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Admission Requirements

Did you know students from over 100 countries choose to study within at the Universities of Wisconsin? It’s true and the Universities of Wisconsin is ready to welcome you too!

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UW-Eau Claire

Test Score Requirements

For undergraduate admission:
Minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 75
Minimum IELTS overall score of 6.0
Minimum Duolingo English Test overall score of 110 (Note: Students who use Duolingo English Test scores as evidence of English proficiency will be required to take ESL 305 Advanced Academic Writing for 6 credits their first term.)

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $29,160.00 (nine months).

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Green Bay

Test Score Requirements

Students are required to provide a proof of English proficiency from one of the following: IELTS (6.0), TOEFL (71), SAT (24), ACT(17), IGCSE (5), WESLI (700), MTELP (73), or Duolingo (95)

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S dollars: $25,300.00 (nine months)

Note: This is a relatively conservative budget, for a student who budgets carefully and is willing to share living quarters with another student. While some students may need less money, many students find that they spend more than this amount. This estimate does not include the cost of international travel and keeping a car.

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-La Crosse

Test Score Requirements

Non-native English speakers must submit proof of English proficiency in order to be considered for admission. This can be demonstrated by:
73 TOEFL score (TOEFL Code Number: 1914)
6.0 IELTS score
100 Duolingo English Test (DET) score
54 PTE score
Completion of ELS Level 112
Completion of WESLI Level 700

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S dollars: $29,900.00 (nine months)

Note: The estimated cost above includes $2,000 in personal living expenses. It does not include travel, summer or interim tuition costs.

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Madison

Test Score Requirements

For UW-Madison, including scores from either the ACT or the SAT with your application is optional for students applying for admission through the Spring 2025 term, with an application deadline of October 1, 2024. You will not be disadvantaged in the evaluation process if you do not include these scores for consideration in your application.

You will indicate your choice regarding including test scores at the time of application. The choice that you indicate on your application is final.

If choosing to include ACT or SAT test scores with your application, you are encouraged to self-report your test scores. If self reporting scores: official test scores for each test date self-reported will be required prior to enrollment. You may also submit your official scores directly from the testing site.

UW-Madison test code is 4656 for the ACT and 1846 for the SAT.

First-year Applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school. All English proficiency exams should be official and sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum accepted score: 115+
TOEFL iBT: Minimum accepted score: 80+
IELTS: Minimum accepted score: 6.5+

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Milwaukee

Test Score Requirements

Applicants must send TOEFL scores from ETS electronically to school code 1473. Applicants can upload a copy of their official IELTS or Duolingo score report into the application portal online. English proficiency test scores cannot be more than two years old. View UW-Milwaukee’s English Language Proficiency Requirement webpage for more information.

Financial Certification

Estimated annual expenses: $39,313.00

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Oshkosh

Test Score Requirements

TOEFL-IBT: 71
IELTS: 6.0
Duolingo: 110
ACT (English): 18
SAT (Evidence-based writing): 460
Cambridge English: C1 pass or C2 pass

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $24,440.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Parkside

Test Score Requirements

Non-native English speakers whose prior education was not conducted in English are required to submit proof of English proficiency. English proficiency may be demonstrated in the following ways:

Minimum TOEFL score of 71 (Internet-based). Our Institution Code is 1860
Minimum IELTS score of 6.0
An ACT English subscore of 23 or higher
Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 100 or higher
PTE Pearson score of 50

Financial Certification

Estimated tuition expenses in U.S. dollars: 15,736.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Platteville

Test Score Requirements

English proficiency exams are required for all international students whose native language is not English.

TOEFL code: 1917
TOEFL iBT composite score of 64 (minimum sub-scores: reading 15; listening 15; speaking 17; writing 17)
IELTS composite score of 5.5 (minimum sub-scores: reading 5.0; listening 5.0; speaking 5.0; writing 5.0)
Official PTE with a minimum score of 46
Official Duolingo with a minimum score of 95
Official ACT score with an English sub score of 18
Official SAT score with an Evidence-based Reading and Writing sub score of 480
GTEC score of 1100 (computer-based format)

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $26,874 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-River Falls

Test Score Requirements

Non-native English speakers must submit proof of English proficiency to be considered for admission.
ACT: 18 (English)
SAT: 950 (EBRW)
IELTS: 6.0
TOEFL: 78
Duolingo: 105

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S dollars: $25,826.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Stevens Point

Test Score Requirements

Applicants whose primary language is not English must satisfy our English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

TOEFL iBT: Score of 78 and above, with minimum scores of 17 in the Speaking and Writing sections.
TOEFL code: 1919.
IELTS: Score of 6.0 or above, with no sub-score below 5.5.
Official IELTS results should be sent directly to the UW-Stevens Point Admissions Office.
PTE: Score of 52 or above.
SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score of 530 or above.
ACT: English and Reading section scores of 22 or above.

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $25,652.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Stout

Test Score Requirements

The English proficiency requirement may be waived for applicants from English-speaking countries. This will be determined by the Admissions Office after you have applied. Ways to provide evidence of English proficiency:
Official TOEFL score:
Minimum iBT (or MyBest) score of 70, or minimum paper-based score of 525.
Official IELTS score:
Minimum score of 6.0
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
Minimum score of 48
Duolingo English Test:
Minimum score of 105

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S dollars: $28,794.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Superior

Test Score Requirements

Applicants will be notified via email if required to submit evidence of English proficiency. The English proficiency requirement can be met in a variety of ways. Depending on their test scores, students may be required to take a combination of English as a Second Language (ESL) and non-ESL courses during their first semester. See ESL at UW-Superior for additional information.

TOEFL Internet-Based Test: 61
IELTS: 5.5
Duolingo English Test (DET): 100
TOEFL MyBest: 61 (Minimum Test Date Score: 56)
SAT: 470
ACT: 18 (English)
TOEFL Paper-based Test: 500

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $22,960.00 (nine months).

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

UW-Whitewater

Test Score Requirements

Only one appropriate score below is required. You do not need to submit multiple scores.

TOEFL iBT: 71
IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall band
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: 430
ACT: 17 (English)

Financial Certification

Estimated expenses in U.S. dollars: $30,334.00 (nine months)

English as Your Second Language

Gain the extra edge you need to excel with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at select UW System campuses. These engaging programs help you develop the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills you’ll need before full admission.

Get all the information on program opportunities and requirements at the English as a Second Language (ESL)

International students should be:

  • Proficient in the English language
  • Academically qualified
  • Financially stable to meet educational and day-to-day living expenses

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