Still have questions? Use our FAQs to find answers to some common transfer-related questions.
Reach out to the Transfer Contacts & Advocates if you do not find answers to your questions or need additional assistance with the transfer process.
Selecting my Campus
The Universities of Wisconsin are a premier system of public higher education in the country, serving more than 162,000 students annually. Through a constellation of 13 universities statewide, the Universities of Wisconsin are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.
The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) serves communities in Wisconsin, large and small, urban and rural. With 16 districts and 49 campuses, the colleges provide learning opportunities close to home.
We have several resources to help you Find Your UW.
UW universities have specific admission requirements for transfer students. Check out the UW HELP Transfer Student Admission Requirements to ensure that you qualify for admission at your desired transfer school.
Then, complete an online Application for Admission to a UW university.
You can search all WTCS programs, or go to the website of the campus you are thinking about attending to see information on offered programs. If you plan to transfer to a WTCS campus and still have unanswered questions, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section on the WTCS website.
Visit Apply Now to apply to a Wisconsin Technical College campus.
Understanding the Transfer Process
Credits and courses are considered for transfer. Some universities include transfer grades in calculating an overall grade point average (GPA) while others use transfer grades primarily in making admission decisions. Transfer grade policies may differ depending on your major or your school/college at a particular UW university. Check the Transfer Contacts & Advocates or UW HELP transfer for questions on transfer credit and grade policies.
An official transfer credit evaluation is produced once you have have been admitted to a university. UW universities require official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended before they will produce an official evaluation. When you receive your transfer credit evaluation can depend on the UW university and the time of year. Some universities will send your evaluation with your acceptance letter and others may send it at a different time. You should receive the credit evaluation before orientation or registration. Keep in touch with the transfer contact at your campus and be sure to ask questions.
Some UW universities require that you earn a minimum number of credits prior to transferring. Look at the UW HELP Transfer Student Admission Requirements for information about specific university admission requirements.
- If you are transferring from a Wisconsin Technical College:
- Students transferring from a Wisconsin Technical College System Liberal Studies (college transfer) program may transfer up to 72 credits to any UW university. Some UW universities may accept additional credits.
- Courses from WTCS Associate Degree occupational programs may be accepted by UW institutions in three ways:
- Approved WTCS general education courses in communications, social sciences, behavioral sciences, mathematics, and natural science may transfer. Use Transferology to learn how specific courses transfer.
- In some cases, UW universities will accept occupational/technical courses from WTCS applied associate degree programs. This information is also available in Transferology.
- UW and WTCS campuses have many transfer or articulation agreements that allow WTCS students enrolled in specific associate degree programs to transfer additional occupational credits. These agreements are specific to a WTCS school and a partnering UW university.
- You are encouraged to use the advising resources available on all UW and WTCS campuses, as well as the information in Transfer Wisconsin and Transferology to plan your transfer. If you encounter unexpected issues, contact a transfer advocate for help in resolving your transfer concerns.
- If you are transferring from a college or university located outside of Wisconsin, credit transfer information may be available in Transferology. If not, contact the UW university you want to transfer to in order to find out how your credits will be accepted. In most cases, you will need to apply or be admitted to the UW university before receiving an official evaluation of your transfer courses. Visit the UW university transfer website for more information.
Apply or register as a “special or non-degree” student, also called a guest student. Each UW university has its own procedures for the admission of students who are interested in enrolling in courses without entering a degree program. Consult the appropriate UW university for specific information about admission, deadlines, and appropriate admission form(s) to complete.
Check with the UW university to see what courses are offered and when. Look for “Schedule of Classes” or “Timetable”. UW HELP has links to UW university Schedule of Classes information.
Your home campus may require you to get approval prior to enrolling in a course at a different campus. Check with your advisor or the Registrar’s Office at your home campus to verify.
Search for online course offerings with the Universities of Wisconsin.
Contact the UW university that you attended. Check UW HELP for transcript request information.
Only some UW universities charge an application fee for transfer students. Ten UW universities do not charge an undergraduate application fee.
The first step is to apply and be admitted to the UW institution. On your application, list your intended major and the degree that you are seeking. Apply Online to a UW university.
Application procedures and admission requirements for individual schools and colleges differ. Check UW HELP’s Transfer Student Admission Requirements for more information.
All UW Independent Learning courses are listed within Transferology. After creating an account or logging in to your current account, enter “University of Wisconsin Independent Learning – Extended Campus.” You will see which universities accept your courses for transfer.
Every UW university requires students to satisfy general education requirements (in addition to requirements in their major) to graduate. General Education requirements (also known as Gen Ed, General Degree Requirements, GE, and GER) include core student competency requirements, such as English composition, mathematics, science, humanities, social sciences, arts, and more.
Different UW universities have different general education requirements. Use Transferology to find out what courses at your current campus will fulfill general education requirements at another campus.
For transfer to a Wisconsin Technical College, Transferology shows how courses transfer into the applied associate degree system-wide general education courses. For information on how other courses may be used to meet general education requirements at a particular Wisconsin Technical College, contact the transfer contact at your intended technical college transfer campus.
Each UW university has a different curriculum which means that courses will transfer differently to different UW universities. Be sure to check Transferology for each UW you are considering for transfer.
Each UW university has different programs, requirements, and courses. Each university makes its own determination how transfer courses fit into its requirements. Campus faculty members determine how courses transfer and the evaluation process is facilitated by the Admissions or Registrars Office.
Contact the campus you will be attending to get answers on questions about course transfer and find out about the transfer appeal process.