Your application must be complete in order to be considered for admission and funding awards. All parts of the application are submitted online.

December 15 Application Deadline

Please submit your application no later than December 15 to be considered for admission and financial aid.

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Learn about the admissions process »

Overview of Application Requirements

  • Completed online admission application form
  • Statement of purpose for graduate study
  • Two essays in response to the application questions, and one survey response
  • Standardized test scores (GMAT or GRE, as well as TOEFL or IELTS for international students only)
  • Transcripts from each institution attended
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably from academics
  • Current résumé or curriculum vitae (CV)

Application Requirements in Detail

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  • Statement of Purpose for Graduate Study

    Your statement of purpose helps the admissions committee understand your goals and how those goals can be supported with a doctoral degree program. Complete instructions can be found in the online application.

  • Two Essays and One Survey Response

    The essay questions and survey are found in the online application.

  • Standardized Test Scores (GMAT or GRE)

    Applicants may submit either Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. The GMAT institution code for Wisconsin School of Business Ph.D. applicants is 79K-2S-02. Official GRE scores ordered from Educational Testing Service (ETS) should be sent to code number 1846.

  • Transcripts/Degrees

    You may submit unofficial copies of your transcripts which will be used by the departmental admissions committee for review when you submit your application; however, you must submit original hard copies sent directly from your schools if you are offered admission. Official transcripts must include certificate/diploma and/or proof of degree. Transcripts must include an English translation if the degree is from a non-English speaking country.

    Please mail official transcripts to:

    Wisconsin Ph.D. Program
    Wisconsin School of Business
    3115 Grainger Hall
    975 University Avenue
    Madison, WI 53706

  • Letters of Recommendation

    Letters of recommendation should be written by individuals who are in a position to evaluate the applicant's potential for success in a Ph.D. program, including an assessment of the applicant's potential for advanced independent research. Any letters of recommendation that are not submitted online may be prepared on letterhead or stationery and enclosed in an envelope with the recommender’s signature across the envelope seal.

  • Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

    A Microsoft® Word document or PDF format is preferred.

    ® Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

International Applicants

TOEFL or IELTS Exam

Applicants whose native language is not English or whose four-year undergraduate education was not completed in a country where English is the native language must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered through the Educational Testing Service. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted. The test must be taken within two years of the date you begin classes.

Our recommended TOEFL score is 106 on the Internet-based test.

Individuals who have completed a four-year (minimum of eight semesters) bachelor’s degree in a country where the official language is English are not required to submit test scores and may request a waiver on the online application. Individuals who will complete such a degree by June prior to matriculation may also request a waiver of the test requirement.

A master’s degree alone from an English-speaking institution does not qualify for a waiver of the test requirement. Being a citizen or permanent resident of the United States does not automatically exempt an applicant from the test requirement.

Academic Transcripts

After receiving an admission offer, international applicants must provide the Wisconsin School of Business with official documentation (referred to as “official transcripts”) of all courses taken and grades received from each previous undergraduate or postgraduate institution, including proof of degree or diploma. Academic transcripts must have a seal and signature in ink of the registrar, recorder of records, or other authorized official of the institution(s). Documents in another language must be accompanied by official (notarized) English translations.

Financial Statement

Applicants should wait until they receive an admission decision before submitting the International Student Financial Statement and documentation. This document is not required as part of the application for the Wisconsin Ph.D. Program in business. Evidence of adequate financial resources for the anticipated duration of the program (including support for any family members who accompany the student to the United States) is required for visa documentation by the federal government.