J.D./Ph.D. Admissions

The Graduate School’s minimum requirements for admission, which applies to the Neuroscience Ph.D. degree can be found at: at http://grad.wisc.edu/admissions/requirements/.

*Please note, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is no longer required by NTP. Effective for the 2018-19 admissions season (those applying for the Fall 2019 NTP class), NTP no longer requires GRE scores, nor will the Admissions Committee use any GRE scores submitted as part of its review.

On the electronic application form, under intended major field of study choose Neuroscience. In the supplemental application you must indicate that you are applying to the Neuroscience & Law Program. Information describing the admissions requirements for the Neuroscience Training Program is available at: http://ntp.neuroscience.wisc.edu/admissions.htm.

The Neuroscience and Law Program prepares students for a variety of careers at the intersection of neuroscience research and law. Therefore, applicants must write a thoughtful statement that integrates their interest in pursuing both degrees and how they will connect the two fields of study. Successful applicants will prepare a statement of that demonstrates an understanding not only of research techniques and methods but also the importance and end goal of the research they are doing. Applicants also should explain in detail their interest in law, describing past experience, if any, in legal studies/law, why they wish to combine graduate training in law with training in neuroscience, and how they foresee integrating training in neuroscience with training in law in building a career.

Applicants who fail to address both programs and the integration of both into their degree path will not be considered for admission to the Neuroscience and Law Program.

Transcripts must be uploaded in the online application from each institution that you have attended (undergraduate and graduate), even if no degree was received. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application process but upon acceptance to the program, official paper transcripts will be required. Note: International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Do not send your transcripts to the Graduate School because we will not receive them by the Dec. 1st deadline.

If you have trouble uploading transcripts in the system due to file size or other concerns, please contact us at npp@mailplus.wisc.edu.

Letters of recommendation are submitted online and should be from persons familiar with an applicant’s academic and research abilities. If possible, letter writers should comment on your interest in or preparation for the Neuroscience & Law Program. Instructions for letters of recommendation are posted at: http://grad.wisc.edu/admissions/.

Track your application status on MyUW to see if letters of recommendation have been submitted. Send reminders, ask another person for a letter of recommendation, just make sure you have at least three letters submitted on your behalf by December 1st!

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is no longer required by NTP. Effective for the 2018-19 admissions season (those applying for the Fall 2019 NTP class), NTP no longer requires GRE scores, nor will the Admissions Committee use any GRE scores submitted as part of its review.

A resume or CV is required and must be uploaded in the online application.

UW-Madison charges a non-refundable $75 application fee that must be paid by credit card (Master Card or Visa) or debit/ATM card in the online application system.

In addition to the $75 application fee, non U.S. citizens will be charged a $6.00 international document processing fee. Both fees will be processed during the submission of your application.

There are also limited application fee grants available. Check the UW-Madison Graduation Application Fee grants to see if you qualify. *Please note that fee grant applications must be submitted before your application and can take two weeks to process so you should plan to submit fee grant applications by November 15th.

An application for fall admission should be made directly to the Law School. The admission requirements are posted at http://www.law.wisc.edu/prospective/application_procedures.html. Complete applications should be submitted no later than December 1 of the year preceding intended enrollment. Applicants wishing to be considered for admission under the Law School’s Early Decision Program should file complete applications by November 15 of the year preceding intended enrollment.

Admissions Criteria
The criteria used by the Law School’s admissions committee in evaluating applicants are explained at http://www.law.wisc.edu/prospective/criteria.html.

Electronic Application
Applications to the Law School should be submitted electronically. Instructions are posted at http://www.law.wisc.edu/prospective/admissions/reqform.html.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
All applicants are required to submit scores on a recently taken Law School Admission Test (LSAT) http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat, and must subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), sponsored by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). Applicants must take the LSAT no later than the February prior to the fall in which they seek admission, and no earlier than the October four years prior. Applicants should have an official report of their score sent to the Law School directly by LSAC, as part of the CAS report. Contact LSAC directly at 215-968-1001 or go to http://www.lsac.org to register online for the LSAT and subscribe to the CAS.

Other Application Materials

Copies of the Statement of Purpose, official transcripts and three letters of recommendation should be included in the application submitted to the Law School.