Admissions

UW-Madison Graduate School Requirements for Admission

A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0=A); however, the students we accept into the program typically have much higher GPAs. In very rare circumstances, we will consider a student whose GPA is below 3.0, but this requires a special review. To seek a special review, you must submit a letter of appeal along with your application materials. This letter must state the reasons for the low GPA and the rationale for making an exception to the minimum GPA rule.

An undergraduate major in Communication Sciences & Disorders is recommended, but not required, for admission to the Ph.D. program. Entering students who do not have undergraduate majors in communicative disorders will typically be required to take prerequisite course work, which may lengthen the time require to earn a graduate degree.

These letters should address your potential for academic success in graduate school. At least two should come from instructors who have knowledge of your academic performance. The third may come from a clinical supervisor, employer, or other individual who has knowledge of your academic potential and likelihood for success in graduate school. No more than three.

Communicate your reasons for wanting to study speech language pathology. This is an opportunity for you to highlight experiences, related skills, and personal attributes which make you an exceptional candidate. 1-3 pages, single-spaced.

Include honors and awards

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcripts. These show grades earned at every college or university you have attended, including study abroad. The file should be a PDF no larger than 4 MB. Programs no longer require mailed hard copy transcripts and will accept only electronic versions for the initial screening. If admitted, the Graduate School will request official transcripts.

Communicate your reasons for pursuing a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Include in your statement:

1. your academic background, interests, and relevant skills;
2. a summary of your past research experience, including the goals of each project, the approaches you took, and implications of your results;
3. the research questions you are interested in exploring in graduate school, and how these align with the interests of one or more of our faculty members.

If your native language is not English, or your undergraduate instruction was not in English, a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score is required. You may take the test more than once; we will consider the scores from your best testing date. Only official scores, submitted directly from the testing agency, and no more than two years old from the start of your admission term may be submitted. Official scores are due by application deadline. You must submit your scores following the directions outlined on the Graduate School Admission Requirements page.

UW-Madison charges a non-refundable $75 application fee that must be paid by credit card (Master Card or Visa) or debit card. In addition to the $75 application fee, non U.S. citizens will be charged a $6.00 international document processing fee.

There are also limited application fee grants available. Check the UW-Madison Graduation Application Fee Grants to see if you qualify. Please note that fee grant applications must be submitted before you application and can take two weeks to process so you should plan to submit fee grant applications by December 1st with consideration of holidays.

The department will provide an application fee waiver to individuals who are first-generation or are in financial need. To receive a fee waiver code, you are required to self-disclose being a first-generation student or indicate you are in financial need by filling out the Fee Waiver Application below. Please complete the Fee Waiver Application at least one week before the application deadline to receive a fee waiver code. Students who request an Application Fee waiver will not be disclosed to the Admissions Committee and will not impact admission decisions. Limited fee waivers are available.

Application Fee Waiver for Applicants

• Submit all materials one week prior to deadline. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Start your application early. Do not wait until you can gather all your materials. It is better to start the application and add items as they become available.
• Track your application status. After submission of your application, you will receive a link to a personal web page where you can track your application status. We update this page as we receive your materials, usually within two weeks of receipt.

For more information, review the UW-Madison Graduate School “Steps to Apply” and “Admissions FAQ”.