Graduate Admissions FAQs

The MFA program is a full-time, on-campus program that lasts two academic years, including summer sessions in between.

The department accepts applications annually in the fall. For the fall 2026-27 admission, applications will open on September 3, 2025. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025.

Students applying to the Dance MFA program must apply directly to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School and complete a separate application through the Dance Department. The application materials required include an application fee, transcripts from previously attended institutions, English proficiency test scores (if applicable), an artist statement, a portfolio, a CV or resume, and two letters of recommendation.

The application process for the Dance MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is competitive. Our program offers full tuition remission, annual graduate appointments, stipends, and access to health insurance, making it an attractive choice for prospective students.

Our department does not provide grants for application fees. However, if you qualify, you can apply for a fee grant from the Graduate School.

Many MFA students receive funding packages that often include fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAs), or project assistantships (PAs). These packages typically cover tuition, provide a stipend, and include health insurance.

The MFA programs in the Dance Department do not require applicants to submit GRE scores.

We are currently not accepting applications from international students.

Applications will close on December 1, 2025. Finalist candidates will be contacted in mid-January 2026. Admission offers will be issued on February 1, 2026. Students placed on the waitlist will also be notified of their status on that date. Those who receive an admission offer will have until April 15, 2026, to accept.

This statement includes two parts: 1) Your creative practice/research, and 2) Your intent.

1. Your Creative Practice/Research: This part of your artist statement should focus on your current creative practice and research. It should provide accurate descriptions of your present work and intellectual interests. It should be forward-looking, addressing how attending the UW-Madison MFA program will advance your creative research, and what specifically the Dance Department can provide to help you achieve your goals. 
2. Your Intent: This part of your artist statement should include relevant information related to your creative practice and how attending the university will benefit your research over the course of the program. This is your opportunity to share specific aspects of your research and practice that relate to what the university can offer. It’s appropriate to mention departments, areas of research outside the Dance Department, faculty, researchers, spaces, and other university resources that will support your research during your time in the program. 

          Your artist statement should be no longer than 1000 words.

We encourage you to include work completed within the past three years. Recent projects provide the admissions committee with a clearer understanding of your skills and the contributions you can make as a first-year graduate student. Please highlight the unique qualities of the work represented in your portfolio as part of your application. Additionally, it’s important to include examples that are relevant to your intended area of research.

You can submit either a CV or a resume as part of your application to the MFA program. Both formats are acceptable; the choice is yours and should reflect how you want to showcase your qualifications and experience.

You can include links to your art practice and research in your CV or resume. This can consist of social media accounts, a professional website, or any other online platforms where you showcase your work. These links provide valuable context and insight into your artistic practice, helping the admissions committee gain a better understanding of your work and your potential as an MFA student.

Yes, the program provides full tuition remission for all students, regardless of their in-state or out-of-state, domestic or international status.

Students are required to pay segregated fees to the university each semester. For further details, visit the Bursar’s Office segregated fees webpage.

The program guarantees students graduate assistantships. Students are guaranteed an assistantship each year in the program and are automatically assigned an assistantship annually.

Yes, every student receives a stipend linked to their graduate appointment, which is meant to help cover the costs of attending the program and can be utilized at the student’s discretion to support their living expenses.

All graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have access to health insurance and medical benefits, which can also be extended to their spouses and dependent children.

Graduate students will have a designated workspace in a shared office. They will also have access to studio spaces in Lathrop Hall. The department provides an online reservation system that allows both faculty and students to reserve studio space within the building. Graduate students will have access to these facilities for their creative research. More information can be found in the Dance Department Graduate Student Handbook (coming soon). Additionally, graduate students will have access to sound and video lab facilities, as well as the equipment available in those spaces.

The campus DesignLab is another resource for students with project-specific needs. This is a digital media design consulting service that provides brief consultations and links to relevant resources. Our students can also access services through the School of Education’s Media, Education Resources, and Information Technology (MERIT) library, which provides IT and AV support, as well as equipment loans.

The program offers students the chance to explore various disciplines and encourages creative research across different fields on campus. Students will collaborate with faculty members from their primary discipline as well as from other areas. We strongly encourage students to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available on campus.

The McBurney Disability Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is dedicated to supporting students with disabilities and facilitating classroom accommodations. This office collaborates with both students and instructors to ensure that effective accommodations are provided. McBurney primarily assists students who experience physical, learning, hearing, vision, psychological, health, and other disabilities that significantly impact major life activities, such as walking, communicating, learning, seeing, breathing, and reading.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is recognized as one of the top college campuses in the country. It boasts a lively campus community that offers a diverse range of events, student organizations, and clubs. Whether you’re interested in outdoor activities, attending sporting events, or enjoying live music, the campus and city have something for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about graduate student life, visit https://gradlife.wisc.edu/.

Tour the campus virtually at https://exploreuw.wisc.edu/.

See Madison through the seasons at  https://madison.wisc.edu/.

Madison is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live in the United States. Nestled between two lakes, the city is renowned for its stunning scenery. It offers more than 200 biking and hiking trails and is known for its vibrant year-round arts and music scene, farm-to-table restaurants, and commitment to sustainability.

For more information, please visit the City of Madison visitor website.

While many of our graduate students choose to live off-campus, several housing options are available for master’s and doctoral students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The university offers on-campus housing specifically designed for graduate students. These university apartments are conveniently located near campus and provide a range of amenities and services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of graduate students.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison provides extensive support for students with children through the Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR). This office offers a variety of services designed to help student-parents balance their academic goals with family responsibilities. Available resources include information about campus and affiliated child care centers, financial assistance, a resource library, a parents’ listserv, and various events tailored to meet the needs of families.