All of your material must be received (not postmarked) by December 15 to be considered for funding. The final admissions deadline is February 1.

Prospective students must meet Economics Department math requirements and UW-Madison Graduate School admissions requirements. There is a list below explaining where to send or submit each part of the application.

For information on the UW-Madison Graduate School including Graduate School admissions requirements, TOEFL requirement, online application, fee information, and Graduate School FAQs (frequently asked questions) click here.

How to Apply:

***Applicants can upload/submit all application material (except transcripts) electronically!

  1. Submit the following material to the Graduate School via the Online Application:
    • Online application form
    • 3 letters of recommendation (submitted electronically by your recommenders)
    • Application fee payment
    • Statement of purpose (submitted electronically via online application)
  2. Submit the following items to the Economics Department (scroll down for additional information):
    • Math Preparation Form* pdf; word document (submit electronically)
    • Writing Sample* (submit electronically)
    • Transcripts, 2 copies (send paper copies via mail)
  3. Have ETS send your TOEFL scores (if required) and GRE scores to the Graduate School. GMAT scores will not be accepted in place of GRE scores. The UW-Madison institutional code is 1846.

*The Math Preparation Form and the Writing Sample can be submitted electronically via Grad Apply. After you complete and submit your online application with the Graduate School, you will automatically receive two emails--one from the Graduate School and one from the Economics Department. Use the link in the email from the Economics Department to submit this material electronically.
Use the link in the email from the Economics Department to submit this material electronically (it may take up to 2 business days to receive this email from the Economics Department).

Additional information on material sent to department:

  • Math Preparation Form (pdf; word document)
    • Students entering the graduate program are required to have taken a three-course sequence in calculus, a course in linear algebra, and a course in mathematical statistics. These prerequisites are a bare minimum, and additional background in mathematics and in graduate-level economics courses can ease the transition into the program. A detailed description of the department's expectations about students' mathematics preparation, both upon entry to the program and upon completion of first-year coursework, can be found here.
  • Writing Sample
    • All applicants must submit a writing sample. The writing sample can be a research paper or an article demonstrating your ability to do research and present your research in a written form. There is no page limit.
  • Transcripts
    • Two official transcripts or academic records must be submitted to the Department of Economics for each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended. International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Your school should provide an official translation of your documents; otherwise have a translation done by your school or an official translator. In some countries these people are also notaries. Do not submit an evaluation from a credential evaluation service in lieu of a translation.
Graduate Admissions and Aid Committee
Department of Economics
University of Wisconsin - Madison
7239 Social Science Building 
1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1393