GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between our programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet requirements of both the program and the Graduate School. Once you have researched the graduate program you are interested in, apply online.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall Term – January 5 of same year’s Fall term
(i.e. January 5, 2019 for Fall 2019)
Spring Term – October 15 in year prior to Spring term
(i.e. October 15, 2019 for Spring 2020)
All application materials [including letters of recommendation and official test scores] must be submitted by these dates.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for admission to our graduate program, you will need to complete the Graduate School’s online application. This application includes the Department of Spanish & Portuguese’s Supplemental Application, which will provide us with more detailed information about your interests. Below you will find information about each degree, guidance for filling out the application, and a description of the materials you will be asked to submit. Once you have read carefully the following information, go to the Graduate School’s Apply Now page.
The Department of Spanish & Portuguese offers separate graduate degrees in Spanish and Portuguese. Your first important step will be to choose the graduate degree program to which you wish to apply.
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Spanish MA
Admission to candidacy for the master’s degree presupposes coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major in Spanish from UW-Madison or a similar institution.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and a GPA in Spanish courses of at least 3.25. Exceptions to these requirements may be made by the Admissions Committee.
During the registration period, you will be asked to supply information regarding courses taken previously, experience abroad, scope of readings in Spanish and Spanish‑American literatures, and preparation in linguistics.
When you apply for the Spanish MA program, you’ll be asked to select your area of interest in the Supplementary Application. Your two options are an MA with a concentration in literature or an MA with a concentration in linguistics. These concentration tracks are internal to the program and represent different pathways a student can follow to earn a master’s degree in Spanish. Track names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Required Documentation for Spanish MA Applications
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for all graduate student applicants, using the Graduate School’s online application. In the application you will provide contact information for the three individuals who will furnish recommendations on your behalf. They will receive an upload link by email.
- Unofficial copies of all university transcripts are required. You will be able to upload them using the Graduate School’s online application. If you are accepted, you will be required to supply an official transcript from each university attended. Certified English translations should accompany all non-English transcripts.
- All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Requirements for Admission page.
- Statement of Purpose: What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study? Please describe your current degree goals and your reasons for selecting your program(s). Your statement can be either in English or Spanish. It should not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages, or the equivalent when double-spaced.
- CV or Résumé – This should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications including academic honors or distinctions; professional, research, and/or teaching experience; and any publications.
Portuguese MA
Admission to candidacy for the master’s degree presupposes an undergraduate major in Portuguese at UW–Madison or its equivalent.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in Portuguese must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and a GPA in Portuguese courses of at least 3.25. Exceptions to these requirements may be made by the Admissions Committee.
During the registration period, the student will be asked to supply information regarding courses taken previously, experience abroad, scope of readings in Portuguese and Brazilian literatures, and preparation in linguistics.
When you apply for the Portuguese MA program, you will be asked to select your primary and secondary area of interest in the Supplementary Application. The areas are:
- African Literature in Portuguese
- Brazilian Literature from 1900
- Brazilian Literature to 1900
- Portuguese Literature from origins to Eça de Queirós
- Portuguese Literature of the 20th and 21st centuries
These concentration tracks are internal to the program and represent different pathways a student can follow to earn a master’s degree in Portuguese. Track names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Required Documentation for Portuguese MA Applications
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for all graduate student applicants, using the Graduate School’s online application. In the application you will provide contact information for the three individuals who will furnish recommendations on your behalf. They will receive an upload link by email.
- Unofficial copies of all university transcripts are required. You will be able to upload them using the Graduate School’s online application. If you are accepted, you will be required to supply an official transcript from each university attended. Certified English translations should accompany all non-English transcripts.
- All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Requirements for Admission page.
- Statement of Purpose: What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study? Please describe your current degree goals and your reasons for selecting your program(s). Your statement can be either in English or Portuguese. It should not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages, or the equivalent when double-spaced.
- CV or Résumé – This should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications including academic honors or distinctions; professional, research, and/or teaching experience; and any publications.
Spanish PhD
MA students in Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are admitted to doctoral studies in this Department on the recommendation of the MA examining committee upon successful completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination.
A graduate student with a master’s degree from another institution is admitted to the doctoral program by virtue of their acceptance by the Department. A minimum graduate GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale is required.
During the registration period, the student will be asked to supply supplementary information regarding courses taken previously, experience abroad, scope of readings in Spanish and Spanish‑American literatures, and preparation in linguistics.
When you apply for the Spanish PhD program, you’ll be asked to select up to two areas of interest in the Supplemental Application.
If you plan to pursue a Spanish PhD with a concentration in literature, the areas are:
- Medieval Literature
- Golden Age Literature
- Modern Peninsular Literature
- Spanish American I Literature (Colonial to 1900)
- Spanish American II Literature (Twentieth Century)
If you plan to pursue a Spanish PhD with a concentration in linguistics, the areas are:
- Theoretical/Formal Spanish Linguistics
- Language Variation and Change
- Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition
Please note: these concentration tracks are internal to the program and represent different pathways a student can follow to earn a doctoral degree in Spanish. Concentration names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Required Documentation for Spanish PhD Applications
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for all graduate student applicants, using the Graduate School’s online application. In the application you will provide contact information for the three individuals who will furnish recommendations on your behalf. They will receive an upload link by email.
- Unofficial copies of all university transcripts are required. You will be able to upload them using the Graduate School’s online application. If you are accepted, you will be required to supply an official transcript from each university attended. Certified English translations should accompany all non-English transcripts.
- All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Requirements for Admission page.
- Statement of Purpose: What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study? Please describe your current degree goals and your reasons for selecting your program(s). Your statement can be either in English or Spanish. It should not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages, or the equivalent when double-spaced.
- CV or Résumé – This should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications including academic honors or distinctions; professional, research, and/or teaching experience; and any publications.
- A writing sample in Spanish (term paper length) is required for all PhD applicants. It should be eight to ten (8-10) pages. The topic should be as close as possible to the field in which you wish to specialize for the PhD thesis.
Portuguese PhD
MA students in Portuguese at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are admitted to doctoral studies in this Department on the recommendation of the MA examining committee upon successful completion of the PhD Qualifying Examination.
A graduate student with a master’s degree from another institution is admitted to the doctoral program by virtue of their acceptance by the Department. A minimum graduate GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale is required.
During the registration period, the student will be asked to supply supplementary information regarding courses taken previously, experience abroad, scope of readings in Portuguese and Brazilian literatures, and preparation in linguistics.
When you apply for the Portuguese PhD program, you’ll be asked to select up to two areas of interest in the Supplemental Application. The areas are:
- African Literature in Portuguese
- Brazilian Literature from 1900
- Brazilian Literature to 1900
- Portuguese Literature from origins to Eça de Queirós
- Portuguese Literature of the 20th and 21st centuries
Please note: these concentration tracks are internal to the program and represent different pathways a student can follow to earn a doctoral degree in Portuguese. Concentration names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.
Required Documentation for Portuguese PhD Applications
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required for all graduate student applicants, using the Graduate School’s online application. In the application you will provide contact information for the three individuals who will furnish recommendations on your behalf. They will receive an upload link by email.
- Unofficial copies of all university transcripts are required. You will be able to upload them using the Graduate School’s online application. If you are accepted, you will be required to supply an official transcript from each university attended. Certified English translations should accompany all non-English transcripts.
- All international degree-seeking applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency. For more information on this requirement, check the English proficiency section on the Requirements for Admission page.
- Statement of Purpose: What are your reasons for pursuing graduate study? Please describe your current degree goals and your reasons for selecting your program(s). Your statement can be either in English or Portuguese. It should not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages, or the equivalent when double-spaced.
- CV or Résumé – This should highlight your accomplishments and qualifications including academic honors or distinctions; professional, research, and/or teaching experience; and any publications.
- A writing sample in Portuguese (term paper length) is required for all PhD applicants. It should be eight to ten (8-10) pages. The topic should be as close as possible to the field in which you wish to specialize for the PhD thesis.
TRACKING THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION
To review the status of your submitted application, log in to your Application Portal. Any requests for information or changes in your status will be noted in the portal.
You should regularly check for messages from our department and UW-Madison’s Graduate School, which will alert you if any materials are needed to complete your application.
If you have questions about the admissions process, please read through the Frequently Asked Questions below. You are welcome to contact our Graduate Coordinator with any unanswered questions about the process or about your application materials.
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What if I have problems attaching the supporting documents to the online application?
Try refreshing the page in your browser. Try using a different browser. If you are still unsuccessful, please send the documents in an email attachment to the Graduate Coordinator.
What about GRE scores? Do I need to submit them?
Neither our Department nor the Graduate School requires GRE scores for admission, so you are not required to take the GRE to apply. However, if you have taken it and would like to include your scores, you can. That is up to you. If you are a domestic student accepted into our program, your GRE scores could potentially help you if you are nominated for a scholarship that uses them as one piece of information for evaluation. But again, they are not required.
How will I know if my application is complete?
Log in to your Application Portal and select the application you wish to review. This will take you to a status page where you can review the status of your application and also which pieces of information required have not yet been received.
What if my letters of recommendation or test scores aren't received by the deadline?
We understand that some of these items may trickle in after the application deadline. As long as you have paid the application fee and submitted your application by the application deadline, your application will be considered for admission.
When are applications reviewed?
Faculty members will begin reviewing files after the January 5th or October 15th deadline and the Department will send letters of admission or refusal by late February or mid-November.
How are applications evaluated?
The Department of Spanish & Portuguese welcomes applications from students eager to engage deeply with literature, culture, and linguistics in a supportive and intellectually vibrant community.
Each application is reviewed carefully and holistically. Our faculty consider all submitted materials—the transcript, CV, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and (for PhD applicants) a writing sample—to understand each applicant’s preparation, goals, and potential for success.
We evaluate applications according to the following criteria:
- Adequate and relevant preparation for graduate study
- Evidence of strong work ethic, resilience, and perseverance
- Research skills, experience, and/or potential for independent scholarship
- Commitment and potential to contribute to the field and broader community
- Alignment of academic interests and goals with the department’s strengths and resources