U.S. Students Admissions Process

The first step in the application process is to complete the online UW System application for admission to UW Oshkosh. A $56 non-refundable application fee* is required.  If you’ve previously paid the graduate admission application fee for any program at UW Oshkosh within the past 10 years, you do not have to pay the fee again.

• Processing will not proceed if the fee is not paid.  It’s recommended you pay the fee at the time you submit the on-line application.

*UW Oshkosh will waive the graduate school application fee for McNair Scholars.  To receive this benefit, request an application fee payment form from your undergraduate McNair Scholars contact or download a copy.

If you are a McNair Scholar, when completing the UW System application, simply skip the application fee payment section.  Completed fee forms should be emailed directly to UW Oshkosh Office of Graduate Studies at gradschool@uwosh.edu or mailed to 800 Algoma Blvd. Oshkosh, WI 54901.  When the form is received, your application will be updated to confirm the payment requirement has been completed.

The admission deadlines for UW Oshkosh’s graduate programs vary by program. Check the Program Requirements and Deadlines page for specific requirements and deadlines information.

When completing the online application, be certain to provide three professional/academic references (relatives are not acceptable) who can assess an applicant’s ability to do graduate work.  However, only two letters are needed for Educational Leadership, Math Education, Professional Counseling, Psychology, Special Education and any certificate program.  The MBA program does not require letters of recommendation.  In the online application be sure to:

• Provide complete name and contact information (accurate email addresses are critical).
• Check program admission requirements and websites for other reference information.  Some programs use a special reference form, identify how recent the reference must be, suggest who the recommenders should be or certain characteristics the recommender must address.

The Office of Graduate Studies will notify recommenders they are to provide a reference in support of the applicant’s admission. Reference letters can also be sent separately directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. If letters come directly to the Office of Graduate Studies, the letters must be in envelopes sealed by the reference(s).  Some programs require that references only submit their recommendations via email.

NOTE: Various programs have different reference requirements. Please check the program-specific admission instructions first for specific reference requirements.

Applicants must have all official undergraduate transcripts from regionally-accredited schools sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies from the issuing institution. Copies “issued to student” are not considered official.  Only transcripts from regionally accredited schools will be considered.

NOTE: If an applicant is a current or former UW Oshkosh graduate or undergraduate student, they do not need to provide an official UW Oshkosh transcript.

Since many of UW Oshkosh’s graduate programs have their own admissions requirements and application deadlines in addition to or different from the Office of Graduate Studies’ requirements, it’s important to consult with each programs’ individual web site for these details. Visit Program Requirements and Deadlines for program-specific information.