FAQs

for University Special students


Application FAQs

When is the deadline for submitting an application to become a Special/non-degree student?

The priority application deadline is one month before the first day of classes each term.

What will I pay for tuition and fees?

Most University Special students pay the same tuition rate as undergraduates. Guest Auditors pay a further-reduced fee; Wisconsin Senior Guest Auditors pay no tuition. Go to the Registrar's tuition page and select a semester to see current rates. Payments are due approximately two weeks after enrolling in the course or the start of the semester. The exact due date will be reflected on MyUW as well as on the bill that you will receive. Payments received after the deadline will be assessed an additional $100 late payment fee.

Tuition is based on three factors: a) the number of credits for which one is enrolled; b) one’s student status; c) one’s Wisconsin residency status.

I will finish my UW-Madison degree this term, but would like to take another course next term. Can I do this as a special or guest student?

Yes, you may become a Special or Guest student for the next term. You will need to complete a special student application, and we will verify that you will have completed your program before we admit you as a non-degree student. Please make sure you have taken all the steps necessary to obtain your degree from your current program. Indicate your expected graduation date on the special student application as well.
You will use your existing UW ID number and MY UW Web page to enroll in classes. Do not enroll for the next term until you have received an admission letter from our office.

How long does it take to process my application as a Special or Guest student?

You should receive an admission letter from us within two weeks of your application if you have submitted everything required for your non-degree program (e.g. transcripts for UNVS undergraduate visitors) and responded to any subsequent correspondence from the Office of the Registrar, Residence for Tuition Purposes or from our office. If not, please contact us to check on your application (608-263-6960 or e-mail assc@dcs.wisc.edu).

Can I fax you my official transcripts?

Yes, if you need to submit a transcript (e.g., you are applying as a visiting undergraduate student: UNVS), you may fax us a copy of the required current official transcript at 608-265-2901. Your transcript should show at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and 2.00 the last term of your enrollment.

I was enrolled at UW-Madison long ago but never completed my degree. I want to do so now. Should I apply as a Special student?

No, you will need to apply as a re-entry student either through the UW-Madison Undergraduate Admissions Office) or, for graduate students, to graduate admissions.

I missed the deadline for graduate admissions but really want to get started on my degree. Can I start as a University Special student?

You need to discuss your situation with an advisor in the graduate or professional program you are interested in before applying as a Special student. We have created a graduate / professional school recommendation form, which we suggest you take to an advisor to see if it makes sense for you to enroll as a Special student.
In many cases students need prerequisite courses before they can apply to graduate or professional programs. In some cases students with degree interests are able to begin as Special students, but you should research critical issues involving the transfer of credits prior to enrollment. (See Course Level and Credit Transfer.)

I've been out of school for several years. Should I apply as a Special student or as an undergraduate student?

Please contact the Adult and Student Services Center: phone 608-263-6960, e-mail assc@dcs.wisc.edu, or stop in and we will be happy to discuss your situation with you. Our mission is helping you connect with the educational and career opportunities you seek.

Course FAQs

I need to take a course(s) to earn (undergraduate or graduate credit. Can I earn these credits as a Special student?

As a Special student you may be able to enroll in both undergraduate and graduate level courses if you meet the prerequisites for the course and if there is space available. Undergraduate courses at UW-Madison are numbered 100 to 699. Graduate level courses number 300 to 999. There is an overlap; sometimes undergraduate and graduate students are expected to do different assignments in these overlap courses. If you consult the undergraduate and graduate catalogs for UW-Madison you will find course descriptions. You can find syllabi for courses on department Web sites.

If you enroll in any level of course at UW-Madison as a Special student you will be graded for the course and the credit will appear on an official UW-Madison transcript, indicating you took the course as a Special, non-degree student. If you need to prove to another college or institution that you have taken an undergraduate level course you will most likely need to show them a copy of your UW-Madison transcript as well as descriptions and syllabi of the course. It is in your best interest to check with the other institutions about credit transferability of courses before you enroll in a course here.

Can I transfer courses taken as a Special student toward degree programs at UW-Madison?

The degree program you apply to must decide whether credits taken as a Special student will count toward a future degree at UW-Madison.

For undergraduates the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will determine at the point of admission whether credits taken as a Special student will count toward a degree. In many cases credit taken as a Special student will transfer into your undergraduate program, but the specifics will depend on the program you are entering, the number of credits you earn as a Special, and the number of credits you need for an undergraduate degree at UW-Madison. Students who intend to transfer to UW-Madison should apply directly through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, as that is the only office that can evaluate your transfer credit.

For graduate students there is no university-wide policy on whether credits taken as a Special will count toward a graduate degree. Some departments do not accept any credits, and others take only a limited number of credits. You must check with the graduate coordinator of the program you are interested in to discuss these issues. If later you are able to apply Special credits toward a graduate degree, you will be required to pay the difference between the cost of the Special credits and graduate credits. Graduate credits are currently twice as costly as Special credits.

I want to enroll in a math or foreign language course as but I’m not sure which level I should take. What should I do?

Placement tests are available for math and several of the many foreign languages offered at UW-Madison. See Testing and Evaluation for further information. You may also need to work with advisors in the math and foreign language departments to determine the correct placement based upon previous coursework you may have had. In most cases math and foreign language departments will need to enter permissions in the computer system before you can enroll in a class (see enrollment issues FAQ below).

Enrollment FAQs

The class I want is full. What should I do?
This is a common issue, especially given the late enrollment windows for Special/non-degree students. You may only add the class if someone drops it and a seat becomes available. Keep checking the online Schedule of Classes and try to add the class. If there are still no spaces in the class and the term is about to start, check with the department to see if there is a waiting list. Once a class is full the only way for you to add the class will be to have a “permission” entered on the computer system, and that must be approved by the instructor (see FAQ below).

I keep getting an error message when I try to enroll. What should I do?
Contact Enrollment Services (608-262-0920) during regular business hours (7:45 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday).

I’m trying to enroll via My UW but I’m getting a message indicating I need “permission” to enroll. What should I do?

All Senior and Guest auditors and many Special students will need “permission” to enroll in a class. In these cases the department must enter your Student Campus ID number (listed on the front page of your admission letter) in the registration system before you will be able to enroll in the course. This usually means getting the course instructor to grant you the permission and contact the department staff for the course, who would enter your permission into the system.

It is usually best to hand the instructor a note card with your name, ID number, and the class for which you are requesting the permission. He/she can then forward this card to the department or have you walk it there yourself. All Special students wishing to take an undergraduate level business course need to complete a business course authorization form before a permission will be entered in the system. Once the permission is in the computer you MUST go back into your MY UW Student Center page and add the course. ASSC also has a “permission to enroll” card that can help Senior and Guest auditors with this step.

What are the deadlines for adding, dropping classes?

Go to the Schedule of Classes and select your semester; look at the upper-right corner for “deadlines at a glance” link.”

Financial Aid FAQs

Can I receive financial aid as a Special or Guest student?

There are only three classifications of Special students who may be eligible for financial aid: UNVS (visiting undergraduate students), UNRS (preparation for graduate or professional school), and UNCS (capstone certificate programs).

UNVS: If you are admitted as a visiting undergraduate student, you may be able to obtain financial aid through your home institution to cover your expenses while you are at UW-Madison. Check with your home institution’s financial aid office to explore this possibility as there will need to be a consortium agreement between your school and the U.W. UW-Madison does not provide financial aid to students admitted in the UNVS-9 category.

UNRS: Students who are taking courses that are designated prerequisites for admission into a graduate or professional program (UNRS) may be eligible to receive aid for a maximum of 12 months. The following conditions must be met to be eligible to receive aid:

  1. You must be taking at least 6 credits in courses that are required in order to be admitted to a future graduate program and you must be studying at UW-Madison in the UNRS Special student program. (You may need to contact the Adult and Student Services Center to change your program to “UNRS” if you were admitted under a different category. Phone: 608-263-6960 or e-mail assc@dcs.wisc.edu.)
  2. The courses you take as a UNRS Special student may not be counted toward meeting future graduate program degree requirements.
  3. The admitting graduate or professional school program or department must provide the UW Financial Aid office with a letter indicating that the student is required to complete certain courses to meet admission prerequisites for the particular program. This letter does not guarantee admission to that program, and it cannot be written by the Adult and Student Services Center.

If you feel you meet the above criteria, contact the Office of Student Financial Services (333 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53715; phone 608-262-3060; or e-mail finaid@das.wisc.edu) to discuss your situation and to obtain the necessary forms.

UNCS (Capstone Certificate Students): The graduate Capstone programs are post-graduate programs. Capstone students may receive federal funding during the entire enrollment period of their program provided they meet half-time (minimum) standard per federal financial aid and complete the necessary financial aid forms. Capstone tuition varies by program but is generally based on current graduate student tuition. Please consult the specific Capstone Web site for complete tuition information.

Grade FAQs

Is my grade point average (GPA) for courses taken as a Special student calculated on my UW-Madison transcript?
A cumulative GPA is not calculated for Special students although grades for each course you take are reported on your official UW-Madison transcript. There is one exception: If you are a Special student who later becomes an undergraduate degree student earning your first UW-Madison undergraduate degree, then any grades earned on credits which transfer in as part of your undergraduate degree program will be calculated in your final UW-Madison undergraduate degree GPA. (This is a common situation for high school students taking courses prior to entry into a degree program at UW-Madison.) If you are not in this specific situation, however, then any grades earned on credits taken as a Special student will not be calculated in a cumulative grade point average. Grades earned as a Special student will also not change a previous cumulative undergraduate or graduate GPA earned while at UW-Madison, even if you are repeating a class.

Special student privileges

What can I use, or not use as a Special student? (ex. libraries, unions, sports, bus, etc.

See table comparing Special and Guest students privileges and requirements.

 

 

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