Frequently Asked Questions

Each 8-week course provides a minimum of 180 contact hours in the classroom.

MEDLI is an intensely challenging academic experience. Covering a year’s worth of course material in 8 weeks means that you are in class for over 4 hours each day, and should expect to spend at least an additional 4 hours daily outside of class practicing what you have learned (including vocabulary review and homework assignments). The instructors will also lead cultural, language, and recreational activities nearly every afternoon or evening. You will not have a great deal of free time. However, if you take advantage of the program you will be amazed at how far you progress in the language.

Yes, the program is open to anyone 18 years of age and over, as well as high school students in some cases. The application process is the same for all applicants, although international students will need to obtain a student (F-1) visa because our program exceeds the amount of instruction that is allowed on a tourist visa.

In order to receive UW-Madison academic credit, you must become a UW-Madison Special student. Once you have been admitted to MEDLI, you will need to fill out a UW-Madison Special student application.

You must discuss transfer credit with your home institution. MEDLI is the equivalent of two semesters of language study. You will receive academic credits from UW-Madison and can request an official transcript to give to the Registrar at your home institution. MEDLI and UW-Madison have no control over the transfer process back at your home institution.

MEDLI is an eight week program divided into first and second semesters.

Each semester at MEDLI is worth 4 UW-Madison credits, with 8 credits received at the end of the program.

Yes, MEDLI is open adult learners. When you apply to MEDLI, you will become a student at UW-Madison for the duration of the program. Visit the Adult Career and Special Student services to know more about the application process.

MEDLI does not offer financial aid directly.

You are encouraged to apply for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships through your home institution (if available) or through UW-Madison at flas.wisc.edu. Be sure to contact the appropriate Center that offers FLAS for your language and regional focus.

You may also apply through the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI) Tuition Scholarship, which covers 50% payment of tuition for language study at MEDLI.

Check with your home institution about scholarships that could be used for summer or off-campus programs. Financial aid, such as student loans or grants, is processed by your home institution since you will not be a degree-seeking student at UW-Madison.  A list of funding opportunities for summer language study can be viewed here.

The 2025 priority deadline is March 15, 2025. All applications must be received and complete (including personal statement, official or unofficial transcript(s), and the application fee) by the deadline. Potential applicants who miss the deadline should contact us to see if there is space on a wait-list before applying.

Yes, there is a $25 application fee.

That depends on when you apply and how many applications we receive for each language & level. Only completed applications (including submission of all transcripts, a personal statement, and application processing fee) will be reviewed for admission. MEDLI typically begins admitting students on a rolling basis in late winter to early spring.

You must confirm your decision to participate in MEDLI as soon as possible so that we can know how many students at each language level we can expect. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to confirming your place on the program, such as waiting to hear back on funding decisions, please communicate this with your MEDLI coordinator.

Generally, you must be at least 18 years old at the start of MEDLI in order to attend. Special circumstances for younger applicants will be carefully considered on a case by case basis.