The College of Letters & Science recognizes that in some circumstances, courses offered by other institutions of higher learning (e.g., MATC-Madison, Edgewood College, etc.) can complement the course of study offered by the residence program at UW-Madison. Permission is required to be enrolled at UW-Madison while also taking a class at another institution. This permission must be obtained before enrolling in the course at the other institution.
Any student interested in being concurrently enrolled for the fall or spring semester must demonstrate that special circumstances are involved. Please note that simple preference or convenience is not considered a strong reason for getting permission to be concurrently enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students not use concurrent enrollment as a means by which particular degree or major requirements are taken entirely out of residence. Students who are granted permission to be concurrently enrolled are bound by the L&S regulation that students cannot take more than 18 credits in either the fall or spring term (the maximum credit load for the summer session is 12).
To obtain special permission to be concurrently enrolled, refer to concurrent enrollment request form. Additional information is also located at concurrent registration/concurrent enrollment in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Please note that students studying abroad through International Academic Programs (IAP) will need to contact IAP to see if it is possible to be concurrently enrolled. Please note that if a student is approved to be concurrently enrolled by IAP, the student will not be eligible for a tuition waiver if taking a course through Independent Learning. Please contact IAP if you have additional questions.
- A student requesting concurrent enrollment should be beyond the first year of college and have a UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 2.500
- Permission for concurrent enrollment should be obtained before enrolling in the outside institution’s course and by the end of the 3rd week of classes (fall or spring term).
- For Fall 2021, the deadline to request to be concurrently enrolled is Friday, September 17, 2021.
- For Spring 2022, the deadline to request to be concurrently enrolled is Friday, February 4, 2022.
- Students requesting permission to be concurrently enrolled should demonstrate that special circumstances are involved. Simple preference or convenience is not a valid reason for granting permission to take an outside course concurrently with a residence program at UW-Madison.
- Students who are given permission to be concurrently enrolled are bound by the College of Letters & Science enrollment regulation of 18 credits maximum (which includes the total number of credits taken at both UW-Madison and the non-residence institution). If a student will exceed 18 credits in a semester, the student must fill out a “Credit Overload Request” online form.
- Students may never receive credit for more than twenty (20) credits in either the fall or spring semester. In addition, a student may never receive more than twelve (thirteen with dean’s permission) during the summer term.
- Courses taken through the UW-Extension/UW Independent Learning program are considered concurrently enrolled when students enroll in one of these classes while also taking classes at UW-Madison. When permission to take a course through Independent Learning is granted, the course(s) must be completed during the UW Semester/term in which the course was authorized to be taken.
- For example, a student who receives permission in Fall 2021 to take a course through Independent Learning while also enrolled at UW-Madison must complete this course by the end of the Fall 2021 term.
- It might be possible to get a UW Extension Independent Learning Tuition Waiver for a course taken through Independent Learning during the fall or spring semester. Please refer to concurrent enrollment and guidelines for a tuition waiver for more information about the criteria to qualify for a tuition waiver for UW Extension courses and the tuition waiver form. If a student is studying abroad on an IAP Study Abroad Program and also gets approval to be concurrently enrolled through IAP, the student will not be eligible for a tuition waiver. Please contact IAP if you have additional questions.
- If the Independent Learning course being taken puts a student above 18 credits during the fall or spring term, the student will need to pay for the extra credits not covered by the tuition waiver.
- All students must pay an administrative fee to take an Independent Learning course, even if the student receives a tuition waiver. More information about fees and the tuition waive can be found at il.wisconsin.edu or by calling 1-877-UW-LEARN (895-3276)
- General questions about taking courses through Independent Learning can be directed to il@uwex.edu.
Please be sure to print a copy of the information you have submitted for your records. Please note that it could take up to fourteen (14) business days before your request gets reviewed and processed.