UW–Madison welcomes international undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students to study at UW–Madison for one or more terms as a University Special student. University Special students take regularly scheduled courses for credit, which are displayed on an official student record but are not currently earning a degree from UW–Madison.

The Visiting International Student Program (VISP) is available to international students who wish to study at UW–Madison for one or more semesters or a summer term and are not part of a formal exchange program. The VISP participants are admitted by ACSSS. Details about the program, admissions criteria, and student experience are provided on the VISP webpage.

How to Get in

Any international student who has completed at least one semester of college/university study and meets language proficiency requirements may apply. Applicants do not need to be currently enrolled in an educational institution.  Students should apply at least three months before the intended start date at UW–Madison in order to complete the entire admission process and visa application (which may require many months to complete). A limited number of spots are available in VISP each semester, so applying early provides the best consideration.

Students are admitted in one of three levels which determines the minimum credit load requirements:

  • Undergraduate level students have completed at least one semester of college/university study and will not have completed their degree before arriving in Madison. Students must be in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average (GPA) equivalent at home university of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. UIUL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.
  • Graduate level students have completed an undergraduate degree and may or may not have started a graduate program. No additional requirements apply for students in this classification. UIGL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.
  • Dissertator-level students have completed all graduate coursework and are currently working on a dissertation, or have completed a PhD. No additional requirements apply for students in this classification. UIDL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.

To Apply

Students must review eligibility requirements and then follow the application process outlined at the VISP website. VISP coordinators will assist with each step of the process. The coordinators will send an email to confirm the application has been received and to provide details on next steps. 

Types of Study