Admissions Process

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Requirements for Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and must have achieved a minimum, overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as well as a minimum GPA of 3.0 in history courses taken as an undergraduate. Occasionally the History Department admits superior students who have not had the equivalent of a history major or students whose grades in history courses are exceptional but whose other grades do not meet the minimum GPA.

When students are admitted to the graduate program in History they are admitted to a specific study program.  Select your field carefully and submit the Selection of Study Program Form (pdf) for details.  Take careful note of any language requirements for admission to a program.  Admission to a specific study program commits you to work toward an M.A. or Ph.D. in that particular area of specialization.

Application Procedure

The application process is two-pronged: certain materials go to the UW-Madison Graduate School and others come to the History Department.

Application Checklist

A.  Send the following to the Graduate School:                                                                    

1. Application Form.  You must apply online at http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/admissions/
2. For application fee information see http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/admissions/gschecklist.html

B.  Send the following to the Department:                                                                           

1. A copy of Reasons for Graduate Study if not submitted online.
2. Selection of Study form at http://history.wisc.edu/generalinfo/forms/selectionofstudysheet.pdf
3. Supplementary information for fellowships form http://history.wisc.edu/generalinfo/forms/supplementalfellowshipapp.pdf
4. Official transcripts (2 original copies) from all institutions attended, showing degrees awarded (undergraduate and graduate)
5. Three letters of recommendation (if not submitted online, you may use the Recommendation Form (pdf) found on our website if your recommenders prefer to use a paper letter.
6. Sample of written work

   Department of History
   UW-Madison
   3211 Mosse Humanities Building
   455 North Park Street
   Madison, WI 53706-1483

C.  Have your GREs sent to the Graduate School:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission. The test must be taken within the last five years. Students requesting a waiver [e.g. International applicants] should contact the Department.  Please note that GREs are required for fellowship competitions.

• Designate UW-Madison as a recipient when you take the examination; your scores will be reported to us.  Our institution code is 1846

D.  International Students

1. Official TOEFL scores from countries in which the language of the country is not English
2. Financial Statement will be requested upon a positive admission recommendation the department.

Application Deadline

In order to receive full consideration for admission (with or without fellowship aid), your application and all of the supporting materials listed above must reach the Graduate School and our office by December 1.  Decisions are made on these applications in late December and early January, and applicants will be notified of the results in February.  Applications completed after December 1 will be reviewed only if the program is not already full.  We accept no applications after January 15. 

The Graduate School will notify you when it has received your application. It is your responsibility to make certain that the History Department has received your application and all supporting documentation.  Please check the status of your file with the Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Jane Williams (jrwillia@wisc.edu, [608] 263-1962).

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose or reasons for graduate study (perhaps the hardest part of the application to write) should run 2-3 typed pages.  While it may well include some autobiographical information, its real purpose is to acquaint us with how your mind works.  We want to know, for example, what kinds of intellectual problems and issues interest you, whose stories intrigue you, what sorts of analytical or narrative approaches you like to pursue, which historical writings you admire – and your reasons for these various preferences.  Please help us understand your decision to enter the historical profession and how you see your own role in it.  There is no single right way to approach this part of the application, but you may want to bear in mind the usual cautions for personal writing: speak in your own voice, simply and straightforwardly, so that we can hear that voice clearly, and write as well as you know how.

Return of Written Work

If you would like us to return your written work to you, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Tuition and Fees

http://registrar.wisc.edu/students/fees_tuition/tuition.php

Academic Calendar

http://www.secfac.wisc.edu/acadcal/

Housing

Inquiries regarding off-campus housing may be made to the Campus Assistance Center http://housing.civc.wisc.edu  or for student housing on campus see http://www.housing.wisc.edu

We look forward to receiving your application.  Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.