Admissions FAQ

FAQ’s

Am I qualified for the BDS graduate programs?

• BDS welcomes applications from all students who meet the entrance requirements and have serious interest in pursuing graduate study in Biomedical Data Science. Often, applicants have undergraduate majors in statistics, computer science, math, biostatistics, or biological sciences. PhD applicants should have at least two semesters of college calculus (similar to UW’s Math 221–222), a linear algebra course (similar to UW’s Math 340), a course in programming and data structures (similar to UW’s CS 200 and CS 300). MS applicants should have a similar, but likely less advanced, background.

Is there an advantage to applying early?

• No, there is no advantage to applying early. Applications are not reviewed until after the deadline.

Are application fee waivers available?

• The UW Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to eligible students.

Are there interviews?

• Yes. Applicants that make the shortlist will be invited to participate in online interviews with faculty. Interviews will be held late January / early February.

How much does the UW-Madison graduate school application fee cost?

• UW-Madison charges a non-refundable $75 application fee that must be paid by credit or debit card in the online application system. In addition to the $75 application fee, non U.S. citizens will be charged a $6.00 international document processing fee. Both fees will be processed during the submission of your application.

Does BDS offer spring or summer admission?

• No. BDS only offers fall semester admission.

I am a UW grad student in another program, how do I apply?

• Current UW graduate students should submit their request through the Graduate Portal. Please review the steps on the Grad School webpage

What financial support do BDS PhD students receive?

• Provided that they make satisfactory progress towards their PhD, all BDS PhD students are guaranteed a competitive stipend and tuition remission for the duration of their graduate studies. The benefits package also includes the opportunity to purchase excellent University of Wisconsin health insurance at a reasonable price. MS students do not receive guaranteed funding, but many area able to find funding as a TA, RA, or PA.

Are international applicants required to have a certain amount of money saved upon admission to the PhD?

• Students who receive funding through their program (including BDS PhD students) are NOT required to provide bank information. If admitted, international students who join our PhD program will instead submit a funding letter (provided by the program) to show that they are financially supported by the program.

Should I contact specific faculty trainers prior to applying to BDS?

• No. It is unnecessary to contact faculty. Students must submit all application materials via the Graduate School online application.

How are students placed in labs?

• Admitted students complete three laboratory rotations in labs of BDS trainers before choosing a faculty advisor. More information can be found in the Lab Rotations section of the BDS Handbook.

What are my chances of admission?

• We cannot provide preliminary evaluations of chances for admission and we do not pre-screen applications.  The Admissions Committee reviews each application carefully using a holistic process, considering all application materials including personal statement, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc., and weighing applications against others in the applicant pool each year.

Are GRE scores required?

• No, GRE scores are not required and will not be considered when applying for the PhD or MS program

Do I need to take the TOEFL exam? What English proficiency scores are accepted?

• Please refer to the Graduate School Admissions English proficiency requirements. The Graduate School currently accepts test results from TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and IELTS Indicator to fulfill the English proficiency requirement. Beginning with spring 2025 admit term applicants, the Graduate School will accept English proficiency test scores from the Duolingo English Test.The required proficiency scores are: are listed below. We do not accept scores compiled from multiple tests to meet English proficiency requirements (i.e. TOEFL MyBest, IELTS One Skill Retake). Scores are valid if they are less than two years from the first day of the anticipated enrollment term.
  • Minimum IELTS requirement: 7.0
  • Minimum TOEFL requirement: 92 internet (iBT); 580 paper-based test (PBT)
  • Minimum Duolingo English Test requirement (starting spring 2025 admit term): 125
• How to submit English proficiency test scores
  You must submit your scores following the directions below:
  • TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. Our institution code is 1846.
  • IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by mail via IELTS. To send electronically, select our account name UW-Madison Graduate School. To send by mail, use the following address:
    UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions
    232 Bascom Hall
    500 Lincoln Drive
    Madison, WI 53706
  • Duolingo English Test (starting spring 2025 admit term) scores must be submitted electronically via Duolingo to University of Wisconsin – Madison – Graduate Admissions.

Do all my supporting documents and TOEFL scores need to be submitted by the deadline?

• Yes, all application materials must be received by December 15. Therefore, applicants should plan to take the TOEFL exam (if applicable) early enough so that the scores will reach the BDS Program before the December 15 deadline. TOEFL scores must be received electronically from ETS

My reference is not receiving the email requesting a recommendation, what do I do?

• Please double check to make sure the email is correct
• The email could have been put into your recommender’s Junk or Spam email inboxes, so please have them check their Junk and Spam folders in their email
• Occasionally, our systems are overloaded by the amount of requests, so it may take up to 24 hours for the email to send, so please wait to see if the request arrives tomorrow
• The email could have been blocked by a firewall; if that is the case, you may want to resend the request to a different email address (a personal email, for example)

How can I check my application status?

• To check your application status, log in to MyUW using your NetID and password. If you have forgotten your NetID or password, please visit the DoIT page on recovering a forgotten NetID password or contact the DoIT Help Desk at 608-264-HELP for assistance.

How much will it cost to earn my degree in Biomedical Data Science?

• The estimated Cost of Attendance can be found at the Office of Student Financial Aid.   The tuition rates listed in the cost of attendance are estimates only.

Additional Questions?

• Please email BMI Admissions admissions@biostat.wisc.edu