Admissions and Aid
Application Requirements
Applying to the Educational Psychology PhD, School Psychology PhD, MS Research, or the School Psychology Educational Specialist Program (EdS)
If you have questions while completing the admissions process, please contact Amy Moschkau, Department of Educational Psychology’s Graduate Program Manager at edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.
Applying to the MS In Learning Analytics
If you have questions while completing the admissions process, please contact Julia Rutledge, Program Director, at jrutledge@wisc.edu.
Applying to the MS in Education: Instructional Coaching
If you have questions while completing the admissions process, please contact Lisa Hebgen, Program Director, at lmhebgen@wisc.edu.
UW–Madison Graduate School’s Online Application
Application Deadline: December 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Central Time
Program Start: Fall 2027 Term
Educational Psychology PhD and MS Research applicants are required to upload the following items to the online application:
Statement of Purpose
This statement is essential for faculty to gain insight into your academic, research, and career goals. Your statement should include:
- A detailed description of the topics and academic areas you wish to study.
- An outline of any specific research questions you have or lines of research you wish to pursue.
- The area of the department where you wish to study – Human Development, Learning Sciences, Quantitative Methods.
- Which faculty member(s) you want as your program area advisor.
We do not have a word count, page limit, spacing, or formatting requirements for your Statement of Purpose.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Include a comprehensive listing of academic awards, teaching, and research experience.
Supplemental Application
All applicants must complete the Supplemental Application included in the online Graduate School application. You will be required to choose the area of the department you wish to study in (Human Development, Learning Sciences, Quantitative Methods) and are strongly encouraged to identify a faculty member(s) you want to be your faculty advisor.
You will also be asked to upload a document answering the following question. There are no formatting requirements for restrictions for this statement.
What lessons have you learned from your background and life experiences, such as geographical, financial, educational, and/or other opportunities or challenges? What skills or abilities have you acquired from those lessons?
Letters of Recommendation
We require recommendations from three qualified candidates to evaluate the applicant’s academic and professional competence. Please see the online application for instructions on how to have letters of recommendation submitted electronically. If a recommender is unable to submit their letter electronically, they may send it directly to edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
The GRE IS REQUIRED when applying to the Human Development, Learning Sciences, and Quantitative Methods program areas.
UW–Madison Institution Code: 1846
The GRE IS NOT REQUIRED when applying to the School Psychology PhD and EdS programs.
Transcripts
Unofficial undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts are required for admission. After you are recommended for admission by the department, the Graduate School will contact you with instructions on how to submit your official transcript(s).
Application Deadline: November 1, 2026 -11:59 p.m. Central Time
Program Start: Fall 2027 Term
School Psychology PhD applicants are required to upload the following items to the online application:
Statement of Purpose
This statement is essential for faculty to gain insight into your academic, research, and career goals. Your statement should include:
- A detailed description of the topics and academic areas you wish to study.
- An outline of any specific research questions you have or lines of research you wish to pursue.
- Which faculty member(s) you want as your advisor.
We do not have a word count, page limit, spacing, or formatting requirements for your Statement of Purpose.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Include a comprehensive listing of academic awards, teaching, and research experience.
Supplemental Application
All applicants must complete the Supplemental Application included in the online Graduate School application. You are strongly encouraged to identify a faculty member(s) you want to be your faculty advisor. You must also complete the questionnaire for individuals who will participate in student teaching or intern/practicum programs.
You will also be asked to upload a document answering the following question. There are no formatting requirements or restrictions for this statement.
How have your background and life experiences, including geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree in school psychology at the University of Wisconsin?
Letters of Recommendation
We require recommendations from three qualified candidates to evaluate the applicant’s academic and professional competence. Please see the online application for instructions on how to have letters of recommendation submitted electronically. If a recommender is unable to submit their letter electronically, they may send it directly to edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
The GRE IS NOT REQUIRED to apply to the School Psychology PhD program.
Transcripts
Unofficial undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts are required for admission. After you are recommended for admission by the department, the Graduate School will contact you with instructions on how to submit your official transcript(s).
Application Deadline: December 1, 2026 – 11:59 p.m. Central Time
Program Start: Fall 2027 Term
School Psychology EdS applicants are required to upload the following items to the online application:
Supplemental Application Statement
This statement should be no more than three pages, single-spaced, and answer the following questions:
1.) How have your background and life experiences, including geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree in school psychology at the University of Wisconsin?
2.) What do you view as the most critical issues in our schools that you hope to address as a school psychologist?
3.) What are your reasons for seeking entrance into the school psychology program at UW–Madison?
All School Psychology EdS applicants must also complete the questionnaire for individuals who will participate in student teaching or intern/practicum programs.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
Include a comprehensive listing of academic awards, teaching, and research experience.
Letters of Recommendation
We require recommendations from three qualified candidates to evaluate the applicant’s academic and professional competence. Please see the online application for instructions on submitting letters of recommendation electronically. If a recommender is unable to submit their letter electronically, they may send it directly to edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.
Transcripts
Unofficial undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts are required for admission. After you are recommended for admission by the department, the Graduate School will contact you with instructions on how to submit your official transcript(s).
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
The GRE is not required to apply to the School Psychology EdS program.
For detailed admissions information, please visit the program website: https://learninganalytics.education.wisc.edu/application-information/
Admissions type: Rolling
Application deadline: May 1, 2027
Program start: June 2027
For detailed admissions information, please visit the program website: https://instructionalcoach.education.wisc.edu/admissions/
Admissions type: Rolling
Application deadline: May 1, 2027
Program start: June 2027
Additional Graduate School Admissions Requirements
Degree
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree.
Grades
A minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. All GPAs are based on a 4.00 scale. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.
English Proficiency
All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Graduate School’s Requirements for Admission page.
International Financial Information
International applicants are required to have adequate financial resources to cover expenses for the duration of their studies at UW–Madison. Do not send any financial statements to the program. International Student Services will request this information upon admission.
The department currently offers successful applicants financial support while working towards their PhD. Financial support may come in the form of a teaching assistantship, project assistantship, research assistantship, or external grant or fellowship, and may be administered through the department or any other department or unit on campus. We consider all eligible applicants for fellowships and available funding; funding is contingent upon the availability of resources. Please check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
For more financial assistance information, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website.
All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Requirements for Admission page.
Proof of English proficiency must be received by the department by the December 1 (November 1 for School Psychology PhD applicants) application deadline. If the official score will not be available for submission by the application deadline, you may do the following:
Submit your UNOFFICIAL score for temporary use by the department until the official scores are available by entering the score on your online application form or sending them via email (edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu) as soon as you have taken the test.
If the score is sent via email, the department will add the information to your other application materials.
The UW Graduate School provides the following guidelines on preparing your statement of purpose.
Before you begin
Visit the graduate program website for information about faculty and their research, courses offered, graduate student profiles, and student support and professional development activities. This will help you get a sense of the culture and priorities of the program, what they may be looking for in a potential student, and if it is a good fit for you — for example, your research interests, professional development needs, and career goals. You can then address these topics in your Statement of Purpose. If you have any questions, contact the graduate program.
Items to consider
Be specific about your interest and knowledge particular to this program: Have you read an article by one or more faculty members? Has your advisor specifically directed you to this program? Do you have other ties to this program and/or school? Pick out the pertinent facts about your academic and professional interests that make you a good fit with the program and institution to which you are applying. (A statement of purpose is not a place to list everything you have done.) Mention extra-curricular achievements to illustrate additional dimensions of your personality. Demonstrate curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm for learning, a capacity for teamwork, the ability to think independently, and pride in your work. Using brief anecdotes is a good way to make your points. Explain (briefly) any incongruity in your application material, such as a low semester grade. Stay within the page limit specified by the graduate program. If there are no specifications, limit yourself to two pages. Be succinct and clear.
Before you submit
Let at least two people read your statement, preferably a faculty member and an academic advisor, and ask them to provide feedback. Revise accordingly; you want to submit a well-balanced statement that helps you make a strong case for your candidacy. Proofread, proofread, proofread to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Do not depend on your software to do this for you.
***At this time, we do not have application fee waivers available. Please check back after November 1st with the information below.
The Department of Educational Psychology offers a limited number of fee waivers that prospective students may apply toward the UW–Madison Graduate School application fee. Applications are welcome from students who applied, but were unsuccessful at receiving a waiver from the Graduate School. (see https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/fee-grant/).
Waivers will be granted based on financial need. To apply, individuals are asked to contact their potential faculty advisor. Once that advisor has verified that they are admitting students and that the applicant is a good fit, please submit the following to edpsych-gss@education.wisc.edu.
1. A short statement (not to exceed 250 words) explaining (a) your financial situation and how it affects your ability to apply to graduate school
2. A current copy of your CV
3. A copy of your statement of purpose or applicant statement (i.e., the statement required as part of your application to the graduate program)
4. Evidence that you applied for and did not receive a waiver from the Graduate school (for Domestic students only)
To guarantee full consideration, applicants must apply by November 20, 2025. For School Psychology PhD students, applicants must apply by October 20, 2025. We will continue to evaluate waiver applications beyond the deadline on a case-by-case basis, as funding allows.
Please check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to fee waivers.