Wisconsin International University (WIU) was established in 1992 as an independent university with an office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. WIU is a non-profit university organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin (USA) as a domestic corporation for educational purposes for international students and to establish universities in foreign countries to meet the standards of United States universities and the standards of the Ministry of Education and Government in the countries where established.

Dr. Alexander Romanovski, Rector Wisconsin International University Ukraine

WIU is accredited by Accrediting Commission International (USA) and approved by the Ministry of Education in countries where it operates a university, and WIU is approved and licensed by the Government in each foreign country where it has a campus and/or program. WIU is authorized by the Accrediting Commission International to grant bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees.

In 1996, Wisconsin International University Ukraine (WIUU) was established in Kiev, Ukraine in coordination with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as an independent university offering a bachelor degree in business. The Central Department of Education of the Kiev City State Administration granted a license in December 1996. In April 1997, WIUU was registered by the Kiev Regional Municipal Council under the official name of UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN HUMANITARIAN (LIBERAL ARTS) INSTITUTE - "Wisconsin International University Ukraine." The State Accreditation Commission of Ukraine of the Ministry of Education approved and licensed WIUU in June, 1997.

The attractiveness of WIUU is that it provides United States style education with a curriculum and standards similar to U.S. universities. In addition, many courses are taught in the English language by American faculty.

WIU established its first campus in 1993 in Europe in Tallinn, Estonia under the name of Concordia International University Estonia (CIUE) as an independent Lutheran university offering a bachelor degree in international business. Today, CIUE is approved and accredited by the Ministry of Education in Estonia and is accredited by North Central Association (USA) through Lakeland College in Wisconsin.

WIU also offers a doctorate degree in educational administration and in clinical psychology in cooperation with Universidade Luterana Do Brasil (ULBRA) in Porto Alegre, Brazil. WIU has also offered an MBA degree in Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo in Brazil.

Interim accreditation has been given by the National Accreditation Board of the Ministry of Education, Ghana, West Africa to establish Wisconsin International University Ghana in the capital city of Accra. 

WIU has an exchange agreement with Schiller International University which has campuses in England, France,  Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and in Florida in the United States. WIU also has exchange agreements with universities in the United States for students who may want to transfer to a United States university.