Application Materials
PharmCAS Application
PharmD applicants apply online via PharmCAS which is available in July the year before they plan to enroll. All college transcripts and letters of recommendation should be sent to PharmCAS.
We encourage Fall 2025 applicants to complete the PharmCAS application as soon as possible as our school uses a rolling admissions process, meaning completed applications are considered as soon as they are received. The PharmCAS application will be made available in July 2024 for for Fall 2025 admission.
The priority application deadline for Fall 2025 Admission is November 1, 2024.
The final application deadline for Fall 2025 Admission is March 3, 2025.
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Create Your UW‒Madison Admissions Portal
Creating a UW‒Madison PharmD Admissions Portal is required for all applicants and must be completed in order for your application to be reviewed. Applicants use the admissions portal to monitor their admissions status.
Two Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation (referred to as evaluations in PharmCAS) must be submitted to PharmCAS before an application will be considered complete. Applicants must specify their references on the PharmCAS application and all letters must be submitted via the PharmCAS portal.
Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation/evaluations via PharmCAS.
- One of the two letters must be from a college-level instructor (professor, lecturer, teaching assistant). A letter from a science instructor is preferred.
- The second letter should be from a reference who knows you professionally such as a work/volunteer supervisor, pharmacist, professor, lecturer, teaching/research assistant, or academic advisor. We will not accept letters from a politician, friend, family member, or coworker of equal standing.
Official College Transcripts
All official transcripts must be submitted through PharmCAS. Transcripts sent to the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the application will not be accepted. If post secondary coursework was completed outside of the U.S. or Canada, a World Educational Services (WES) transcript evaluation is required and must be sent to PharmCAS.
AP, IB, and Other Test Scores (if applicable)
If you wish to receive credit for AP or IB coursework, the coursework must be identified on one or more of your college transcripts (each AP exam must be transferred in as a course with credits on your current transcript). AP credit will be granted for specific courses and prerequisite requirements if your current institution gave you specific course credit for the exam.If your college transcripts do not list each course transferred in from your AP tests (for example, it just lists 20 AP credits), please email the PharmD Admissions Office inform the school of your scores.
International Applicant & Non-native English Speaker Requirements
International applicants and non-native English speakers must submit additional materials with their application. Depending on your academic history and native language, you may have to submit certain documents and complete additional prerequisite coursework. Accepted International applicants will be required to submit funding documents prior to requesting your Visa.
Admission Interviews
A closed-file interview is a required part of the application process and all applicants with a verified and complete application will be reviewed for potential interview selection. Candidates will be contacted with their interview decision via email within one week of receiving your verified and complete application from PharmCAS. If an applicant is not selected for an interview, they will not continue on with the application process. Interviews occur monthly from September through April.
Interviews for the Fall 2025 admissions cycle will be held both on campus and virtually.
Advanced Standing Transfer Policy
Due to the nature of the curriculum designed for the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, we are unable to accept advanced-standing transfer students from other PharmD programs. Those wishing to transfer from another school/college of pharmacy must apply as an entry-level applicant through PharmCAS, where they will be granted equal consideration alongside other entry-level applicants.
Reapplication to the PharmD Program
If you would like to reapply for the PharmD program, you must follow the same admission requirements as first-time applicants. Note that admission criteria and requirements, and application instructions, deadlines, and materials required for a complete application may change from year to year.
A maximum of three (3) application attempts will be allowed. Students not accepted after their third application attempt will have to wait three (3) years to reapply.
Applicants who have left the program and wish to be readmitted should read the PharmD Readmission Policy
AACP Cooperative Admission Guidelines
In an effort to allow applicants the time and ability to explore multiple pharmacy programs, the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy participates in the AACP Cooperative Admissions Guidelines (CAG).
Participating CAG schools adhere to admissions guidelines, including deposits and applicant acceptance protocols:
- Prior to March 1, these programs will not require a deposit of more than $200.
- Applicants to these programs may accept offers from multiple PharmD programs until March 1, at which point they may hold only one acceptance. If an applicant holds more than one acceptance, programs may choose to rescind admission offers.
- After March 1, applicants may continue to interview. If offered admission to a program after March 1, an applicant who had previously accepted another program’s offer must withdraw from that program in order to accept the new offer.
PharmD Admissions Guide
Learn more about the PharmD application process.
Questions about our program?
Check our FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions.