FAQs

Academics 

How do I find out who my advisor is?
Your advisor is assigned when you officially enroll in a graduate program. You can find your assigned advisor on the PAWS homepage. If you don’t see an advisor listed, contact the school or college that houses your major. 

How do I register for classes?
Information on how to use PAWS to search for, add and drop classes, as well as how to use waitlists, can be found at UWM’s One Stop. 

How do I obtain my textbooks?
Online through the Panther Shop There is free two-day shipping for in-stock items. The Panther Shop is located on the main floor of the UWM Student Union and sells all of your UWM apparel. Apparel is also available online. 

How many credits can I take per semester?
The maximum credit load for graduate students is 12 credits. Audited courses, Sports and Recreation courses, and zero-credit colloquium/seminar courses are excluded from the total credit count. For more information refer Academic Policies and Procedures. 

What is the Graduate School’s grading policy?
Complete details about the Graduate School’s grading system can be found under Academic Policies and Procedures. 

Can I defer my admission?
You can defer your application for up to one year. Submit the Defer Your Admission request (International admits). Domestic admits can reach out to Graduate School. 

What is the difference between full-time, half-time, and less than half-time?
Graduate students enrolled for a minimum of 8 credits per semester or 6 credits during a summer session are considered full time. For more information refer to Full time enrollment section under Academic Policies and Procedures.

What is the process for applying for a teaching assistantship (TA)?
Teaching assistants at the Lubar College of Business make an important contribution to the learning experience of undergraduate students. Working under the supervision of a faculty member, a teaching assistant has regularly assigned teaching duties and related responsibilities. You must be enrolled as a graduate student in the Lubar College in order to be eligible for an assistantship. 

Where can I see what classes are offered in an upcoming semester?
Access the full list of UWM’s courses online using the UWM Schedule of Classes. You will also be able to see which semester each course is offered. 

I am not doing well in my class, what are my options?
Set up an appointment with your advisor as soon as possible to discuss and explore the available options. 

I am trying to register for courses, but I have a hold. How do I get rid of it?  If there’s a hold on your PAWS account, click on the details link below the hold title in your holds box. Clicking on the hold on the next page will reveal who entered the hold and how to get in touch with that person or office. You can then take action to correct or remove the hold. You can also contact the right individual/office to rectify the hold. See the Before You Enroll section of our One Stop site for more information. 

Does the university provide laptops to the students during course time?
There are two ways to borrow a laptop while you are at UWM – through the Library or through the Dean of Students. 

I have a pre- requisite in my course. How should I take it and how is it determined that I need to take the pre-requisite?  When enrolling in a course, certain pre-requisites may need to be completed beforehand. To get detailed information about which courses you need to take first and how they fit into your academic plan, please consult your advisor.

I want to add, drop, or swap a class but PAWS does not allow me. What do I do?
Check the add/drop calendar to make sure you are within the allowable window to make schedule changes. If the deadline to add or drop has passed, you will need to work with your advisor and instructor for permission. 

I am graduating next semester – what should I do?
Please refer to the Masters graduation page. 

I am not satisfied with my grade. Is there a formal dispute process?
Please refer to Graduate school academic appeals procedure. 

Finances 

Now that I am registered for classes, how will I be billed?
Information about costs of tuition and fees, as well as funding (assistantships, fellowships, scholarship portal, travel awards, student loans and on-campus employment) available specifically for graduate students can be found at UWM’s One Stop.

What kind of financial aid is available from the Graduate School?
Please refer  to sources of financial aid for more information.

Who is eligible for Graduate School administered financial aid?
Students should apply for financial aid every year. While there are some exceptions, students who meet the eligibility requirements qualify for some form of financial aid. Visit the financial aid process for more information.  

What is the status of my financial aid application? Did I receive an award?
Please refer to the student financial services for complete details on the financial aid process. 

Is financial aid available for international students?
Yes, international applicants are eligible for merit-based financial aid such as scholarships and assistantships. The Lubar College awards scholarships and teaching assistantships. You need to be an admitted student to apply. 

Can I pay my college fee in installments?
Yes, please refer to the UWM payment plan & UWM payment plan FAQ’s section under the billing and payments section. 

UWM Resources 

What is the PantherCard and how can I use it?
Your Panther Card is your official UWM identification card and is an essential part of campus life. It is the key to accessing services throughout the University. Please refer to the panther card for detailed information. 

Where can I find information about housing?
Please refer to the University Housing page and Off-Campus resource center pages.  

Who do I contact for parking permits or public transportation information?
Parking is available throughout the UW-Milwaukee Campus to everyone, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Please visit transportation page & UWM Transportation Services for more details. 

Is health insurance offered?
The University of Wisconsin System Policy requires all students to have health insurance and recommends students to submit an immunization record. More information is available at  Health Insurance. 

Where can I receive career services support?
Please refer to the Career Center  page for more information  

Where can I receive information about career fairs?
Please refer to the following: Career Fairs – Center for Student Experience and Talent (uwm.edu)

How do I become involved in student organizations?
Please refer to the Student Involvement page for more information  

Where can I go for health and wellness-related questions?
Please refer to the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHAW).

Where can I look for an on-campus job?
Working on campus is convenient, flexible, and a great way to build your Panther community. Please visit On-campus placement page for more details. 

How do I get access to the U-PASS (the bus pass available to enrolled students?
Please refer to the U-PASS page for more details on how to obtain the Milwaukee County Transit System bus pass.