Initial residence determinations for tuition purposes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are made by the Office of the Registrar based on the provisions of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2) which governs residence status for tuition purposes. In general, you must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin for at least 12 months prior to enrollment to be eligible for in-state tuition.
If you still have questions about your residence classification after reading the extract of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2), or you feel that your classification is incorrect or that you have important extenuating or mitigating factors, you may contact a Tuition Residency Counselor and/or submit an Appeal for Exemption from Nonresident Tuition form by the appropriate deadline.
It is our goal to make students residents whenever possible in accordance with the State law. While every student has the right to submit an appeal, a consultation with a Residence Counselor can help you determine whether moving forward with an appeal is a prudent decision. The Counselor will provide guidance and will give a professional opinion about the likelihood of a successful appeal based on the circumstances of your situation. Having a clear understanding of the law and the appeals process could save you a good deal of time and energy.
You must be enrolled for classes in the term for which you are appealing; if you are not enrolled, your appeal will not be heard.
The Application for Appeal from Nonresident Tuition form will be available on this page during the “appeals can begin” and “deadline for submitting appeals” dates for each term. Information about how to have your form notarized and submitted by the deadline is included on the form.
Appealing the nonresident status
Important: Before filling out an appeal form, contact a Residence Counselor at ResidenceForTuition@registrar.wisc.edu or (608) 262-1355. A formal residence appeal is not the right process for all residency claims. You must discuss your circumstances with a Residence Counselor to determine if this is the correct option for you.
wdt_ID | Term Year | Appeals Form First Available | Deadline for Submitting Appeals (4:00 pm on this day) | Form Link Will Appear Here When Available |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fall 2021 | Thursday, July 1, 2021 | Friday, September 17, 2021 | |
2 | Spring 2021 | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | Friday, February 5, 2021 | |
3 | Summer 2021 | Thursday, April 15, 2021 | Friday, August 6, 2021 | Form |
Important: COVID-19 Impacts on Residency Appeals
Residency appeals hearings are normally held in person in the Office of the Registrar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, appeals hearings will be held remotely via WebEx, a secure service for remote meeting. As the COVID-19 situation develops, there may be changes to this approach. However, for the indefinite future, all ‘in-person’ appeals will be held remotely via WebEx.
Due to social distancing policies, you will need to submit your appeals form by postal mail or email. Please see the instructions on the appeals form. The form does not need to be notarized while the COVID-19 appeals structure is in place.
Please contact a residence counselor about your appeal prior to completing the form. Residence counselors can provide guidance about how to complete the form and can advise you on your legal rights and responsibilities.
Please note that all information is subject to change due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will communicate changes to appeals practices on this website and will contact you directly if a change impacts an appeal for which you have already applied.
We appreciate your understanding during this uncertain time.