Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission

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Policy Number:
UW-1241
Responsible Office:
Graduate School

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy defines the Graduate School’s admission standards.

Definitions:
Academic Program
An area of study that leads to a degree/major, certificate, minor or named option, also referred to as a plan or subplan.
Credit Hour
Defined in UW-1011, The Credit Hour
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The total number of grade points earned divided by the number of credit hours attempted. 
Scope:

Prospective graduate students seeking admission/readmission to Master's or Doctoral degree programs under the purview of the Graduate School.

Policy:

  1. New Students

    The Graduate School establishes as a threshold the minimum requirements for admission. Academic program admission requirements are often more rigorous than those set by the Graduate School. 

    1. Degree

      1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required for admission to UW-Madison’s Graduate School.
      2. The admitting degree must be completed and conferred before starting the first semester of graduate school.

    2. Grade Point Average

      1. A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 credit hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required.
      2. The Graduate School will take into consideration different grade scales from the institutions that do not have 4.00 scales (e.g., institutions outside the United States of America).

    3. Graduate Record Examination(GRE)

      The Graduate School does not require the GRE, however programs may require it.

    4. English Language Proficiency

      All international degree-seeking applications must prove English proficiency by meeting at least one of the following criteria:
      1. Earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university.
      2. Earned a masters or PhD degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university not more than five years prior to the anticipated start of enrollment.
      3. Earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the United States where English is the exclusive language of instruction. The language of instruction must be stated on the official transcript or verified as the only language of instruction.
      4. Completed at least two full-time semesters of graded coursework from an accredited institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction not more than five years prior to the anticipated start of enrollment. This coursework cannot include English language learning classes. The language of instruction must be stated on the official transcript or verified as the only language of instruction.
      5. Provided official  results of an English proficiency exam to the Graduate School. Scores must be within two years of the anticipated start of enrollment.
        1. The Graduate School accepts test results from TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and IELTS Indicator, and Duolingo English Test to fulfill the English proficiency requirement. The minimum required proficiency scores are:
          1. TOEFL requirement: 92 internet (iBT)
          2. IELTS requirement: 7.0
          3. IELTS Indicator requirement: 7.0
          4. Duolingo English Test requirement: 125
        2. For  applicants to programs held in-person, admission may be granted with the following scores under certain circumstances and with program approval. However, to be admitted, an English assessment test (ESLAT) will be required upon arrival, and any recommended English as a Second Language (ESL) course must be completed successfully in the first semester. Below are the ranges in which an ESLAT will be required:
          1. TOEFL internet (iBT): 80-91
          2. IELTS: 6.5
          3. Duolingo English Test: 115-124
        3. UW-Madison does not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements.

  2. Previously Enrolled UW-Madison Graduate Students

    1. Individuals previously enrolled as graduate students at UW–Madison with a break in enrollment for at least one fall or spring semester, must apply for re-entry to resume their studies at least six weeks prior to the start of the new start term.
    2. Individuals seeking admission to a new program must complete a new application for admission.
    3. All Incomplete (I) grades must be completed during the first semester of enrollment upon return to the Graduate School.
    4. Time Limits
      If there is a break in enrollment of ten years or more, credits earned before the break cannot be counted toward the degree requirement. 
Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Dean of the Graduate School
Policy Manager:
Associate Director of Admissions
Contact:
Associate Director of Admissions -- Katie Bourassa, katie.bourassa@wisc.edu, (608) 262-2433
Revised Dates:

07-31-2023, 02-09-2024, 11-26-2024, 11-5-2025

Retrieved:
11-21-2025 07:05:39