INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
TOEFL SCORES
TOEFL scores must be taken within two years of application date. Official scores are submitted to the Graduate School.
The following minimum TOEFL scores are required for acceptance to the MSW program:
- Paper-based (Score 600);
- Computer-based (Score 250);
- iTOEFL (Score 100); or
- IELTS (Score 7)
TOEFL Exemptions:
1.when the official language of instruction at the undergraduate level is English.
2.when applicants have had
two full-time completed and graded semesters of graduate work from an accredited American college/university within 7 years of the application date.
ENGLISH INSTRUCTION
International students whose native language is not English may be expected to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses
during the first semester of study. Also, an intensive English program is offered in the summer. For more information visit:
http://mendota.english.wisc.edu/~ESL/ESLindex.htm
MSW students
will begin the field or internship portion of the program in their second semester of study after completing the ESL course. This requirement
may mean the MSW program will be completed in five academic semesters rather than four. It is wise to consider taking an appropriate ESL course
along with social work courses the first semester of enrollment. A Social Work Adviser will help design each applicant's program of study to include such classes.
EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES
International applicants are required to have sufficient funds to cover their expenses completely while attending the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Graduate School requires that international applicants provide evidence of adequate financial
resources (including family members who accompany students to UW-Madison) as part of the application for admission.
See the
International Applicant Financial Statement Form.
HEALTH INSURANCE
All international students (and any visa dependents residing in the United States) must meet the health insurance requirements at
UW-Madison. If you registered for at least one credit, you must purchase SHIP for yourself and any visa dependents OR file a waiver and required documentation
efore the posted deadlines. If you miss these deadlines a late fee of $50 will be applied in addition to any required premiums. You must register any dependents
at the same time you enroll unless there is a "qualifying event."
For more information on SHIP, please vist the
University Health Services web-site.
PHD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS For applicants who have completed a masters degree in social work/social welfare from outside the United States, two options are available in order to recognize the degree:
Submit a request to International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) from the Council on Social Work Education. We will accept their recommendation. Contact them at: iswdres@cswe.org or visit their website for information on submitting requests (follow the "accreditation" link to ISWDRES on the left-side). Should you be accepted into the doctoral program, you may request exemption from the foundation course and internship requirement. This will require submission of syllabi from all social work/social welfare courses you have taken in undergraduate and graduate school, if applicable. While this will not grant you an MSW from our School, it might reduce the time spent on coursework. Information on this option will be sent with the acceptance letter.
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