Organizer Information
University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison) is a public research university in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 1848. Relevant opportunities for art, film, media, and related fields are offered through the Department of Art in the School of Education, the Department of Art History in the College of Letters & Science, and the Department of Communication Arts.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / BS / BFA / MA / MFA / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Studio Art / Graphic Design / Photography / Art History / Film / Media / Digital Cinema
- Relevant Programs: Art, BS; Art, BFA; Art Education, BS; Art, MFA; Art History, BS; Art History, MA; Art History, PhD; Communication Arts, BA — Radio–Television–Film option; Communication Arts, MA — Film and Media & Cultural Studies pathways; Communication Arts, PhD — Film and Media & Cultural Studies pathways; Digital Cinema Production Certificate.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: 2027 undergraduate applications are open; graduate application periods are program-specific.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate deadlines vary by entry term; relevant graduate deadlines include 15 December for Art History and Communication Arts and 6 January for Art MFA.
- Start of Studies: Fall / Spring, depending on program; several relevant graduate programs admit only for fall.
- Application Fee: $80 undergraduate; $75 graduate + $6 international processing fee.
- Tuition: 2026–2027 undergraduate tuition is $10,716.61 for Wisconsin residents and $44,232.12 for nonresidents; graduate tuition varies by program, credits, and residency.
- Funding: Graduate assistantships, fellowships, and program-specific funding are available; funding conditions vary by program.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- UW–Madison offers studio-based study in areas including 4D digital media, video and performance, ceramics, drawing and painting, glass/neon, graphic design, metals/jewelry, printmaking/book arts, photography, sculpture, and wood/furniture. Art History covers art, architecture, the built environment, visual and material culture, and curation. Communication Arts offers film and media study, including film history, theory, criticism, production, media industries, and cultural studies.
- The Art BFA is entered through the Art BS pathway; BFA selection includes prerequisite coursework and a portfolio review.
General Eligibility
- International applicants can apply to UW–Madison. Undergraduate applicants apply through the same general admission process as domestic applicants, while graduate applicants must satisfy both Graduate School minimum requirements and the requirements of their specific program.
- Educational Background: Graduate applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable international degree. Communication Arts PhD applicants must hold a master's degree from an accredited institution.
- For Art History MA, applicants are required to submit three recommendation letters. Art History PhD applicants additionally submit a writing sample, statement of purpose, CV, and transcripts.
Language Requirements
International undergraduate applicants educated in non-English-speaking countries must submit an approved English proficiency test unless the stated exemption applies. Minimum undergraduate scores include IELTS 6.5, DET 115, and the applicable TOEFL requirement.
For graduate admission, the Graduate School minimums include IELTS 7.0, DET 125, and the applicable TOEFL scale; approved exemptions and lower-score admission provisions are also published by the Graduate School. Programs may impose higher standards.
The Art MFA has no additional program-level language requirement beyond applicable Graduate School requirements.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Study Level | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $80 |
| Graduate | $75 |
| International graduate applicant | $75 + $6 processing fee |
Undergraduate fee waivers are available to eligible applicants experiencing financial hardship. Graduate fee grants are subject to eligibility and program-specific policies.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition / Fees | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Wisconsin resident | $10,716.61 tuition for 2026–2027 | Full-time annual rate |
| Undergraduate | Nonresident | $44,232.12 tuition for 2026–2027 | Full-time annual rate |
| Undergraduate | All students | $1,699.48 segregated fee for 2026–2027 | Annual |
| Graduate | Domestic / International | Program- and residency-specific | Credit/program dependent |
UW–Madison states that tuition varies according to academic program, credit load, and residency. Segregated fees and other charges may apply separately.
Funding & Financial Support
- UW–Madison offers graduate assistantships, including teaching, research, and project assistantships, as well as fellowships and other funding. Eligible graduate assistantships can provide tuition remission, stipends, and health-insurance eligibility.
- The Art MFA states that entering students receive tuition remission, monthly stipends, health benefits, and other funding opportunities, with incoming students assigned teaching assistantships.
- Communication Arts provides beginning graduate students with 10 consecutive semesters of support through assistantships, lectureships, and fellowships, including full tuition remission, a stipend, and benefits eligibility.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant support includes academic advising within the Department of Art, faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary research opportunities, access to the Chazen Museum of Art and Kohler Art Library for Art History students, and studio facilities, shops, and equipment for Art MFA students.
Application Requirements
Undergraduate applicants submit an admissions application, application fee or waiver, essays, secondary-school coursework and grade information, one recommendation, and required English-proficiency documentation where applicable.
For relevant graduate programs:
- Art MFA: Graduate School application, transcripts, resume/CV, statement of intent, three recommendation letters, plus the Art Department SlideRoom application with artist statement, resume/CV, and a portfolio of 20 recent images.
- Art History MA: Three recommendation letters; Graduate School requirements also apply.
- Art History PhD: Unofficial transcripts, writing sample of up to 20 double-spaced pages, statement of purpose, CV, and three recommendation letters.
- Communication Arts PhD: Statement of purpose, three recommendation letters, optional GRE, English proficiency where applicable, transcripts, an 8–25-page English writing sample, and CV/resume.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Fall Early Action Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Undergraduate Fall Early Action Materials Deadline: 9 November 2026
- Undergraduate Fall Early Action Decision Release: on or before 31 January 2027
- Undergraduate Fall Regular Decision Application Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Undergraduate Fall Regular Decision Materials Deadline: 22 January 2027
- Undergraduate Fall Regular Decision Decision Release: on or before 31 March 2027
- Undergraduate Spring Regular Decision Application Deadline: 1 October 2027
- Undergraduate Spring Regular Decision Materials Deadline: 15 October 2027
- Undergraduate Spring Regular Decision Decision Release: on or before 31 December 2027
- Art MFA Application Deadline: 6 January 2027
- Art History MA Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- Art History PhD Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- Communication Arts PhD Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
Location
University of Wisconsin–Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Additional Details
The Communication Arts MA is not a direct-entry master's application: applicants apply to the PhD program, and the MA may be awarded during the doctoral pathway. Its Film pathway is focused on film history, theory, criticism, and related production study rather than being designed solely for applicants seeking film production training.
The Art MFA will not accept applicants in Graphic Design for Fall 2027.
UW–Madison's tuition system is program-, credit-, and residency-dependent; international students on F-1 or J-1 visas are assessed international tuition rates where applicable.
Website Link: https://www.wisc.edu/admissions/