How to Apply to the World Languages and Cultures Master's Programs

Domestic and International Applicants 

The  UWM Graduate School Application  is entirely online.  

Your online application must include:  

In addition to the standard application materials required by the Graduate School, the WLC MA program requires the following materials: 

  1. Three letters of recommendation. Please ask the persons writing a recommendation for you to use institutional stationery or other appropriate official letterhead. At least two of the letters should come from former instructors who can speak to your ability to do graduate work. Please have your recommenders upload their letters directly to the Graduate School Online Portal. 
  2. Reasons Statement: an essential part of your application, the Reasons Statement is used to determine the appropriateness of your educational and professional goals and serves as an example of your ability to express yourself in writing. In the statement: 
    • Explain your reasons for pursuing graduate study. 
    • Describe specific interests and your background in the field. 
    • List any relevant skills or training you have acquired. 
    • List relevant academic awards or honors you have received. 
    • List the names of those individuals who will write on your behalf. 
  3. Application Fee: Information on the current graduate application fee is available on the Graduate School Application Form.  
  4. Qualifying Exam: Translation concentration applicants only. Applicants intending to complete a concentration in Translation need to pass the Translation Program Qualifying Exam before they can be admitted to the program. The exam is offered in spring and fall terms. Applicants should plan ahead to ensure that the exam is taken on a timely basis so as not to delay the processing of their application. 

    International Applicants Only 

    Please visit the International Admissions page at the UWM Center for International Education (CIE) to begin your application.  

    Deadlines 

    February 15—Please apply by December 15 if you wish to be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental awards and teaching assistantships.  

    October 15 —Please apply by December 15 if you wish to be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental awards and teaching assistantships to begin the following Fall. 

    Please note:  There is no mandatory deadline for students who wish to apply without any consideration for financial awards; we accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. However, for timely consideration of your application, and to make sure that your application is considered for all available scholarships and funding opportunities, we recommend that all application materials be received by: 

    If you apply too late for a given semester, you may take up to four courses as a “Non-Degree Graduate Student,” and then transfer those credits toward the degree after being admitted to the program. Students considering this option should consult with the Graduate Advisor of their area of study. 

    Financial Aid Information 

    For information on support from the Department of World Languages and Cultures and the university (including FAFSA), please see financial aid. 

    For questions regarding the World Languages and Cultures Graduate Program, please contact Katie Vater. 

    UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.