Any non-native English speaker admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison may take ESL courses. Special students and exchange students may be allowed to take ESL courses when space is available.
The only option for non-degree students to study English at UW-Madison is through the Visiting International Student Program (VISP). VISP admits non-degree international students for short term study at UW-Madison. VISP participants are official UW-Madison students who take courses with our university’s distinguished, world-class faculty. They often study academic English along with other courses or specialized thematic tracks on campus. Please contact VISP for more information.
Undergraduate Students
Most new and transfer undergraduate students must take the Madison ESL Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT) and enroll in the recommended ESL courses until they have completed English 118. English 118 fulfills the Comm A communication requirement for undergraduates.
After a student has taken an ESL course, instructors re-evaluate the student's English language proficiency and recommend further ESL courses as needed. It is not necessary to take all the courses in the ESL sequence of 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118. Students may move from 115 directly to 117, for example.
Students who have completed English 118 and wish to work further on their English may do so. See course descriptions for ESL 200 Academic and Professional Speaking Skills for Undergraduate Students.
Graduate Students
Graduate students with a TOEFL score below 93 on the iBt or below 580 on the paper-based TOEFL must take the Madison ESL Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT) upon arrival. Some departments require the MSN-ESLAT regardless of TOEFL score.
Graduate students should enroll in the recommended ESL course in their first semester based on the recommendation determined by their MSN-ESLAT test. Taking the recommended course will fulfill the ESL requirement for most students.
Students may wish to work further on their English. People who want to enroll in ESL 344 (Graduate Academic Presentations), 345 (Pronunciation for International Grad Students, 349 (Writing for International Grad Students) or 350 (Professional and Academic Writing Skills) may do so without taking the MSN-ESLAT. See Course Descriptions for Academic Classes to find out if one of these classes meets your needs.