Students taking courses through the UW-Extension/UW Independent Learning program can qualify for a tuition waiver.
Please read the requirements carefully before you fill out the form.
- The course must be completed during a UW-Madison term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). No tuition waiver can be applied to Winterim.
- For fall and spring terms, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits at UW-Madison. For summer session/term, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits at UW-Madison.
- L&S undergraduate students must be in the “tuition plateau” for their combined credits both at UW-Madison and University of Wisconsin Independent Learning (UWIL) by being registered for between 13 and 18 credits in the fall or spring term or between 7 and 9 credits in the summer term.
- Important Note for UW-Madison Students Maintaining an F-1 or J-1 Visa: Independent Learning courses do not count toward the minimum credit hours that students need to maintain their visa status. If a student on an F-1 or J-1 visa has any questions about maintaining their F-1 or J-1 visa status, they should contact International Student Services (ISS) at UW-Madison.
The tuition waiver form can be found at: UW-Extension-Independent-Learning-Form-Fillable-updated
L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans’ Services (ADS) will accept tuition waivers for L&S undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:
| Minimum required credits at UW-Madison | Maximum credits through UW-Madison and UW-IL | Opening date for tuition waiver requests | Closing date for tuition waiver requests | |
| Fall or Spring Term | 12 credits | 18 credits | 10 business days before the start of the term | 11:59 p.m. on the Friday of the fourth week of the term. |
| Summer Term | 6 credits | 9 credits | May 19, 2025 | 11:59 p.m. on June 13, 2025 |
| Winterim | Not available | |||
When approved, the tuition waiver covers the portion of UW-Extension/UW Independent Learning tuition that fits within the student’s tuition plateau. Students must always pay the administrative fee required by the UW-Extension. (For example, when a student is registered for 12 credits at UW and is approved for a 4-credit course at UWIL, the waiver would cover all of UWIL tuition because 12+4=16 which is within the tuition plateau. When a student is registered for 16 credits at UW and is approved for a 4-credit course, the waiver would cover half of UWIL tuition because 16+4=20 which is not within the tuition plateau. The student would be responsible for paying for the additional credits).
General questions about taking courses through Independent Learning can be directed to il@uwex.edu.
If you have questions about a tuition waiver, please email lsdeans@saa.ls.wisc.edu.