Participants in the Mechanical Engineering Visiting International Student Program are guaranteed enrollment in a cohesive set of senior-level courses in the department. Additionally, students have access to the entire College of Engineering course catalog to put together a program that meets their needs.

Students can participate in the fall and/or spring semester as well as in the summer term.

VISP participants who successfully complete an academic year in this program and receive a grade of B or better in classes have the option to apply for preferred admission to the accelerated Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program.

How to Get in

Any international student who has completed at least one semester of college/university study and meets language proficiency requirements may apply. Applicants do not need to be currently enrolled in an educational institution. Students should apply at least three months before the intended start date at UW–Madison in order to complete the entire admission process and visa application (which may require many months to complete). A limited number of spots are available in VISP each semester, so applying early provides the best consideration.

Students are admitted in one of three levels which determines the minimum credit load requirements:

• Undergraduate level students have completed at least one semester of college/university study and will not have completed their degree before arriving in Madison. Students must be in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average (GPA) equivalent at home university of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. UIUL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.
• Graduate level students have completed an undergraduate degree and may or may not have started a graduate program. No additional requirements apply for students in this classification. UIGL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.
• Dissertator-level students have completed all graduate coursework and are currently working on a dissertation, or have completed a PhD. No additional requirements apply for students in this classification. UIDL is the designation on the admissions application and course roster.

To Apply

Students must review eligibility requirements and then follow the application process outlined at the VISP website. VISP coordinators will assist with each step of the process. The coordinators will send an email to confirm the application has been received and to provide details on next steps.