UW–Madison offers a mix of university-funded scholarships, assistantships, and external funding opportunities for international students across undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and doctoral programs. While automatic merit scholarships for international students are comparatively limited, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and business school funding can significantly reduce the overall cost of study at UW-Madison.
For graduate and PhD students, the highest-value funding typically comes through Research Assistantships (RA) and Teaching Assistantships (TA), which may include full tuition waivers along with stipends ranging from USD 30,614–37,417 per year (₹29.39–35.92 Lakhs). MBA students at the Wisconsin School of Business also receive strong scholarship support, with 99% of recent full-time MBA students receiving merit aid, including awards of USD 10,000–30,000+ (₹9.60–28.80 Lakhs+).
International undergraduate students have access to selective awards such as the King-Morgridge Scholars Program, which can cover full tuition, housing, airfare, health insurance, and living expenses, and the Kemper K. Knapp Scholarship offering up to USD 8,000 (₹7.68 Lakhs).
Currency Note: All conversions follow 1 USD = ₹96 (as of May 2026).
Learn about the Indian students' guide to studying in the US
![Landscape infographic poster for University of Wisconsin–Madison highlighting graduate and undergraduate scholarship opportunities. The design features a clean red, white, and navy blue university theme with Bascom Hall and lakefront campus scenery in the background. Large heading reads “UW–Madison’s Graduate & Undergraduate Scholarship Options.” The infographic is divided into two main panels: “Graduate Funding at UW–Madison” and “UW–Madison Scholarships for UG Students,” both without introductory paragraphs underneath the headings. The graduate section includes illustrated icons for Research Assistantships (RA), Teaching Assistantships (TA), and University Fellowships, with concise funding details such as tuition waivers, stipends exceeding USD 37,000, and departmental nominations. The undergraduate section highlights the King-Morgridge Scholars Program, Kemper K. Knapp Scholarship, and Departmental & Merit Scholarships using bold icons, scholarship badges, and short descriptions. A prominent “USD 8,000 (₹7.68 Lakhs)” funding callout appears for the Knapp Scholarship. A group of smiling students wearing Wisconsin hoodies sits with a laptop on the lower-right side, while the UW badger mascot appears on the lower-left. Decorative academic doodles, stars, graduation cap illustrations, and motivational text such as “Be a Badger. Achieve More.” create a fun, modern, and visually engaging student-focused design while maintaining a clean layout.]()
What is the WiSH Application?
WiSH stands for Wisconsin Scholarship Hub.
It is the official centralized scholarship portal of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is used by both incoming and current students to find, apply for, and manage scholarships offered by UW-Madison.
Key Points about WiSH:
- It is not a single scholarship. It is a platform (like a scholarship search + application system) where hundreds of UW-Madison scholarships are listed.
- Students need a UW NetID, which they get after submitting their admission application, to log in.
- After logging in, the students must complete a General Application (short questionnaire), and the system matches them to scholarships they may be eligible for.
- Some scholarships are auto-considered (no extra application needed), while others require you to submit additional essays/questions inside WiSH.
Check out the popular courses and fees at UW-Madison
UW-Madison Scholarships for Graduate Students
Graduate funding at UW–Madison is largely driven by assistantships and research-based funding, particularly for PhD students and research-focused MS candidates. Most funded opportunities are department-specific and often require direct faculty nomination.
- Research Assistantships (RA) with full tuition waivers and annual stipends exceeding USD 37,000 (₹35.52 Lakhs).
- Teaching Assistantships (TA) that provide tuition support plus stipends for students with strong academic and teaching backgrounds
- University Fellowships for top PhD admits are typically offered through departmental nominations.
The table below outlines the major graduate funding opportunities available at UW–Madison for international students.
| Scholarship / Funding |
Award Value |
Eligibility |
Application |
| Graduate Research Assistantship (RA) |
Full tuition waiver +
$37,417 (₹35.92 Lakhs) minimum stipend |
PhD and some MS students
(faculty match required) |
Direct email to faculty 2–3 months before deadline |
| Graduate Teaching Assistantship (TA) |
Full tuition waiver +
$30,614 (₹29.39 Lakhs) minimum stipend |
PhD and advanced MS with teaching skills |
Department-level application |
| Project Assistantship |
Partial tuition +
$5,000 – $20,000 (₹4.80 – ₹19.20 Lakhs+) stipend |
Graduate students on research projects |
Faculty contact |
| University Fellowships |
$25,000 – $40,000 (₹24 – ₹38.40 Lakhs+) stipend +tuition |
Top PhD admits
(department nomination) |
Nominated by the department |
Important point: MS students must proactively contact faculty for RA/TA positions. CS, Engineering, and Data Science have more opportunities due to research funding.
Check out the US application deadlines for international students
UW-Madison Scholarships for UG Students
Scholarship opportunities for international undergraduate students at UW–Madison are comparatively limited and highly competitive. Most funding is offered through selective merit-based programs, leadership-focused scholarships, or departmental awards rather than automatic tuition discounts.
- King-Morgridge Scholars Program – a fully funded scholarship covering tuition, housing, health insurance, airfare, and living stipend
- Kemper K. Knapp Scholarship – merit-based support of up to USD 8,000 (₹7.68 Lakhs)
- Departmental and merit scholarships for students with strong academic performance in Class 12.
The table below highlights the major undergraduate scholarship opportunities available for international students at UW–Madison.
| Scholarship |
Award Value |
Eligibility |
Application |
King-Morgridge Scholars Program
(Flagship) |
Full tuition + room & board + health insurance + stipend + airfare |
Incoming UG from South Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc.,
with strong academics, leadership & commitment to poverty alleviation |
Separate application (Early Action + WiSH)
Deadline ~Nov 2026 |
| Kemper K. Knapp Scholarship |
Up to $8,000
(₹7.68 Lakhs) total |
Primarily Wisconsin residents / National Merit Finalists;
limited for internationals |
Automatic or separate form |
| Other Merit Scholarships |
$1,000 – $5,000
(₹96,000 – ₹4.80 Lakhs) |
High academic merit
(90%+ in Class 12) |
Auto-considered with admission |
Note: International students are eligible for many scholarships via the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH), but awards are highly competitive and not guaranteed.
Check out the admission process at UW-Madison
Wisconsin MBA Scholarships and Business School Funding
The Wisconsin School of Business offers one of the strongest scholarship support systems among public MBA programs in the U.S., with 99% of recent full-time MBA students receiving some form of merit aid. Most scholarships are automatically considered during the MBA admission process, though select awards may involve additional interviews or evaluations.
- Wisconsin MBA Merit Scholarships ranging from USD 10,000 to 30,000+
- Full Tuition Scholarships for exceptional MBA admits
- Forte Foundation Fellowships for women with demonstrated leadership potential
- Specialized Master’s Scholarships for programs such as MS Business Analytics and MS Finance.
| Scholarship |
Award Value |
Eligibility |
| Wisconsin MBA Merit Scholarship |
$10,000 – $30,000+
(₹9.60 – ₹28.80 Lakhs+) |
Strong academics, work experience & leadership |
| Forte Foundation Fellowship |
$10,000 – $25,000
(₹9.60 – ₹24 Lakhs |
Female applicants with leadership |
| Diversity Scholarships |
$10,000 – $20,000
(₹9.60 – ₹19.20 Lakhs) |
Underrepresented backgrounds |
Specialized Master’s Scholarships
(e.g., Business Analytics) |
$5,000 – $15,000
(₹4.80 – ₹14.40 Lakhs) |
MS Business Analytics, MS Finance, etc. |
Check out the rankings for UW-Madison
India-Specific and External Scholarships
Many Indian students at UW–Madison supplement university funding with prestigious external scholarships and education grants from Indian foundations and international organisations. These scholarships are highly competitive and often support tuition, living expenses, travel, and research costs.
Popular India-specific and external scholarships include:
- Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship offering full tuition, stipend, and travel support
- Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship with funding of up to USD 100,000
- JN Tata Endowment provides loan scholarships and partial gift awards
- Tata Trusts Scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need
| Scholarship |
Award Value |
Key Details |
Deadline (Tentative) |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship |
Full tuition + stipend |
3+ years of work experience preferred |
May 2026 |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship |
Up to $100,000
(₹96 Lakhs) |
Under 30, strong academics |
April 2027 |
| JN Tata Endowment |
₹10 Lakhs loan +
₹7.5 Lakhs gift |
Any subject |
March 2027 |
| Tata Trusts Scholarship |
Up to ₹10 Lakhs |
Financial need |
March 2027 |
Note: UW-Madison scholarships can usually be stacked with external awards.
Refer here to know more about the external scholarships available in the US for Indian Students
Scholarship and funding opportunities at UW–Madison vary significantly by program level and department. Graduate and doctoral students generally have stronger access to funded positions through assistantships, fellowships, and faculty-sponsored research projects.
For Indian students, the most substantial funding opportunities are typically RA/TA positions with tuition waivers and stipends of USD 30,000–40,000+ (₹28.80–38.40 Lakhs+). MBA merit scholarships ranging from USD 10,000–30,000+ (₹9.60–28.80 Lakhs+).
Most merit-based awards are automatically considered during admission, while assistantships and selective scholarships often require direct faculty contact, departmental nomination, or separate applications through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).
FAQs
Ques. Do scholarships cover living costs?
Ans. RA/TA stipends generally cover Madison’s living expenses (~$20,000–$25,000/year). Most tuition-only scholarships do not cover living costs.
Ques. Are scholarships automatic?
Ans. Most merit awards and MBA scholarships are auto-considered. RA/TA and King-Morgridge require proactive effort.
Ques. Is an interview required at UW-Madison for a scholarship?
Ans. Most scholarships (including Kemper K. Knapp, Wisconsin International Tuition Award, general merit scholarships, and most MBA Merit Scholarships) do not require an interview. These are usually auto-considered with your admission application or decided based on your academic profile, essays, and WiSH application.
Ques. How long does it take to get an offer from UW-Madison?
Ans. Graduate offers typically arrive in 4 to 6 weeks after submission. UG offers via Common App take 4 to 8 weeks. Conditional offers convert to unconditional after the final Bachelor's transcript with 75-80%. The Wisconsin MBA decision is communicated 4 to 6 weeks after each round closes.
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