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Frequently asked questions

Course offerings and credit limits

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What courses are offered during Summer Term?

There are more than 1,000 courses on campus and hundreds of online courses offered throughout May, June, July and August. These include some of the most in-demand courses and cover a wide range of disciplines.

When will the summer course guide be available?

The full course guide for Summer Term 2024 will be available in January.

How do I access the course guide? Do you have a specific course I am looking for?

UW–Madison students can access all Summer Term courses in the Course Search and Enroll App through MyUW.

If the course you are looking for is not listed then that course will not be offered in Summer 2024. If you would like to know when it is next offered, please contact the department that offers the course.

If you are having issues accessing the Course Search and Enroll App, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 608-262-3811 or registrar@em.wisc.edu.

I have a question regarding a course's syllabus, exams, homework, etc. What should I do?

If you have a course-specific question, reach out to the instructor of the course.

Are online courses completely online?

The majority of online courses are completely online. You do not need to be in Madison or on campus to take them. However, if a course is listed as “online (some classroom)” or “blended”, then that course does have a face-to-face component.

I am a visiting student and would like to know if you offer the equivalent of a course I need to take at my home institution. How do I figure this out?

Start by talking with your advisor at your home institution. Once you find an equivalent course at UW–Madison, contact its department for more information. Then conduct a course search for the class you want to take.

If you are a student at another University of Wisconsin campus, you can use the Transferology tool to find out how your credits will transfer.

What is the credit limit for Summer Term?

You can take a maximum of 12 credits during Summer Term, and you may enroll for one credit per week of instruction. For example, you may take three credits during a three-week summer session. The exception is the eight-week session, which has a limit of nine credits. Find out more about credit overload.

What is considered full/part time?

Summer Full-time Credit Ranges

Undergraduate 6-12 cr.
Graduate (non-dissertator) 4-12 cr.
Dissertator 3 cr.
University Special 6-12 cr.

Undergraduate Part-Time Credit Range = 1-6 cr.

For information on full-time status for careers not listed, please contact the Office of the Registrar

Enrollment

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How do I enroll?

UW–Madison students

  • If you are a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at UW–Madison, enroll for Summer Term through MyUW as you would for fall or spring or visit the UW–Madison student page for more information.

Visiting students

  • Gain prior approval from your home institution to make sure your UW–Madison credits will help you make progress toward your degree. Then apply to UW–Madison using the University Special Student application. Learn about the step-by-step process.

International students

  • If you are a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at UW–Madison, enroll for Summer Term through MyUW as you would for fall or spring semester. See this page for more information.
  • If you are a visiting international student who is not on a formal exchange program and wish to study at UW–Madison for Summer Term or longer, visit this page about the Visiting International Student Program (VISP). This applies to students living inside or outside the United States.
  • If you want to study English as a second language (ESL) full-time while at UW–Madison, visit this page.

High school students

  • You can apply to take UW–Madison classes as a University Special Student the Summer Term before your junior or senior year of high school. To apply, your GPA must be at least 3.0 overall and in the most recent semester of high school, and your guidance counselor must recommend you for Summer Term. Find out more about enrolling as a high school student.

When can I start enrolling?

Summer Term enrollment begins April 1.

When is the deadline to enroll in Summer Term?

Summer Term has many different sessions with different start dates. Therefore, there is no set deadline for enrollment. Generally, a student can enroll in a Summer Term course up to the first day of class in the session. Find out more about Summer Term dates.

Why can't I enroll?

Enrollment difficulties happen for many reasons. Enrollment begins in early April, and you must wait until your appointed enrollment time to start the process. You may be trying to enroll in a course that is full, or you may have a hold on your account. If you have difficulties enrolling, contact the Office of the Registrar at 608-262-3811 or registrar@em.wisc.edu. Get more information about enrollment specifics.

I have other questions about Summer Term enrollment. Who should I contact?

Contact the Office of the Registrar at 608-262-3811 or registrar@em.wisc.edu. Find out more about enrollment by visiting the Registrar’s website.

Scholarships

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What is the application process for Summer Term scholarships?

This is the process for the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study and Summer Finish:

  • Talk with your advisor to make sure you’re eligible.
  • Make note of two important dates: Scholarship applications open Feb. 12, 2024 and close April 7, 2024.
  • Access and complete the application using your campus NetID and password to log into the scholarship application portal.
  • The Summer Finish application is the same as the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study. However, when you apply, indicate that you are a graduating senior.

There is no application process for the Transfer Scholars Summer Award. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the award will automatically be applied to your tuition if you enroll in Summer Term courses.

When is the deadline to apply for Summer Term scholarships?

Scholarships close April 7, 2024.

Who qualifies for the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study?

This scholarship is open to UW–Madison undergraduates, including international students. To apply, you must:

  • Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate degree-seeking student at UW–Madison.
  • Be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA that reflects academic success.
  • Enroll in at least one UW–Madison summer course by April 7, 2024.

Who qualifies for the Transfer Scholars Summer Award?

All undergraduate transfer students admitted in spring 2024 are eligible for this award as long as they maintain satisfactory academic progress. Unfortunately, fall 2023 transfer students are not eligible for this award; they are eligible for the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study.

Can I use a UW–Madison scholarship through a consortium agreement or at another institution?

Unfortunately, no. To qualify for the scholarship, you must be enrolled in at least one UW–Madison summer course, and only those courses will count toward the scholarship. A UW–Madison course is any course for which you pay tuition to UW–Madison.

What are the selection criteria for Summer Term scholarships?

A scholarship selection committee evaluates completed applications using the eligibility criteria listed above. Applicants should submit well-written responses to the application questions.

I made a mistake on my application and I already submitted it. Can I fix it?

Email summerterm@wisc.edu if you need to make changes to your application.

Can I have an extension if I missed the deadline to apply?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the high volume of applications we receive and our short review time to get decisions to students quickly, we are unable to give extensions.

When will summer scholarship decisions be made?

Scholarship recipients will be notified by the end of April 2024.

How will I know if I received a scholarship or not?

The notification process for summer 2024 awards will be updated in early spring 2024. Please check back here at that time for more information.

What does "up to $xxx" amount mean?

The “up to” means that if you receive a scholarship for $xxx and you end up owing less than $xxx, you will only receive the amount you owe. For example, you receive a scholarship for $300. If you owe $100 in tuition you would only receive that $100.

I can't find my scholarship notification. What should I do?

If you cannot find your scholarship notification email, please check all of your email inboxes, your junk mail folder, and your trash folder. If you still cannot locate it, email summerterm@wisc.edu.

When will the Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study be applied to my tuition bill?

The scholarship will be applied directly to your tuition at the end of May. You will be able to see your scholarship in the Tuition Account Summary in your MyUW Student Center as S-Internal TP Deferral.

When will the Transfer Scholars Summer Award be applied to my tuition bill?

The scholarship will automatically be applied to your tuition and fees five days before the start of your course.

How will the scholarship be applied to my tuition bill?

The scholarship will be applied directly to your tuition and fees. The scholarship can only be applied to tuition and fees and is meant as assistance and is not guaranteed to cover all of your expenses. If you have other financial assistance that covers your tuition and fees, the scholarship will not be applied.

If I changed the number of credits I'm taking, how will it affect my scholarship?

If you added more credits, your scholarship will not change. If you dropped credits, your scholarship may be reduced automatically.

Do I need to notify the university about changes to my credit load after I received my scholarship?

No. Any changes to your scholarship will be applied automatically, so we do not need any notification.

What if I don't know if I'll need the scholarship?

You should accept the scholarship before the deadline. If you decide not to enroll in courses, or do not need the scholarship, the scholarship will automatically not be applied to your tuition and fees.

Tuition and financial aid

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How much does it cost to take a Summer Term course?

Summer Term tuition rates are determined on a per-credit basis. View the summer 2023 rates.

Do online courses cost more or less than in-person courses?

Online and in-person courses cost the same if they are the same number of credits. That’s because Summer Term tuition rates are determined on a per-credit basis.

When is tuition for Summer Term due? How do I pay it?

Tuitions bills and due dates depend on the summer session you are in enrolled in. In late May, summer tuition bills will be posted to the Tuition eBill/ePayment page in your MyUW Student Center. Find out more about tuition bills.

Is financial aid available for Summer Term?

Yes! Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at 608-262-3060 or finaid@finaid.wisc.edu.

Are scholarships available for Summer Term?

Yes! View the scholarship section of this FAQ list or go to the scholarship page.