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Hard Copy Materials

All application materials that are submitted in hard copy: resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation (only if not done electronically) statement of interest (only if not done electronically) should be mailed to:

Attn: Sara Lorence
Room 70 Science Hall, 550 N Park St
Madison WI 53706-1491

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to a graduate-level certificate, please see below.

PDF of "How To Apply" information

Application Materials

Note: International student financial information will only be requested by the Graduate School after the departmental recommendation for admission. The Graduate School provides a list of international student expenses.

Additional information can be found on the Graduate School website. Please refer to the Graduate School Checklist for items that should be sent to the Graduate School.

Tips on Contacting Faculty:

When you contact potential faculty advisors, we urge you to consider providing:

  1. a few sentences about your research or professional interests,
  2. how your interests overlap with those of the potential faculty advisor,
  3. your undergraduate institution and GPA,
  4. your GRE and TOEFL (if appropriate),
  5. c.v. or resume.

Please note that faculty receive numerous queries from prospective graduate students, thus it helps to prepare your email carefully.

Faculty Advisors

All applicants are encouraged to consult, in advance, faculty members with whom they share research interests. The Nelson Institute has a searchable faculty directory to aid you in finding an advisor. To find a potential advisor, begin by reviewing the research interests of affiliated faculty. When you find a faculty member whose research overlaps your interests, send him or her an email with a statement of your interests and goals, and with your CV attached. After you have made initial contact, make sure you follow up to determine whether that faculty member has space in his or her program for you, and whether any funding might be available. If the support of a faculty member is gained prior to admission, include that information in the application materials. Each program has slightly different requirements when it comes to finding an advisor.

Deadlines

All application materials must be received by February 1 for admission to the following summer session or fall semester, and by October 15 for admission to the following spring semester. Applicants who wish to be considered for university, minority, or the CHANGE fellowships should provide all application materials by January 2. Applicants should check with the Nelson Institute Academic Programs Office in 70 Science Hall before the deadlines to verify that all materials have been received.

Joint, Double, and Dual Degrees

If you are interested in pursuing a joint, double, or dual degree should check out our pages on those options.

Applying to a Nelson Institute Certificate Program

Anyone currently enrolled as a graduate student at UW-Madison may apply to a Nelson Institute certificate program by submitting a special application, a one- to two-page statement of interest, and a current UW-Madison transcript; and asking the student's home department to send copies of the student's Graduate School application, GRE test results, transcripts, and at least two letters of reference to the certificate program of their choice admissions Committee, Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, 70 Science Hall.

Certificate Application Deadlines

Applications to ARM, EAP, and TMP may be submitted at any time, but applicants are advised to check with the Nelson Institute Academic Programs Office for relevant deadlines.

Applications to CHANGE are due on August 15th, 2008 for first round consideration for Fall 2008. If there are spaces left, the committee will consider a second pool of applications which are due on September 7th, 2008.

Academic Programs Contact Information

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