The UW-Madison School of Pharmacy accepts transfer students with advanced standing into the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Admission is on a space-available basis and the process is competitive. Thus, a student may not simply transfer to the School of Pharmacy. Rather, the student interested in advanced standing transfer must file a formal application and undergo a competitive review by the School of Pharmacy's PharmD Admissions Committee.
Eligibility for transfer requires that three conditions be met. The student must 1) have completed all pre-pharmacy requirements necessary for the UW-Madison PharmD program, 2) be competitive under admissions criteria for the program and 3) be in good standing in a PharmD program at another academic institution that is ACPE accredited or has candidate status. Additionally, space must be available in the program year into which the student would transfer. While each of these conditions is important, the "space available" condition places a serious limit on our ability to admit even highly-qualified students.
If a student is admitted through advanced standing transfer to the PharmD program, the student enters a four-year professional program. At the time of admission, the student's previous curriculum is formally reviewed to identify courses equivalent to those in our curriculum and to design a plan of study for program completion. Depending on the specific content and arrangement of PharmD courses already taken, this might or might not result in less than four additional years being required to complete the PharmD program. Specifically, if you have completed one year of PharmD curriculum in your current program, it does not guarantee that you will transfer into the program as a second-year student. Evaluations of your specific situation will not be offered until after the application deadline for each semester (see below).
Application Process
- A student interested in advanced standing transfer is encouraged to contact the Admissions Advisor in the Student and Academic Affairs Office (608) 262-6234 as soon as this interest is known.
- Application materials include:
- A letter of application that addresses the reason why advanced standing transfer is being sought.
- Certified transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
- An up-to-date resume that includes: formal education (institutions attended, dates attended, and degrees completed); employment history; and service and leadership experience.
- Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) results which may come from the student's original application to a PharmD program.
- Three current recommendations, two of which must be from faculty members in the student's current school or college of pharmacy.
- A completed disclosure form related to institutional and professional disciplinary actions.
- A signed release that permits verification of the student's standing in his or her current school or college of pharmacy.
- A personal interview will be required.
- Advanced standing transfer requests will be considered for both the fall and spring semesters.
- To be considered for fall semester admission, all application materials must be received and complete by the June 15th prior to that semester. Applications (including course transfer evaluations) will not be evaluated until after the application deadline.
- To be considered for spring semester admission, all application materials must be received and compete by the November 1st prior to that semester. Applications (including course transfer evaluations) will not be evaluated until after the application deadline.