Admission
Transfer Students
Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive review of all academic indicators of success and the applicant's potential for contribution to the university community. To apply, students must have completed the minimum requirements of 24 transferable semester credits; three years high school math (or equivalent) including algebra, plane geometry, and college preparatory math; and a single foreign language (two high school years or two college semesters). To be considered for admission, students must demonstrate breadth of college-level course work (i.e., English composition, college-level math, science, social science, humanities, and if appropriate, foreign language), consistent grades across all academic disciplines, and a competitive cumulative GPA. (GPA is calculated according to UW–Madison policy, which requires the calculation of all courses attempted, including repeated courses.) Admission to the university does not guarantee acceptance to the intended major, which is a separate process from the undergraduate admission process.
Prospective transfer students can begin satisfying UW–Madison general education and degree requirements prior to transfer. For more information on selecting courses for the purpose of satisfying UW–Madison requirements, visit the Transfer Admission Selecting Courses web page.
Transfer credit is generally given for college-level courses taken at a degree-granting institution accredited by a CHEA-recognized organization. Courses must be similar in nature, level, and content to UW–Madison undergraduate courses and apply to a UW–Madison academic program. Students may wish to consult the UW–Madison Transfer Credit Policy for more details. Students within the University of Wisconsin System or the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) may consult the Transfer Information System (TIS) for information on how lower-division courses will transfer to UW–Madison. Students attending two-year colleges in Illinois or Minnesota or tribal colleges in Wisconsin may consult the Transfer Equivalency Database (TED).