Apply at least three months before your intended start date at UW-Madison. We do not have a fixed deadline to participate but completion of the entire admission process and visa application may require many months to complete. There are a limited number of spots available each semester, so apply early for best consideration.
Step 1: Select the VISP Track (traditional or a thematic option) for your academic goals.
Step 2: 
Application tips: Over 99% of VISP participants are issued an ‘F-1 student visa.’ If you aren’t sure which type to request, please contact VISP@dcs.wisc.edu for assistance. Please answer ‘NO’ to Residency Evaluation questions. VISP Students cannot be legal residents of the state of Wisconsin.
Step 3: You can either upload your application materials while submitting your application, OR submit scanned copies to VISP@dcs.wisc.edu afterwards. However, please only email items that you were not able to upload in your application to avoid duplication.
- Official university transcripts (undergraduate level students only)
- English proficiency exam scores (TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS/iTEP/Duolingo), if required as outlined on our VISP Eligibility page. Please do not have computerized scores sent to UW-Madison.
- Passport information page
- Financial support documents (bank statements and/or scholarship letters) showing at least the minimum cost of attendance if requesting an F-1/J-1 visa from our program. If the bank statement is not in your name, please provide a signed affidavit of financial support from the account holder. See a sample bank statement and required affidavit of financial support for assistance with this requirement. Note: The financial support documents can be sent after your admission.
Step 4: VISP coordinators will be in touch with you within a few days after receiving your documents.
Questions? Please contact the VISP Coordinators.
Academic Integrity in Applying
As an applicant to VISP, by submitting your application you certify that your application is complete and accurate. We hold you accountable to ensure the authenticity and honesty of your application, written statements, and additional materials subsequently submitted. Written statements and other application information submitted should come from the applicant directly as opposed being written or generated by a third party or tool (ChatGPT or other AI tool).