Visiting International Student Program
Experience UW-Madison student life!
The Lake Mendota shoreline is pictured in an aerial view of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus looking toward the downtown Madison skyline during an autumn sunset on Oct. 5, 2011. Major campus facilities pictured from center to right include Memorial Library, Armory and Gymnasium (Red Gym), the Memorial Union Terrace and Helen C. White Hall. On the horizon is the Wisconsin State Capitol and Lake Monona. The photograph was made from a helicopter looking southeast.

Summer at UW-Madison

Whether you are currently in the United States studying at another institution or you are in your home country wishing to come for just a few weeks, UW-Madison is a great choice for your summer educational plans.

UW-Madison offers a variety of course sessions to allow students to customize their learning experience: most courses run in our three, four, our eight-week sessions.  Learn more about why Summer is a great time to be at UW on the UW-Madison Summer Term page.

2021 Popular Summer Sessions

8-week (DHH): June 14 – August 6
4-week (DDD): June 14 – July 9
4-week (HDD): July 12 – August 6

Summer Term Application Timeline

Summer classes are usually announced in early January. Once the classes are finalized, the VISP team creates our downloadable Summer Course Preview. In the meantime, you can check out the original 2020 Summer Course Preview available here. While course offerings change each summer, this guide will give you a sense of what’s offered in a typical year.

We recommend looking at your class options in early 2021 to make sure that we offer something that meets your needs. Submit your application between January and late March for best consideration.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the VISP advisors.

Coming from Abroad

Our program can issue immigration documentation to assist you in applying for your student visa. Newly-arrived VISP summer students enroll full time in academic coursework while experiencing life on our campus. Depending on the session you choose, you might only take one class giving you the opportunity to focus deeply on your chosen subject.

Coming from Another US Institution

You are welcome to visit UW-Madison on your summer break from another US institution. If you have enrolled for the spring term and plan to return to your school in the fall, then you have no full-time enrollment requirement to maintain your visa status.

Summer Credit Loads

Summer enrollment works differently than during the rest of the academic year. Please see our Full-time enrollment page for more information.

2020 Summer Course Preview

While our course offerings this past summer changed after publication due to COVID-19, the original 2020 preview might help give you a sense of typical offerings in a given summer.

Check back to find our 2021 Summer Course Preview, available this January!