University Pathway Programs

Many of our students who come to study our Academic English course will go to university in the United States, so that course acts as a natural pathway program, and is a great place to start if you know you want to enter higher education, but you still aren't sure which exact degree program or university you want to attend.

In addition, WESLI partners with many institutions (including short-term programs, 2-year colleges, and 4-year universities) so that we can offer students a defined pathway into a specific higher education institution after WESLI.

Bonus: A WESLI Letter of Recommendation is accepted as a substitute for a TOEFL or IELTS score at over 40 universities and colleges! Many of these schools also offer conditional admissions. This page explains how those options work for WESLI students and graduates.

Discover your Pathway

How Pathways Work

University Partners

TOEFL Waiver + Conditional Admissions

Part-Time Studies + Short-Term Programs

How do university pathway programs work?

WESLI and its partner universities offer several different types of pathways that you can choose from depending on your goals, so you can create your "big picture" study plan before you arrive in the United States to attend WESLI.

Choose your pathway option

To earn a Bachelor’s Degree:

WESLI + 4 Year University
WESLI + 2 years at a Community College + 2 years at University
WESLI + High School + University

To earn credentials:

WESLI + Short-Term Program/Certificate Course

What does WESLI’s University Pathway include?

University Advising

Staff can recommend universities based on your focus of study.
We assist with the application process to empower you for the rest of your university journey.

Conditional Admission

Get conditionally admitted to a university before you even get your visa.
Receive both acceptance letters for WESLI and your chosen university.
With Conditional Admission, there is a note on the I-20 for visa interviews stating conditional acceptance to university which shows your pathway plan.
For universities not on the WESLI University Partner list, you can still ask if the English Waiver would be accepted as part of Conditional Admission.

WESLI English Waiver

With WESLI partner universities, you can use the English Waiver after completing the 700 level at WESLI.
Where this Waiver is accepted, you do not have to take or submit TOEFL/IELTS exams.

Transferring to University

Transferring to university is a simple process with an acceptance confirmation from a university. WESLI has transferred many students to their next step at a 2-year or 4-year campus. Each student has a unique path as they navigate university. Review the options below to learn more about transferring during your pathway.

Transferring to 2-Year College and then University

Transfer options with 2-year institutions using the 2 + 2 Model

It is very common in America for students to begin at a 2-year college and then transfer for the last 2 years to a 4-year university.

Your final degree will be from the 4-year university, and you may earn your Associate's Degree at the 2-year college before transferring.

This option is great for students who:

Are concerned about the cost of attending university.
Want to experience two U.S. campuses, different classes, and more cultural exposure.
Are interested in meeting local U.S. students who commonly use this pathway.

UW System for Undergraduate Guaranteed Transfer Program

University of Wisconsin (UW) Colleges offer a Guaranteed Transfer Program that allows students to begin their education as a first-year student at one of the UW Colleges (a total of 13 campuses) and be “guaranteed” admission to another UW System institution as a third-year student (also called a "junior" student).

After students fulfill certain credit and GPA requirements at the UW Colleges, they will transfer with the same rights and privileges as those who begin their education at the baccalaureate institutions.

Participation Requirements:

Begin as a new first-year student at a UW College.
Submit a “Declaration of Intent to Participate” form prior to the start of sophomore year (second year with 30 credits) at the UW Colleges. Students can change the selected school of transfer at any time before they reach 30 credits.
Complete, within three years at a College campus, the number of credits (generally 54-60) required for junior status at the intended UW four-year school of transfer.
Maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA (2.6 for Madison) and a 2.0 in the term prior to transfer.
Apply to the intended UW four-year institution before the deadline and meet the same criteria (e.g., GPA, course requirements, etc.) for admission to specific majors/programs as continuing students. The guarantee of admission applies to the campus only, and not to a specific program or major.

Transferring to 4-year University

Transfer options to 4-Year Universities

Many international students apply directly to a 4-year university, attend all 4 years, and graduate from it with a Bachelor's Degree. This is a classic American university experience, although less common that it used to be.

This is a great option for:

Students who do not want to move during their university years.
Students with the financials to support the higher cost of attendance.
Students focused on research and resources that these campuses can provide.

Partner Colleges & Universities

Find the best start to your university experience with WESLI and our University Partners!

Over the last 40 years, WESLI has prepared thousands of students for success in U.S. university programs. Because of our excellent reputation and high standard of teaching, WESLI has partnerships with over 30 American universities and many local high schools. We collaborate closely with our partners to create immersive experiences and smooth transitions to a student’s next institution.

WESLI’s University Partners offer hundreds of programs for you to choose from that match your area of interest. We can recommend the best campuses to begin your university studies.

University Partners provide campus tours to interested students, and university staff work with WESLI staff to help students advance to higher education and enroll in the institution of their choice. Our strong partnerships provide a smooth experience and support before and during the transition to your university.

Use the map below to view
our university partners or click on the partner links below in each list.

2-year Colleges

Short-Term or Non-Degree Programs

English Requirements for University

WESLI offers conditional admission to most of its partner universities as well as a TOEFL Waiver Program for students that complete their language study at WESLI.

If you want to go to a university that doesn't have an agreement with WESLI, our University Advisor can guide you through the process of choosing and applying to any college or university in the USA. The advisor will help you with the application on one application and advise you about any tests you may need for your chosen program.

The WESLI Recommendation

WESLI students who successfully complete the 700 level Academic English course will receive a Recommendation (that can be used instead of a TOEFL score) for any of the undergraduate or graduate programs with whom WESLI has an agreement with.

Students must also meet the academic requirements of the university or college they apply to. The WESLI Recommendation is only for English proficiency.

WESLI students may go to certain universities and colleges without taking a TOEFL test if they meet the following requirements:

The student must complete the 700 level Reading and Writing class with a grade of B or higher.
The student must also complete the 700 level Academic Listening and Speaking class with a grade of B or higher.

Some universities and colleges may also require additional scores or documents:

Some universities and colleges also require a minimum score on the Michigan Test of English language Proficiency, which is given here at WESLI. (Many schools require a minimum score of 75 for undergraduate studies and a minimum score of 80 – 85 for graduate school.)
Some universities require transcripts from the last 2 WESLI sessions and a “B” average during those sessions.
Students may be able to present their WESLI transcript as additional proof of academic competence.

When the student completes these, the University Advisor will send a WESLI Recommendation to the student’s university or college. No TOEFL score is required!

How to earn the WESLI Recommendation?

When students advance to or test into the 500 or 600 levels, they must take Academic Reading, Writing, and Listening classes in order to pass into the 700 level courses.
Grades in 500 level classes as well as 400 Communication, Reading and Writing must be C or higher to pass into the next level of academic classes.
At the 600 level, students must get grades of at least BC in 600 Reading, Writing, and Academic Listening & Speaking to enter 700 Reading & Writing and 700 Academic Listening & Speaking.

Students advance to the next level by earning a 'C' Grade or higher for Levels 100-600. To move from 600 to 700, you need to receive a 'BC' in the 600 level before entering 700 level.

Overseas Conditional Admission (OCA)

Apply for university or high school at the same time you apply to study at WESLI!

After WESLI, you can transfer directly to university or high school, without taking a TOEFL or IELTS test. This pathway is for undergraduate and graduate level programs, with some high school programs available.

With Overseas Conditional Admissions (OCA), you can apply for university before arriving to the US and studying English. OCA allows you to be accepted to a university, as well as WESLI, so that you can show your full academic plan at your visa appointment. It also helps you know exactly what your plan is and when you will transfer and graduate. Final admissions through this process requires you to complete the 700 level at WESLI before transferring to your university or high school.

A WESLI University Advisor can recommend a university and assist with processing the university application before your arrival. This facilitated process can ease your worries with the process.

See our two most popular questions below or contact WESLI's Admissions Counselor at study@wesli.com if you'd like some personal assistance.

How does Overseas Conditional Admissions work?

The Overseas Conditional Admissions letter from the particular university or college will state that the student will first attend WESLI, and that the student will be accepted AFTER successfully completing WESLI's Academic Skills Levels. On WESLI's I-20, the remarks section will indicate that the student has been conditionally accepted to the desired university or college. Students who complete WESLI's program do not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score to be fully admitted to these universities.

After we receive a decision on the student’s application, WESLI will also send the student's I-20 for WESLI admission to the student.

The complete process, from submitting the application to WESLI to receiving an answer from the university, should take about four to five weeks. WESLI works closely with these universities and colleges and is usually able to receive a prompt reply within three weeks of sending the application to the university.

Once we have received a reply, we will immediately notify the student and send the student's acceptance letters with WESLI’s I-20 by email (or express mail if chosen). The student may then arrange for the visa appointment after receiving the SEVIS number on the I-20.

How do I apply for Conditional Overseas Admission?

Apply online! Submit an application on our website and pay the application fee, including the required documents:

Copy of your Passport Page.
Financial Documents - a bank statement showing at least $3,000 for every month you plan to study.
Transcripts from high school or university if you plan to study at a U.S. university.

Applicants for WESLI may apply to an undergraduate college or university at the same time that they apply to WESLI.

Submit the Overseas Conditional Admissions Application.
Our University Advisor can will recommend 1 or 2 schools suitable for the student, and then choose a college or university.
Once WESLI receives the application, we will immediately send the university application and documents to the universities to which the student has applied.
WESLI will process the Overseas Conditional Admissions and return an I-20 with WESLI, a WESLI acceptance letter, and a letter of conditional admission from the school that accepts the student. It is not guaranteed the university will accept every student that applies.
If a student applies to more than one university, they need to send only one WESLI application but they must send a separate university application, and documents for each university being applied to. There is an additional fee of $100 for an extra university OCA.

Lujie Chen

China | 26 years old

"When I saw the requirements for my first presentation in my graduate-level course, I immediately thought, "I've done this before at WESLI!" I am so grateful that I studied there.

All the exercises on pronunciation, slang, and academic English helped me feel more confident in my Ph.D. study and everyday interactions with peers and professors at the university.

I highly recommend studying at WESLI, especially for someone seeking future development in the U.S."

Part-Time Study at WESLI & University

Study part-time at WESLI and part-time at university. Qualified WESLI students may receive university credit or experience university classes by studying part-time at any of these Wisconsin-based partners:

University of Wisconsin Universities
Madison College (MATC)
Edgewood College
Lakeland College
Herzing University
Upper Iowa University

You can take one class at these schools along with WESLI classes, depending on your interests and your ability in English. Your classes at WESLI and the university must equal a full-time program of study to satisfy immigration requirements. For example, if you take one, 3-credit undergraduate class at Edgewood College, you will take three WESLI classes (instead of the usual four). Tuition fees vary from about $850 per class to $5,400 per class at the different schools and are paid directly to the university or college.

Note: If you plan to apply for official admission to UW-Madison as a first-year student, you should not be taking part-time classes!

How do you receive a Recommendation for Part-Time Study?

You may study part-time at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College, Lakeland College, Upper Iowa University, or Madison College if you meet the following requirements:

You should finish level 600 with grades of B or higher.
You should also receive a Michigan Test score of at least 70 or 75 for U-W Madison.
If you meet the above requirements, you should speak with WESLI’s University Admissions Director, who will give you permission to register at one of the above schools and write a referral letter to that school for you.

Non-Degree & Pre-University Courses

WESLI + University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies Partnership

This program is designed for students who wish to participate in the Non-Degree Visiting International Student Program at UW Madison, but don’t quite meet the required minimum English proficiency (80 TOEFL) needed for admission.

Students in this program will be able to focus on improving their English proficiency in preparation for taking one or two classes, or even transitioning to full-time academic classes at UW-Madison.

Looking for a different program?