Official copy of Diplome d’Etudes Secondaires (SSD/DES)
English translation of all documents

China

The following requirements are for students in the Chinese national curriculum. Students in international curricula such as A-Level, IB, or dual-diploma programs should click on the appropriate drop-down menus.

If you are currently enrolled in upper secondary school at time of application:

Transcripts from lower middle school/初中 (chuzhong) (grade 9) and upper middle school/高中 (gaozhong) (grades 10-11), in both Chinese and English
In order to finalize admission, students must submit their final grade 12 transcript and an official copy of their High School graduation diploma

If you have already completed upper secondary school at time of application:

Official transcripts for Lower (初中 (chuzhong) and Upper Middle school (高中(gaozhong) (grades 9–12)
Official copy of High School graduation diploma

Dual-Diploma Programs

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official transcript(s) from years 9, 10, 11
Proof of dual-diploma agreement with accredited U.S. or Canadian high school
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit official transcript(s) from grades 9–12 along with proof of graduation from both curricula. For Chinese students, this would mean Chinese transcripts and huikao/APT results sent through the CSSD verification service, as well as an official U.S. or Canadian transcript with graduation date.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official transcript(s) from years 9, 10, 11, 12 with proof of graduation from accredited U.S. or Canadian high school curriculum

French-Patterned Education

If you are currently enrolled in high school (lycée) at time of application:

Transcripts from lower secondary (college) showing the equivalent of 9th grade
Transcripts from high school (lycée)
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit your official Baccalauréat results.

If you have already completed high school (lycée) at time of application:

Transcripts from lower secondary (college) showing the equivalent of 9th grade
Transcripts from high school (lycée), and the Baccalauréat.

Advanced standing credit for the French Baccalauréat is awarded on a case-by-case basis.

Hong Kong

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11 (Secondary 3, 4, 5)
HKDSE predicted grades, if available
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit official HKDSE results.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official transcript from years 9–12 (Secondary 3–6)
Official copy of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Official copy of Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE)
Official transcript of Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examinations (HKASLE), if applicable
Official transcript of Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations (HKALE), if applicable

India

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official copy of grade 10 secondary school examination board results officiated or attested by school official*
Internal grades for coursework taken in grades 11 and 12, through time of application.
In order to finalize admission, students must supply an officiated or attested copy of their grade 12 senior secondary board results.

If you have already completed high school at time of application: Attested secondary and senior secondary/intermediate education board results*

*Board results listed on transcripts are not sufficient; we require attested copies of the actual results certificates issued by the examining board.

Indonesia

If you are currently in high school at time of application:

Grade 9 exam results (SMP)
Grade reports for 10 and 11
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit your SMA or STTB exam report.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Grade 9 exam results (SMP)
Grade reports for 10 and 11
Grade 12 exam report (SMA or STTB)

International A-Level Programs/British Patterned Education

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official copy of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or O-Levels
Official copy of the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) if available, or statement of provisional results
Record of Advanced Level courses in progress and any predicted A-Level results
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit a screenshot of your examination results as soon as they are released, and to bring your “Statement of Provisional Results” to campus when you arrive for SOAR.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official copy of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or O-Levels
The General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) if available
The General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level (A-Levels)

*School counselors can make certified copies of the original results certificates issued by the appropriate examining board and submit them to our office along with any internal transcripts.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Most applicants pursue the full IB Diploma. Students who do not plan to earn the IB Diploma must have proof that they will earn an alternate secondary school credential from an accredited institution.

If you are currently in high school at time of application:

Official transcripts for grades 9–11*
Predicted IB grades if available
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit official IB examination results and diploma directly from the International Baccalaureate Organization

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official transcripts for grades 9 and 10*
IB Diploma results sent directly from the International Baccalaureate Organization

*Students who completed IGCSE/O-Levels before starting the IB curriculum must submit an official copy of their external Results Certificate

International Students Studying in the U.S.

If you are currently enrolled in high school: Official transcripts from your U.S. high school, as well as transcripts for any secondary work (grades 9–12) completed prior to enrollment in a U.S. high school. Your current U.S. high school may submit their copy of your prior school transcript.

Malaysia

Students should submit all lower and upper secondary external examinations. This includes lower secondary school scores on the SRP, SMR, PMR or PT3. Tests taken after Form 5 such as the MCE and SPM also need to be submitted. Students who attended a Chinese independent school are required to submit results from the UEC.

Competitive applicants should have at least one year of schooling beyond Form 5. Students should submit all official transcripts and test scores from any additional schooling including IB, AP, A Level, STPM and American degree transfer programs.

Students in an American degree transfer program should apply as a freshman if they will have completed two semesters prior to beginning study at UW–Madison. Students who will have completed more than two semesters must apply for transfer admission.

Singapore

Students who are required to complete military service in Singapore may choose to apply during their final year of high school and defer their enrollment for two years or wait to apply until the year they are ready to enroll.

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official copy of O-Level Results Certificate*
Internal Junior College transcript
Predicted A-Level results, if available
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit an official copy of your A-Level Results Certificate.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official copy of O-Level Results Certificate*
Official copy of A-Level Results Certificate

*Students enrolled in the six-year Singapore Integrated Program (IIP) will not be expected to submit O-Level Results. Instead they should provide official documentation of their participation in the IP curriculum, along with internal transcripts from the final two years of secondary school and current progress in Junior College

South Korea

If you are currently in high school at time of application:

Official transcripts from years 9–11
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit an official final transcript showing grades for year 12 and proof of graduation.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Official transcripts from years 9–12
Official copy of Certificate of Graduation

United Kingdom/Cambridge Pre-U

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Official copy of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
Official copy of the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or Cambridge Pre-U Short Course results, if taken
Predicted A-Level and/or Cambridge Pre-U results. Competitive applicants will have completed at least three A-Level and/or Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to submit a screenshot of your examination results as soon as they are available and bring your Statement of Provisional Results with you to SOAR.

If you have already completed high school at time of application: Official copy of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), the General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS) if taken, and the General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level (A-Levels) or Cambridge Pre-U Certificate.

West African Examinations Council Curriculum

If you are currently enrolled in high school at time of application:

Year 9 junior secondary school transcript and external leaving examination results (GABECE in the Gambia, BECE in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, LJHSCE in Liberia)
Senior secondary school transcripts for years 10–
In order to finalize admission, you will be required to provide official WASSCE results, verifiable online via scratch card.

If you have already completed high school at time of application:

Year 9 external junior secondary leaving examination results (GABECE in the Gambia, BECE in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, LJHSCE in Liberia)
Senior secondary school transcripts for years 10-12
Official WASSCE Statement of Results. WASSCE results must be verifiable online; please send your examination number and a scratch card serial number plus PIN to onwisconsin@admissions.wisc.edu. For Nigerian applicants, we also accept Senior School Certificate Examination results from the National Examination Council (NECO).

English Language Proficiency Exams

First-year Applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school. Transfer applicants may have the exam waived if English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school or a college-level English composition course was successfully completed at an accredited US institution. This requirement will not be waived for English composition taken at U.S. branch campuses abroad.

All English proficiency exams should be official and sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

Please note: Sending official test scores from the testing agency does have an additional costs and will add 3–6 weeks to the application completion process. Plan to send your test scores early to ensure your scores arrive before the materials deadline.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than 2 years from the time you apply.

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Minimum accepted score: 115+.
When submitting your score(s): Search category should be “Undergraduate,” then select “University of Wisconsin–Madison.”
Please do not send to offices listed under “Other,” as we are unable to retrieve those scores.
The DET should be sent with sub-scores.

IELTS

Minimum accepted score: 6.5+.
To submit scores electronically, students need to request an “ETRF” request from their testing center. When requesting electronic scores, please note:
- - IELTS does not require a code.
  - Select our account name, “University of Wisconsin, Madison Undergraduate”
Please do not send paper copies of your IELTS scores.
We do accept the IELTS Indicator.

TOEFL iBT:

Minimum accepted score: 80+.
When submitting your score(s): TOEFL test code is 1846.
We do not accept “MyBest” score from TOEFL nor any English Proficiency exam.
For each TOEFL you submit, we will require the full score report. Wisconsin does not accept the TOEFL iTP Plus for China but we will accept the iBT Special Home Edition.

If you feel that you qualify for an English Proficiency Exam waiver based upon the requirements above, please submit all required transcripts to our office. Other test scores such as ACT, SAT, or AP (Advanced Placement) scores do not meet the requirements for a waiver. Once your transcripts are received in our office (are no longer displayed on your to-do list in your Student Center), we will determine your waiver eligibility. Waivers will not be processed prior to receipt of both the admissions application and transcripts.

Financing Your Education

The cost of attendance is the total amount of tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other estimated school expenses. The Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) features a list of academic and merit opportunities offered by schools and colleges within the university. International Student Services (ISS) also has a helpful Funding & Scholarships page.

Students from particular countries may also be eligible for our international scholarship opportunities including King-Morgridge.

Enrolling students who need an F-1 or J-1 visa will be asked to submit proof of funding for one full year of study at UW–Madison. I-20 requests and supporting documentation can be submitted through the Terra Dotta portal in the MyUW Student Center once students have accepted their offer of admission. Financial documents should not be sent to the Office of Admission and Recruitment as part of the undergraduate application.

Important Message About Agents and Consultants

The University of Wisconsin–Madison recognizes that agents or consultants are retained in many parts of the world to assist students in applying to colleges and universities in the United States. However, the university does not partner with third parties (agents or educational consultants) to represent the University, nor to recruit or enroll international students for degree seeking programs. Agents who may be retained by students to help with the application process are not recognized as representatives of the university and do not have a contractual agreement or partnership with the university.

International Student Services

The International Student Services website provides information about transitioning to UW–Madison, visa and immigration policies, and on-campus programming. Explore the guide for international students, which features student testimonials about academics, student life, and life in the City of Madison.

Transferring International College Credit

Our international admissions counselors review all international academic records for transfer credit. Once a student has been admitted and has confirmed enrollment, our counselors evaluate international course work and appropriately transfer all transferable credit to UW–Madison. Admitted international students requesting transfer credit must submit detailed course descriptions in both the original language and English when confirming their enrollment.

Credit by Exam

The University of Wisconsin–Madison grants advanced credit for the successful completion of college-level course work while in high school and for high achievement on Advanced Placement (AP), GCE Advanced Level (A-Level), Cambridge Pre-U, International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.

Next Steps for Admitted International Students

In addition to Admitted Student Next Steps, our international students have some additional steps to complete before arriving on campus, including information on obtaining your visa, the I-20 process, our Financial Verification Form for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, and mailing information for your visa.