South Asia Summer Language Institute

Student Application

SASLI 2023 will take place in person from June 19-August 11.

Review the links to the right to familiarize yourself with the structure and rigor of SASLI before starting an application. Applications are only considered complete once your unofficial transcripts and personal statement are uploaded and the $25 application fee is paid.

Applying to SASLI well before the March 15, 2023 deadline helps ensure that your language/level will be offered. One recommendation is to complete funding applications such as SASLI FLAS and SASLI Half/Full Fee Remission before applying to SASLI due to their earlier deadlines and because it is perfectly acceptable to submit the exact same personal statement for the General Application. Additional information and tips for a successful SASLI application package are available in the tabs below.

Apply Now

Application Deadline: March 15, 2023

Applicants are admitted on a rolling basis beginning in January 2023, so it’s best to apply early to ensure that your course will run.

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Eligibility

SASLI welcomes students from varied backgrounds to apply. Applicants do not need to currently be in an academic course of study to be eligible for the program.

Students currently enrolled at any institution must be in good standing at that home institution at the time of application and remain in good standing through the SASLI program.

SAFLI awardees/applicants should not apply for SASLI independently. Please contact the SAFLI office for more information.

International students currently in the US on a student visa may be able to apply the same visa for their study at SASLI. Applicants outside the US may need a short-term visa for SASLI. More information for international students is located here.

Those under the age of 18 should review our Minor Student Eligibility Policy. Eligible applicants under 18 will undergo a special review process before any admission decisions by SASLI. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact SASLI as early as possible to discuss these application procedures.

Application Tips and Reminders

  • The form for the General Application will automatically save, so you can return to complete it at a later time.
  • You will select the language/level you wish to study at SASLI (as well as the modality for elementary Hindi and Sanskrit). You can also choose an alternative language in the event your first choice is not offered. If your first language choice is Hindi or Sanskrit, you may select the alternative modality for your second choice.
  • Prospective distance learners should address in their personal statement or in a separate file the medical, personal, family, professional, or other reasons why you cannot attend classes in Madison and how you will be available for class times with reliable internet and make time for sufficient homework/review.
  • The General Application will provide you with a link to upload the following documents no later than March 15, 2022:
    • Unofficial Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your most recent academic transcripts. However, those out of school for more than five years are exempt from this requirement. If you will not be submitting a transcript, please state this in your Personal Statement.
    • Personal Statement: Remember that it is perfectly acceptable to submit the same personal statement that you wrote for a funding opportunity such as SASLI FLAS). Otherwise, you can respond to the following essay prompt:
      • In approximately 500 words, please address your personal, academic, and professional reasons and goals for wanting to participate in UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI). Include how you plan to meet the challenges of an intensive language learning environment and how you can personally contribute to this learning environment. In addressing the latter, you may discuss your interpersonal and leadership skills, ability to adapt to new and unexpected situations, and interest in creating a environment where each participant feels valued, respected, and supported. Feel free to share other relevant info that could impact your time on the program.
  • Your application is not considered complete until you pay the $25.00 application fee via a secure payment form located on the application and in the application submission confirmation email.
  • After you complete your submission, SASLI will communicate with the applicant only, not a proxy.

What do we look for in a SASLI applicant?

No SASLI applicant is like another, and determining whether or not you will succeed in our program is not solely based on academic standing. A few things the SASLI application screening committee generally considers in an applicant’s package are the following:

  • A record of academic success. We want to see that you can commit and dedicate yourself to the time and workload necessary to succeed in an intensive language program.
  • Past language learning experience/interest in language studies. Prior language study is not required to attend SASLI, and many of our students come without any former knowledge of their selected SASLI language. However, experience studying a language and an interest in a language’s cultural, historical, and political components can benefit you through the application process and your time at SASLI.
  • A personal statement is an opportunity to make a case for yourself. Regardless of past grades or experiences, a strong statement can show us that you are ready to commit to the workload necessary to succeed in SASLI. Be sure to follow the essay prompt and refer to it during the writing process. It is acceptable to re-submit a statement you wrote for the SASLI FLAS and SASLI Half/Full Fee Remission awards.
  • Materials completed and received by us before the SASLI deadline. While extenuating circumstances may make this difficult, please try to submit your materials, including the personal statement and your unofficial transcripts, before the SASLI deadline.

Once Admitted

Once you have been admitted to SASLI, you will need to take the following steps:

  1. If you are not a UW-Madison student, apply to become a Special Student at UW-Madison through the Division of Continuing Studies. SASLI will send you instructions for this process when you receive your SASLI admissions letter. Please take this step as soon as you are fairly certain that you will attend the program. There is no cost for this application, and you are not committing to attending SASLI, but you will only be able to enroll in classes once you have been admitted as a Special Student.
  2. Activate your NetID (instructions are sent with your admissions letter).
  3. Enroll in classes – SASLI will provide you with the class number and instructions for enrolling on your designated enrollment date.
  4. UW will communicate tuition bills/other UW information via your wisc email account. To forward your wisc emails to another email inbox, follow this link for directions.
  5. Pay your tuition bill by the first Friday of classes. Tuition bills do not come by mail but can be found in your MyUW Student Center under Finances. Bills not paid by the deadline will incur a fee from the UW-Madison Bursar’s Office.
  6. Enjoy a summer filled with language study, extracurriculars, and a wonderful community of language learners!

Applying to a new opportunity can be an exciting yet nerve-racking experience due to the many moving parts, from the personal statement to the transcripts and letters of recommendation. This general Application Resources page might be helpful for your SASLI application or another opportunity, be it a job application, graduate school, or a scholarship.

Explore SASLI

“I cannot believe we have done so much in two months! I have improved my language skills, and although my level is still basic, I am confident that I can manage real-life situations, and I am willing to continue studying in the future.”

SASLI 2022 Student