Becoming a Student
Our degree and certificate programs accommodate students with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds, including "real world" experience. If you're not yet a Nelson Institute student but would like to become one, start here.
Visiting the Campus
It's a good idea to visit the UW-Madison campus before you apply. Here are some tips for planning your visit.
Applying to Our Degree and Certificate Programs
So, you have familiarized yourself with our degree and certificate programs and are ready to apply? Here's how.
Paying Your Way
Many kinds of financial support are available to help you cover the costs of your education. Graduate students secure funding through fellowships, grants, and other awards; assistantships (teaching, research, and project); part-time employment; paid internships; and loans.
Paying Your Way is our primer on many of these funding options. It is especially helpful if you are new to graduate school and to UW-Madison. Take some time to digest it. If you'd like to be notified of specific opportunities as they arise, subscribe to Graduate Funding New$.
(Unfortunately, financial aid is seldom available to students who are not from the United States. In nearly all cases, international students must provide their own support for the duration of their graduate study. They are eligible for fellowship nominations only if English was the language of instruction at their undergraduate institutions or if, when nominated, they had completed at least two semesters at a college or university in the United States.)
Searching for Housing
You've applied, been accepted, and have decided to come to UW-Madison. Now you need a place to live. Many resources are available to help you find an apartment, co-op, or room to rent.
