PhD Application

Application Deadline

The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work is piloting an alternate-year admissions cycle for the Social Welfare PhD program. PhD program admissions will be paused in 2026-2027. PhD program admissions will reopen in fall 2027 for fall 2028 entry.

Contact the PhD Office at phdprogram@socwork.wisc.edu if you have any questions.

Admissions Requirements

The University of Wisconsin Graduate School sets the minimum admission requirements for all prospective graduate students; however, program admission requirements are often more rigorous.

School of Social Work PhD Admissions Committee requires:

  • An undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours. Those entering with a master’s degree should have a strong graduate record.
  • A completed statistics course and 30 semester credits of social science courses.
  • Evidence of research interest and potential for scholarship in a relevant social problem area. This is demonstrated in a carefully thought-out Statement of Reasons for Graduate Study, and other application materials.
  • English Proficiency test scores, if applicable, taken within two years of the application date.  For additional information, test waiver criteria, and test submission instructions, please go to Requirements for Admission
    • The approved tests and required scores are listed below.

International Applicants

For information on additional requirements for International Applicants, please see the International Applicant Requirements.

How to Apply

Click on the application sections below to expand the section and review the details.

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Apply online to the UW–Madison Graduate School. The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work’s PhD Program in Social Welfare application is a supplementary section found within the online Graduate School application. Admission to the doctoral program requires admittance to both the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and the Graduate School. For more detailed information, refer to the Graduate School’s Admissions and Applications.

Currently enrolled UW–Madison students applying to the PhD Program must add the program through the electronic Add/Change/Discontinue Program Request before the application deadline.  In addition to the Add/Change/Discontinue Program Request, all application requirements must be submitted to the Program Coordinator, and the materials will be reviewed as part of our applicant review cycle.

Applicants without a Masters of Social Work (MSW) have several application options. Determine which option applies to you, and refer to the application directions.

PhD-Only, for applicants that do not wish to obtain an MSW.

Joint MSW/PhD for applicants with a BSW that would like to earn their MSW as part of the PhD Program.

  • Joint MSW/PhD track, for applicants with a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW). This track allows students to earn their Masters of Social Work (MSW) while earning their PhD.
  • Follow the admissions process found here: https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/start/

PhD with MSW Consideration

  • PhD with MSW Consideration is for applicants applying to the PhD Program AND the MSW Program.
  • Use the PhD with MSW Consideration option if you want to be considered for both the MSW Program AND the PhD Program.
  • To apply to BOTH the Social Welfare PhD AND Social Work MSW-Full Time MSW program, use the directions linked here, Applying to Multiple Programs.   Applicants that do not select MSW in the Admissions Application will only be considered for the PhD Program.
  • The MSW program has a separate application and different application requirements. Visit the MSW directions page for details.

MSW Only, for applicants wishing to apply only to the MSW Program.

  • Click here to learn more about the MSW program, and their admissions process.

  1. Provide your GPA for the last 60 credits of your undergraduate study (on a 4.0 scale). Do not report your overall GPA. For help with this calculation, follow these steps:
    1. Add the number of earned credits (including credits for failed courses) for your most recently completed undergraduate semester to the number of earned credits in the preceding semesters until you reach a total of at least 60 undergraduate credits. If you reach 60 credits in the middle of a semester, count all credits from the whole semester.
    2. Add up the grade points for all of the semesters included in Step 1.
    3. Divide the total grade points from Step 2 by the total credits from Step 1. This number is your GPA for the undergraduate semesters in which you earned at least 60 credits.
  2. Area(s) of interest as it pertains to the PhD Program in Social Welfare.
  3. Are there particular faculty you are most interested in working with? If so, please list their names.
  4. Select Standard, PhD-Only, or Joint Program Track.
  5. Upload a writing sample.  Submit first-author journal articles, chapters, theses, term papers, or research reports that represent your writing ability.
    1. All materials must be written in English.
    2. All materials must be an equivalent of at least 5 pages double-spaced, 12pt font.
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No official transcripts* are required as part of the application. The Graduate School will send an instructional email request after the program has recommended admission.

  • Non-English international documents must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation.

*Note: All transcripts become property of the UW–Madison Graduate School, and will not be returned.

Your statement should discuss the reasons for pursuing graduate study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work PhD Program.

  • Clearly specify your research interests, so the PhD Admissions Committee can determine the fit between your research interests and those of social work faculty members.
  • Describe your educational and career achievements and the goals that support the pursuit of your doctoral degree.
  • Explain what you see as your potential role and/or contribution to create a more diverse, accepting, and stimulating community, campus, and society. 
  • Statement length should be 3-4 pages double-spaced, 12pt font.

Submit your resume or CV. CV preferred.

Three letters of recommendation are required by the December 1st application deadline.

  • Letters should evaluate your potential to plan and implement a program of research and independently develop original ideas that contribute to your field of study.
  • At least two letters should be from professors or PhD level researchers who can evaluate your research competency and potential. Letters from friends, family members, or others such as therapists or clergy who cannot address academic capabilities will NOT be accepted.
  • Reference letters should be written in English.
  • All letters of recommendation are submitted electronically through the admission application.
  • You may send the request to your recommenders at any time during the application process. The recommendation section of the application remains accessible after you submit your application.
  • All recommendations are attached to your application.
  • To send another request to your recommender, you should go back into the recommendation section of your application and click the “Send Reminder” button. An email should be sent within 24 hours. You should contact your recommender to let them know to watch for the new message to arrive.

Domestic Applicants

The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to make sure that the application fee is not a barrier for students from our key recruiting initiatives. Fee grants are currently available to U.S. citizens, permanent resident applicants and students with DACA status who can document that they:

  1. participated in selected pipeline programs designed to prepare students for graduate studies, or
  2. grew up in a low-income family.

Learn more about applying for a Fee Grant through the Graduate School by clicking here: https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/fee-grant/

The PhD program does not provide fee grant waivers to domestic applicants.  Please contact the Graduate School for waiver details.

International Applicants

International applicant fee grant waivers are NOT being offered for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle (closing Dec 1, 2025).

All international degree-seeking applicants must meet at least one of the waiver criteria OR provide official and admissible results of an English proficiency exam.  Learn more here: https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency)

English Proficiency Test Waiver Criteria

To demonstrate English proficiency, all international degree-seeking applicants meeting at least one of the following criteria may waive the English proficiency test requirement.

  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university.
  • Earned a Masters or PhD degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated start of enrollment.
  • Earned an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an international institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction. The language of instruction must be stated on the official transcript or verified as the only language of instruction.
  • Completed at least two full-time semesters of graded coursework from an accredited institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction not more than 5 years prior to the anticipated start of enrollment. This coursework cannot include English language learning classes.

English Proficiency Test Requirements

All international degree-seeking applicants that do NOT meet at least one of the English Proficiency Test Waiver criteria must provide English proficiency exam results.  Scores must be within two years from the anticipated start of enrollment.

  • The approved tests and required scores are listed below.

How to submit English proficiency test scores

You must submit your scores following the directions below:

    • TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS.
      • Our institution code is 1846.
    • IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by mail via IELTS.
      • To send electronically, select our account name UW–Madison Graduate School.
      • To send by mail, use the following address:
        UW–Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions
        232 Bascom Hall
        500 Lincoln Drive
        Madison, WI 53706
    • Duolingo English Test (starting spring 2025 admit term) scores must be submitted electronically via Duolingo to University of Wisconsin – Madison – Graduate Admissions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – PhD Social Welfare