Medical College of Wisconsin Graduate School Admissions

All full-time PhD students in good academic and professional standing receive an annual stipend and tuition reimbursement.

Currently the Graduate School does not provide any funding or scholarship opportunities for Master’s students. You can learn more information about scholarship and other financial aid resources on the Academic and Student Services Financial Aid and Tuition website.

Applications are accepted year-round. However, it is in the applicant’s best interest to complete their application (i.e. submit online application and all required materials) on or before the priority application deadline date of the program(s) they are applying to. Any applications or materials submitted after the priority application deadline date may a) not receive full consideration for admission and/or b) have their admission deferred to a subsequent term for enrollment.

Students can see the status of their application via their application status page in Slate. You will also receive updates on the status of your application via email.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in or previously studied at foreign institutions whose primary language of instruction was English can be exempt from the English language proficiency test. Proof of English instruction documentation is required in order to have this waived, and it can be sent to us directly. This documentation is usually provided by schools.

Applicants can arrange for transcripts to be sent from the current or previous institution in the mail to the following address...

MCW Graduate School
8701 W Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

...or via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu through one of the following approved third-party vendors:

• E-Scrip Safe
• Parchment
• National Student Clearinghouse

Official transcripts can be submitted directly by the applicant in the mail or in-person so long as they are in their original, sealed envelope.

No, it is not required to reach out to or to secure a faculty mentor before applying.

Application fee waivers are available to those who within the last three (3) years have:

• Participated in a MCW high school and/or undergraduate research experience
• Received, or can provide proof of eligibility for, a GRE Fee Reduction Certificate
• Attended a MCW Graduate School fair
• Attended and presented at a local, regional or national conference/meeting (i.e. ABRCMS, NCUR, etc.)

Eligibility can be indicated within the online application. The need for supporting documentation may be required to verify fee waiver eligibility. Supporting documentation can be sent to gradadmissions@mcw.edu for verification.

Yes, you can upload unofficial transcripts or admissions documents in the application status page in the Slate application portal after you submit the application (except for the following programs: Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, Physiology, and Pharmacology & Toxicology). However, official transcripts will be required prior to an offer of admission.

Yes, we need an official transcript for all institutions where all course credit was received.

No, all required materials, including all letters of recommendation, before moving forward with applications.

You can submit your scores directly through the service provider’s website to gradadmissions@mcw.edu OR have them mailed from the service provider to the Graduate School address

MCW Graduate School
8701 W Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

MCW Graduate School
8701 W Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Gradadmissions@mcw.edu

We understand financial difficulties. However, unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to provide application fee waivers due to financial difficulties.

Yes, you can upload unofficial transcripts or admissions documents in the application status page in the Slate application portal after you submit the application.

Transcript evaluations are not required at this time (except for the following: Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences, Physiology, and Pharmacology & Toxicology), we accept credentialed records from all NACES-affiliated members.

Applications are accepted year-round. However, it is in the applicant’s best interest to complete their application (i.e. submit online application and all required materials) on or before the priority application deadline date of the program(s) they are applying to. Any applications or materials submitted after the priority application deadline date may a) not receive full consideration for admission and/or b) have their admission deferred to a subsequent term for enrollment.

Online Application
Access our online application here. Additional instructions about how to successfully submit the application is provided within the online system. An application fee of $50 is required for all applications submitted.

Fee Waivers
Application fee waivers are available to those who within the last three (3) years have:

• Participated in a MCW high school and/or undergraduate research experience
• Received, or can provide proof of eligibility for, a GRE Fee Reduction Certificate
• Attended a MCW Graduate School fair
• Attended and presented at a local, regional or national conference/meeting (i.e. ABRCMS, NCUR, etc.)

Eligibility can be indicated within the online application. The need for supporting documentation may be required to verify fee waiver eligibility.

Transcripts
An official or unofficial transcript from any current or previously attended college/university is required as part of your application submission. Applicants are encouraged to arrange for their transcript(s) to be received by the MCW Graduate School at the earliest possible opportunity. Applicants can arrange for transcripts to be sent from the current or previous institution in the mail to the following address...

MCW Graduate School
8701 W Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

...or via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu through one of the following approved third-party vendors:

• E-Scrip Safe
• Parchment
• National Student Clearinghouse

Official transcripts can be submitted directly by the applicant in the mail or in-person so long as they are in their original, sealed envelope.

Unofficial transcripts can be sent in the mail or via email attachment to gradadmissions@mcw.edu. NOTE: while we will accept unofficial transcripts (i.e. records not sent directly to us by the college/university or via an approved third-party vendor), no applicant will receive an offer of admission until an official record has been received. As a result, we encourage all applicants to consider sending us official records from the onset of their application process.

Be advised that the following programs require official transcripts at the application submission stage:

• Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences (PhD)
• Physiology (PhD)
• Pharmacology & Toxicology (PhD)

Grade Point Average (GPA)
While we do not have a minimum requirement, a GPA at or above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is generally recommended for an applicant to receive competitive consideration. Those with a GPA less than a 3.0 may still be considered for admission, since we consider aspects beyond academic performance such as current or previous professional and/or extracurricular activities, the depth of experiences related to the program that an applicant is applying to, and other factors.

Test Score
As of 2019 admissions cycle, the MCW Graduate School no longer requires the submission of a test score. However, some of our admitting programs elected to preserve the requirement; these programs are listed below along with the test type they most prefer.

• Biostatistics (PhD) – GRE
• Medical Physiology – MCAT

Any test offered through Educational Testing Services (ETS), such as the GRE, can be sent directly to MCW using institution code 1519. Applicants submitting MCAT scores can send their report via email as an attachment to gradadmissions@mcw.edu and must include the verification code and account number. GRE and MCAT scores will be accepted as far back as five (5) years from the date of the test. GRE scores in the 50th percentile or higher in all sections of the test are recommended for competitive consideration. Applicants who have earned a terminal degree may request an exemption to the test score requirement by submitting a written request via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu. Applicants are encouraged to explore whether they may be eligible to receive a GRE Fee Reduction Certificate if they are required to submit a test score.

English Language Proficiency Tests
The submission of an English language proficiency test score is generally required for international applicants who are not currently enrolled in, or have not previously graduated from, a U.S.-based (non-online) undergraduate or graduate degree program. As of the 2022 admissions cycle (staring July 1, 2021), we accept the following test types:

• Duolingo (recommended score of 105 or higher)
• IELTS (recommended score of 6.0 or higher)
• TOEFL (recommended score of 100 or higher)

We will accept scores from any of these services as far back as two (2) years. An additional exception to the English language proficiency test may be approved for applicants who are currently enrolled in or previously studied at foreign institutions whose primary language of instruction was English. In these cases, applicants will need to submit an exemption request in writing via email sent to gradadmissions@mcw.edu after they have submitted their online application.

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants will identify and send notice to their recommenders through the online application. In turn, recommenders will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their letter. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that recommenders submit their letters on or before the priority application date of the program(s) that they are applying to. Letters will only be received by the recommender and not by the applicant or any third-party entity. There are three ways that the recommender can submit their letter:

Recommendation letters can be submitted electronically through our online application system (preferred), as an attachment via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu, or in the mail. Applicants should refrain from having family members and those that they receive healthcare services from submit letters, even if those individuals happen to also to be one of the types of recommenders that we will accept letters from.

There is no particular order in which the online application or their associated materials need to be submitted/received. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all their application and required materials have been submitted prior to their program’s priority application deadline date.

Online Application
Access our online application. Additional instructions about how to successfully submit the application is provided within the online system. An application fee of $50 is required for all applications submitted.

Test Score
Not required of non-degree applicants.

Transcripts
An official or unofficial transcript from any current or previously attended college/university is required as part of your application submission. Applicants are encouraged to arrange for their transcript(s) to be received by the MCW Graduate School at the earliest possible opportunity. Applicants can arrange for transcripts to be sent from the current or previous institution in the mail to the following address...

MCW Graduate School
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

...or via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu through one of the following approved third-party vendors:

• E-Scrip Safe
• Parchment
• National Student Clearinghouse

Official transcripts can be submitted directly by the applicant in the mail or in-person so long as they are in their original, sealed envelope.

Unofficial transcripts can be sent in the mail or via email attachment to gradadmissions@mcw.edu. NOTE: while we will accept unofficial transcripts (i.e. records not sent directly to us by the college/university or via an approved third-party vendor), no applicant will receive an offer of admission until an official record has been received. As a result, we encourage all applicants to consider sending us official records from the onset of their application process.

English Language Proficiency Tests
The submission of an English language proficiency test score is generally required for international applicants who are not currently enrolled in, or have not previously graduated from, a U.S.-based (non-online) undergraduate or graduate degree program. As of the 2022 admissions cycle (staring July 1, 2021), we accept the following test types:

• Duolingo (recommended score of 105 or higher)
• IELTS (recommended score of 6.0 or higher)
• TOEFL (recommended score of 100 or higher)

We will accept scores from any of these services as far back as two (2) years.

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants will identify and send notice to their recommenders through the online application. In turn, recommenders will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their letter. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that recommenders submit their letters on or before the priority application date of the program(s) that they are applying to. Letters will only be received by the recommender and not by the applicant or any third-party entity. There are three ways that the recommender can submit their letter:

Recommendation letters must can be submitted electronically through our online application system (preferred), as an attachment via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu, or in the mail. Applicants should refrain from having family members and those that they receive healthcare services from submit letters, even if those individuals happen to also to be one of the types of recommenders that we will accept letters from.

There is no order in which application materials need to be submitted/received. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all their application and required materials have been submitted prior to their program’s priority application deadline date.

Online Application
Access our online application here. Additional instructions about how to successfully submit the application is provided within the online system. An application fee of $50 is required for all applications submitted.

Test Score
Not required of non-degree applicants.

Transcripts
An official or unofficial transcript from any current or previously attended college/university is required as part of your application submission. Applicants are encouraged to arrange for their transcript(s) to be received by the MCW Graduate School at the earliest possible opportunity. Applicants can arrange for transcripts to be sent from the current or previous institution in the mail to the following address...

MCW Office of Graduate Studies
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

...or via email to gradadmissions@mcw.edu through one of the following approved third-party vendors:

• E-Scrip Safe
• Parchment
• National Student Clearinghouse

Official transcripts can be submitted directly by the applicant in the mail or in-person so long as they are in their original, sealed envelope.

Unofficial transcripts can be sent in the mail or via email attachment to gradadmissions@mcw.edu. NOTE: while we will accept unofficial transcripts (i.e. records not sent directly to us by the college/university or via an approved third-party vendor), no applicant will receive an offer of admission until an official record has been received. As a result, we encourage all applicants to consider sending us official records from the onset of their application process.

English Language Proficiency Tests
The submission of an English language proficiency test score is generally required for international applicants who are not currently enrolled in, or have not previously graduated from, a U.S.-based (non-online) undergraduate or graduate degree program. As of the 2022 admissions cycle (staring July 1, 2021), we accept the following test types:

• Duolingo (recommended score of 105 or higher)
• IELTS (recommended score of 6.0 or higher)
• TOEFL (recommended score of 100 or higher)

We will accept scores from any of these services as far back as two (2) years.

Letters of Recommendation
Not required of non-degree applicants.

There is no order in which application materials need to be submitted/received. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all their application and required materials have been submitted prior to their program’s priority application deadline date.

 

Application Fee
There is no application fee required for Guest applicants.

Additional Information
Applicants will need to provide documentation from their primary institution indicating approval to enroll in the course(s) they are seeking admission to. Documentation can be sent to gradschool@mcw.edu. Be mindful of the course dates that you wish to enroll in and submit your application by the priority deadline date associated with the program that offers the course. No additional documentation is needed except for your online application submission and permission from your home institution to enroll in the course you are seeking. Applications are accepted/reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applicants interested in our Biomedical Engineering doctorate program should apply to MCW. Applicants interested in our Bioinformatics, Healthcare Technologies Management and Biomedical Engineering master degree programs should apply to Marquette University.

 

Anyone who is currently residing outside of the United States or are studying in the United States on any visa type are considered an international student applicant.

School Records / Transcripts
International Applicants must provide official/original copies of their transcripts in the native language of instruction as well as in English translation. Transcripts are also known as academic records or mark sheets. An official transcript must bear the original seal and/or stamps of the institution as well as signatures of institutional officials. If transcripts do not include proof of graduation (i.e. diploma and/or degree certification), official copies of these documents must be provided as well. All academic credentials are reviewed and verified at our discretion. It is incumbent upon the applicant to ensure that the documents submitted meet the requirements of being considered official. Records received via third-party credentialing services are considered official.

Please advise that the below programs currently require official transcript evaluations for international transcripts. Records received via third-party credentialing services are considered official. We accept credentialed records from all NACES-affiliated members.

• Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences (PhD)
• Physiology (PhD)
• Pharmacology & Toxicology (PhD)

English Language Proficiency Tests
The submission of an English language proficiency test score is generally required for international applicants who are not currently enrolled in, or have not previously graduated from, a U.S.-based (non-online) undergraduate or graduate degree program. As of the 2022 admissions cycle (staring July 1, 2021), we accept the following test types:

• Duolingo (recommended score of 105 or higher)
• IELTS (recommended score of 6.0 or higher)
• TOEFL (recommended score of 100 or higher)

We will accept scores from any of these services as far back as two (2) years. An additional exception to the English language proficiency test may be approved for applicants who are currently enrolled in or previously studied at foreign institutions whose primary language of instruction was English. In these cases, applicants will need to submit an exemption request in writing via email sent to gradadmissions@mcw.edu after they have submitted their online application.

Visa Status
Verification and updates regarding visa status may be requested at the time of application submission through to and beyond any offer of admission. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the timely submission and delivery of documents related to the transition and maintenance of visa status.

Transfer from another Graduate School
Applicants to the MCW Graduate School are, in general, only accepted upon completion of the degree program in which they are currently matriculated. In special circumstances, students may apply for transfer into graduate programs at MCW after having only partially completed requirements for a graduate degree at another university. Transfer will be considered upon recommendation of the program that the applicant is pursuing as long as the following conditions are met:

• At the time of application, the academic status of the student at the other university is clearly documented and the reasons for wishing to transfer are clearly disclosed by the student.
• If the individual is a PhD candidate, the student has provided three (3) letters of recommendation: one (1) from their current mentor or research advisor, one (1) from their current Graduate School Dean or Program Director, and one (1) from someone who can appraise the student's work at their current school.

If transfer is allowed, the MCW Graduate School program that the student is pursuing will compare the course work completed at their current school with the curriculum required at MCW. That analysis will determine which courses remain to be taken. The applicant must meet the following requirements of an MCW degree program regardless of whether any have been fulfilled elsewhere:

• Two (2) semesters of full-time study.
• Successful completion of the qualifying examination conducted by members of his/her program.
• Successful completion of the thesis or dissertation under regulations which exist within the MCW Graduate School. Successful completion of all other requirements of the program.

Transfer of Credits
The number of credit hours which may be transferred from other institutions is limited to protect the integrity of the MCW Graduate School programs. Only credits directly applicable to a student’s MCW program will be considered for transfer. There is no guarantee that all credits previously earned will be approved for transfer. Students should consult their current advisor or program director prior to requesting a transfer of credits earned elsewhere and before taking additional graduate courses for which they may want to transfer credits.

Students seeking to transfer credits earned prior to admission, including any earned at MCW, must file an “Application for Transfer of Credit” form with the MCW Graduate School during their first semester of enrollment at MCW. If the credits were not earned in the MCW Graduate School, an official transcript of the coursework listed on the form must be sent from the transfer institution directly to the MCW Graduate School. Also, syllabi from the transfer courses listing textbooks and other materials used in the course must be submitted with the transfer credit application. Students will be notified in writing by the Graduate School regarding which credits have been accepted for transfer.

Limits on transfer of credits:

• Certificate Programs: No credits may be transferred into a certificate program from another institution. A maximum of six (6) approved credits taken at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) as a non-degree candidate may be transferred to the certificate program.
• Transfer of Credits from a Certificate Program into a Degree Program: Transfer of appropriate credits from a certificate program into a degree program is automatic if matriculation in the degree program occurs within one (1) year of completion of the certificate program. If the certificate was earned more than one (1) year before matriculation in a degree program, then appropriate credits may be transferred if approved by both the Program Director and the Dean of the MCW Graduate School. In general, credits will not be transferred for courses completed more than three (3) years before matriculation in a degree program. 
• Master’s Degree Programs: With the exception of credits earned in an MCW certificate program (see above), the maximum number of credits that may be considered for transfer to an MCW Graduate School master’s degree program is the larger of either ten (10) credits or 1/3 of the total number of graduate credits required for the particular master’s degree program. This total includes coursework taken at MCW prior to admission and credits earned at other institutions during enrollment in the MCW degree program.
• Doctoral Degree Programs: The maximum number of credits that may be considered for transfer to an MCW Graduate School doctoral program is twenty (20). This total includes coursework taken at MCW prior to admission and credits earned at other institutions during enrollment in the MCW degree program.

Credits are eligible for transfer only if the grade earned is a B or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Pass/Fail courses are not eligible for transfer. Graduate credits earned more than five (5) years before the start of the MCW graduate program are not eligible for transfer. Credits applied to one graduate or professional degree are not eligible for transfer to an MCW certificate or degree program; however, they may be used to guide alternative course selections to be taken toward a second degree program.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT REQUEST FORM (PDF)