Admissions and Aid

Applicants whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score by taking the TOEFL test.

Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term. A country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent it has been are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if:

• English is the exclusive language of instruction at the undergraduate institution; OR
• You have earned a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university not more than five years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment; OR
• You have completed at least two full-time semesters of graded course work, exclusive of ESL courses, in a U.S. college or university or at an institution outside the U.S. where English is the exclusive language of instruction. Completion of graded course work cannot be more than five years prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment.

The required proficiency scores are:

Minimum TOEFL requirement: 92 internet (iBT); 580 paper-based test (PBT)
Minimum IELTS requirement: 7.0
Minimum MELAB requirement: 82

• Request that your scores be sent to UW-Madison (institution code 1846)
• Scores may not be older than two years

Official TOEFL scores must be received at the department by the December 1st application deadline. If the official score will not be available for submission by the application deadline, you may do the following:

• Submit your UNOFFICIAL score for temporary use by the department until the official scores are available by entering the score on your online application form or send them via email (edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu) as soon as you have taken the test
• If the score is sent via email, the department will add the information to your other application materials

The UW Grad School provides the following guidelines on preparing your statement of purpose.

Before you begin
Visit the graduate program website for information about faculty and their research, courses offered, graduate student profiles, and student support and professional development activities. This will help you get a sense of the culture and priorities of the program, what they may be looking for in a potential student, and if it is a good fit for you – for example, your research interests, professional development needs, and career goals. You can then address these topics in your Statement of Purpose. If you have any questions, contact the graduate program.

Items to consider
Be specific about your interest and knowledge particular to this program: Have you read an article by one or more faculty members? Has your advisor specifically directed you to this program? Do you have other ties to this program and/or school? Pick out the pertinent facts about your academic and professional interests that make you a good fit with the program and institution to which you are applying. (A statement of purpose is not a place to list everything you have done.) Mention extra-curricular achievements to illustrate additional dimensions of your personality. Demonstrate curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm for learning, a capacity for teamwork, the ability to think independently, and pride in your work. Using brief anecdotes is a good way to make your points. Explain (briefly) any incongruity in your application material, such as a low semester grade. Stay within the page limit specified by the graduate program. If there are no specifications, limit yourself to two pages. Be succinct and clear.

Before you submit
Let at least two people read your statement, preferably a faculty member and an academic advisor, and ask them to provide feedback. Revise accordingly; you want to submit a well-balanced statement that helps you make a strong case for your candidacy. Proofread, proofread, proofread to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Do not depend on your software to do this for you

The Department of Educational Psychology offers a limited number of fee waivers that prospective students may apply towards the UW-Madison Graduate School application fee, for purposes of ensuring that the application fee does not present a significant barrier. Applications are welcome from international students or from domestic students (i.e., US/DACA) who applied, but were unsuccessful at receiving a waiver from the Graduate School (see https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/fee-grant/).

Waivers will be granted based on financial need. To apply, individuals are asked to submit the following to edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.

1.  A short statement (not to exceed 250 words) explaining (a) their financial situation and how it affects their ability to apply to graduate school, and/or (b) how this situation is exacerbated/caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2.  A current copy of their CV
3.  A copy of their statement of purpose (i.e., the statement they have to submit as part of their application to the graduate program).
4.  Evidence that they applied for and did not receive a waiver from the Graduate school (for Domestic students only)

To guarantee full consideration, students must apply by November 20, 2021. We will continue to evaluate waiver applications beyond the deadline on a case-by-case basis, as funding allows.