Application Process
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What materials are needed to apply to WISLI?
In addition to the general application, your application will only be considered complete once we receive the following materials:
- Application Fee: $25, payable online
- Transcripts: Official or unofficial copies from all universities attended. However, those who have been out of school for more than five years are exempt from this requirement. If you will not be submitting a transcript, please state this in your Personal Statement.
- Personal Statement: In approximately 500 words, please address your personal, academic, and professional reasons and goals for wanting to participate in UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI). Include how you plan to meet the challenges of an intensive language learning environment and how you can personally contribute to this learning environment. In addressing the latter, you may discuss your interpersonal and leadership skills, ability to adapt to new and unexpected situations, and interest in creating an environment where each participant feels valued, respected, and supported. Feel free to share other relevant info that could impact your time in the program.
What do we look for in a WISLI applicant?
- A record of academic success. We want to see that you can commit and dedicate yourself to the time and workload necessary to succeed in an intensive language program.
- Past language learning experience/interest in language studies. Prior language study is not required, and many of our students come without any previous knowledge of their selected language. However, experience studying a language and an interest in a language’s cultural, historical, and political components can benefit you through the application process and your time at WISLI.
- A personal statement is an opportunity to make a case for yourself. Regardless of past grades or experiences, a strong statement can show us that you are ready to commit to the workload necessary to succeed at WISLI. Be sure to follow the prompt and refer to it during the writing process. It is acceptable to resubmit a statement you wrote for a funding opportunity.
- Materials completed and received by the priority deadline. While extenuating circumstances may make this difficult, please submit your materials, including the personal statement and your unofficial transcripts, before the priority deadline.
Are letters of recommendation needed to apply to WISLI?
There is no requirement to submit letters of recommendation to apply to WISLI. However, if you are seeking financial support, such as the WISLI Tuition Scholarship or a program-specific scholarship or fee remission, you will need to solicit letters of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf.
A preferred recommender is someone who knows you well enough to discuss your strengths, accomplishments, and ability to succeed in an intensive language learning program. This person may be an instructor, advisor, supervisor, colleague, or someone who can comment on your academic/language learning abilities.
How should I determine the level of my language abilities in the application?
To determine which level of language to select on your application, review previous SASLI syllabi to gauge the expected materials and goals at various levels. You may also ask a prior instructor for guidance on the level to which you should apply.
The application will also ask you to describe your formal study of the language and informal exposure you’ve had to help us identify your level. In many cases, the class size will be small enough for our skilled instructors to meet you at your level. In some cases, you may be asked to complete an informal assessment with the instructor before classes begin, especially if switching to another level is not possible.
Finally, you may consult the language acquisition “Can-Do” statements by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to determine which level matches your abilities. These statements represent benchmarks typical for learners at specific levels. They are also helpful for thinking about language learning progress, abilities, and goals.
If I applied to WISLI last year, should I still resend all the transcripts, or can I only send the most recent ones?
Please do provide the most recent and updated transcripts. If you are unable to locate or upload transcripts that you previously submitted, please contact wisli@lpo.wisc.edu to transfer these documents from a previous year’s application.
Courses
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Am I required to complete a Special Student application again this year?
Yes. Every WISLI applicant who does not currently attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison must complete the special student application form to be formally admitted to the university for the summer. The special student status is needed to enable you to register for the language courses and obtain access to university resources.
Once we have received all your application materials and you have been admitted into the program, we will send you information on how to apply to become a UW-Madison special student.
As a UW-Madison student, am I required to complete the Special Student form?
No. Only applicants who are not currently enrolled as UW-Madison students need to submit the Special Student form.
As a UW-Madison student, why can’t I just enroll in classes?
WISLI policies and procedures differ from standard UW-Madison courses. Even as a current UW-Madison student, you will need to apply to the program and be admitted before you can enroll in WISLI classes.
Can I audit a course or take it for no credit?
No. WISLI policy does not allow auditors. All students must enroll in the course for full credit.
Can I take my class as Pass/Fail?
Yes, this option is available through your Student Center in your MyUW account once you have enrolled in classes. However, first confirm that the Pass/Fail option is permissible depending on your funding award(s).
Can I begin the program later or leave the program early?
Technically, yes — but we strongly discourage it. WISLI courses are intensive, and missing class time will affect your learning and your grade.
- Late arrival: If you start after the program begins, you are responsible for catching up on your own. Instructors cannot provide individual catch-up sessions, and your grade may be affected.
- Early departure: We do not administer final exams early, and no incomplete grades will be given. Leaving the program before it ends will result in a lower grade. If you know in advance that you cannot stay through the end, we recommend that you do not register for the second session.
If you anticipate a schedule conflict, please inform us as soon as possible so we can discuss options with you and your professors. Please refer to the WISLI Attendance and Commitment Policies for further details.
Can I only attend the first half of the program?
Yes, but you will not receive full-year academic credit, and you will still be required to pay the full tuition amount for the entire program.
When will I know if my course is running or not?
Final course cancellations typically occur in April after the priority deadline has passed. Classes with relatively larger enrollments may be confirmed earlier than others.
Other course decisions are contingent upon student commitments, so please confirm your decision to participate in WISLI as soon as possible, so we can determine the number of students to expect for each level.
How do I request that WISLI run a language course that is not typically offered?
We often receive inquiries about less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) not listed on WISLI’s standard application. We keep track of these requests and may offer additional languages if there is enough interest and a qualified instructor can be found. If you are interested, please email wisli@lpo.wisc.edu as early as possible in the application cycle.
If you are interested in a language—or a level of a language—that is rarely offered in the U.S., consider our Intensive Multilanguage Seminar (MULTI). This program allows you to independently and asynchronously study the language of your choice, guided by an expert in second language acquisition who specializes in supporting self-directed language learners.
Funding and Billing
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What does it cost to attend WISLI? Is funding available?
The maximum cost of tuition for WISLI 2025 is $5,000. This cost may be less for current UW-Madison students and Wisconsin and Minnesota residents. Follow this link to learn about scholarship and fee remission opportunities.
Additionally, WISLI encourages you to check with your home institution’s scholarship database and financial aid office. Advisors and mentors may also know about opportunities within your department, college, or graduate school that can support summer language study. In addition to language learning, grants classified for research, summer sessions, professional development, or another purpose may also qualify.
My tuition account states that I owe much more than I expected. What should I do?
If you’re not a Wisconsin resident, your initial tuition bill may be much higher than the $5,000 tuition cap. Don’t worry—this amount will be reduced to $5,000 before the start of classes or shortly thereafter. You’ll only need to pay the $5,000 minus any tuition remissions or scholarships you’ve been awarded, plus a $130 document fee if you’re new to UW–Madison.
What if my home institution or another organization is paying my tuition?
If someone will sponsor you to attend WISLI (i.e., pay your tuition), please review the following procedures for third-party payments.
When is tuition due?
All payments for program fees are due to the University of Wisconsin-Madison by the first Friday of classes. No tuition/fee refunds will be issued after the first Friday of classes.
Can I request a refund?
No refunds will be issued to students who miss a portion of the program due to academic dismissal or other reasons. WISLI does not issue refunds on the $25 application fee except in the event of class cancellations.
Post-program
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How long do I have access to my UW-Madison email account after the program ends?
All WISLI participants who are not UW-Madison students during the academic year will lose access to their UW-Madison email account early in the fall semester following their participation in WISLI.
How can I access my grades and unofficial transcripts after I lose access to my UW-Madison email account?
You will always have access to your grades and unofficial transcript online, even after you are no longer enrolled at UW-Madison.
To view your grades, go to my.wisc.edu and log in using your NetID and Password. Then, launch your Student Center, select “Self-Service” at the top of the window, followed by “Academic Records” and then “Request My Student Record.”
Official UW-Madison transcripts containing your WISLI grades can also be obtained through the “Academic Records” section of your Student Record.
How do I request an official transcript to transfer credits to my home university?
Students can request an official transcript from the UW-Madison Office of the Registrar.
To transfer credits to your home university, check with the registrar’s office at your home institution; you will likely provide them with the official transcript.
Are WISLI classes counted as undergraduate or graduate coursework?
WISLI courses fall within the 300-600 range, which are not designated as undergraduate or graduate because they can be applied to either. Please review the information on the UW-Madison Graduate School Academic Policies and Procedures website for details. Ultimately, you should discuss with your home institution how the credits will be transferred.