FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I save my application and come back to it later?
Your application will be saved if you start the application, but do not complete it. If you complete the application and submit without paying the application fee, you will receive an email with instructions on how to pay, but your application will not be forwarded on to an admissions advisor. The only way to get an admission advisor to review your application materials is to complete the application in its entirety and pay the fee.

I wish to change programs. Do I have to pay the application fee and order transcripts again?
No. The application fee is a one-time charge. The official transcripts are kept on file until a master’s degree is completed.

What happens to my application once all my materials are turned into the School of Graduate Studies?
Once an application is complete (i.e., paid application fee, completed application, received official transcripts), the School of Graduate Studies makes a "School of Graduate Studies admission decision" (i.e., admit in "good standing" or admit "contingently") and forwards the material to the program coordinator for a "program-level" admission decision. Applicants are encouraged to contact the coordinator of the graduate program to determine if the program has received all the application materials they require (e.g., letters of recommendation, test scores, etc.).

Applicants can access the online application status by logging into your application portal. Here, applicants can also contact their coordinator with specific questions.

How can I check the status of my application?
Applicants can access the online application status by logging into their application portal. Here, applicants can also contact their program coordinator with specific questions.

What GPA do I need to be admitted in “good standing”?
Visit the admissions requirements section of this page for details.

How long will it take to process my application?
After all the required application materials have been received, it normally takes one to two weeks for a student to be admitted. Programs with a set deadline typically notify applicants within one month after their respective deadlines.

Do I need to be accepted to the program in order to know if my courses will transfer into the program I am seeking admission to?
No, you do not need to be accepted; however, you will need to start an application and complete a transfer credit form indicating the courses you wish to transfer.

What is an official transcript?
A transcript with an official university seal that is in a sealed envelope from the university or sent electronically directly from the university.

Can I mail my official transcripts to you?
Official transcripts should be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies from the following institutions:

• The institution(s) that granted your bachelor’s degree(s)
• The institution(s) that granted your master's (or higher) degree(s), or
• Any institution(s) where you have completed graduate coursework that you intend to transfer into your desired degree program at UW-Whitewater.

We will order all UW-Whitewater transcripts. Additional transcripts may be required, at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies.

Have official transcripts sent to gradtranscript@uww.edu.

Can I have my undergraduate university/college fax you my official transcript?
Unfortunately, no. Graduate School policy dictates that only transcripts with a university seal, delivered in a sealed envelope from the university or sent electronically directly from the university, can be considered an "official" transcript.

I graduated from UW-Whitewater. Do I have to order an official transcript?
No. The School of Graduate Studies will order transcripts from the Registrar’s Office for you.

Can I be admitted pending a degree?
Yes. Application for admission will be considered during the applicant’s last term of undergraduate study. Admission will be conditional upon the applicant attaining the baccalaureate degree and meeting all the requirements for admission.

What happens after I submit my application?
After application credentials have been evaluated, students will be notified of their admission status. If accepted into a degree program, they will be sent an admission letter and additional documentation containing an adviser's contact information, assigned student ID number, and information on how to register for courses.

Can I transfer credits into my degree program from a different university?
The School of Graduate Studies permits a maximum of 12 graduate credits to be transferred in to a degree program from another university. They are to be equivalent to the UW-Whitewater courses and appropriate to the program. The term of the earliest course transferred to the program marks the beginning of the seven years permitted to complete the degree.

Do I need to be accepted to the program to know if my courses will transfer into the program I am seeking admission to?
No, you do not need to be accepted, but you’ll need to start an application and complete a transfer credit form indicating the courses you wish to transfer. Complete the transfer credit form »

When can I register for classes?
After you have received an official letter of admission from the Office of Graduate Studies and when the enrollment period is open. Check your WINS account for your enrollment date and time.

Once I’m admitted to a program, how long do I have to finish my degree?
Students have seven years in which to complete their degree program, measured from the beginning of the term for which they are admitted at UW-Whitewater. For students transferring courses into their UWW degree program, the seven years begins in the term of the first course to be included in the degree. These include courses completed as a non-candidate for degree student or in a prior graduate program.

If I’m unable to finish my degree in seven years, how do I get an extension of time?
Based upon good cause, students may request an extension of the seven-year time limit. Such requests should be made in writing, should include the reasons for which the request is being made, and should be directed to the student's degree program coordinator.

Who is my faculty advisor?
Students are assigned faculty advisers by, and generally within, their major or emphasis department. Advisers are available to help plan each student's program of study and to assist in the selection of courses before students register for classes. You will be assigned an advisor upon acceptance and will be notified in our letter. You can also log in to your admit portal to contact your advisor. More information on advising can be found on the College page where your program resides:

• College of Arts and Communication
• College of Business and Economics
• College of Education and Professional Studies
• College of Letters and Sciences

When does registration open?
Registration open dates are available on our Schedule of Classes website by each term. Admitted students should verify their specific appointment time through their WINS account. Specific times are posted a week prior to registration opening. Please meet with your advisor and check for any registration holds prior to registering for classes.

When I try to register, it says I'm no longer active. What do I do?
The student record becomes inactive if there is no enrollment for one calendar year. To reactivate your status complete a reactivation application.

When I try to register, it says I have a hold. How do I get that removed?
A hold is a stop put on your ability to register by one or more administrative offices. "Holds" for graduate students are, typically, established by one of the following offices: Financial Services, Registrar, or Graduate Studies.

To determine what kind of hold you have, visit WINS or contact the School of Graduate Studies at 262-472-1006. You'll then contact the office that initiated the hold to find out why and take action to remove the hold.

What is WINS and how does it work?
WINS is the system that allows students to register for classes. View a tutorial about how to register using WINS »

When do I apply for graduation?
Before the beginning of the terms in which the degree is expected, graduate students should have a conference with their advisor to be certain that all course requirements are being met.

Apply to graduate at least one full semester prior to your final term so your academic record can be reviewed. It is important that your entire academic record is reviewed prior to the final term of enrollment to identify any problems and resolve them in time for you to graduate. If you apply late, it may not be possible to alter your schedule if you are deficient in an area. It may also mean that your name will not be on lists of graduating seniors, including the program printed for the commencement ceremony. You may change your graduation date at any time by notifying the Graduate Studies office.

At the discretion of the individual degree programs, the following options may be made available to graduate students:

• Thesis option: a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work, including a thesis taken for one to six credits
• Applied research project option: A minimum of 30 credit hours of course work, including completion of an applied research project course for one to six credits.
• Comprehensive examination option: A minimum of 30 credit hours of course work, including a comprehensive examination.
• Course work option: A minimum of 36 credit course of course work.

How do I apply for graduation?
Students planning to graduate in a given term need to note certain deadlines and do the following:

1. 1. Apply for Graduation through WINS. Once logged in, select academics/graduation.
   2. Complete the Graduate Outcomes and Satisfaction Survey that will be emailed to your student account; four weeks prior to graduation.
   3. Pay a graduation fee.

Graduate Certificate students must complete the Certificate Completion Form during the semester they expect to complete final course requirements.