Admissions

You must be admitted to the Summer Sessions before you can register for or attend classes. Penn Summer Sessions operates on a "rolling" admissions schedule. Once an application file is complete, the Admissions Committee reviews the application and informs you of the decision, usually within ten days. Please check here for Summer Session application deadlines. Please note that deadlines for international students applying from outside the U.S. are earlier than deadlines for U.S. citizens and international students already in the U.S. on a valid visa.

The Admissions Committee examines with care the academic background of each applicant, taking into consideration previous institutions attended, courses completed, and cumulative grade point average. Competitive applicants have the equivalent of at least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average (on a scale of 0-4.0) in their previous academic work.

Qualified international students may choose to enroll in courses in one or more of Penn’s 3 summer sessions. Two (2) courses, or CUs, in any one session is a full-time course load. More than 2 courses is considered a course overload and must be approved by a Summer Sessions advisor in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. Courses, with descriptions and sessions, are listed in the Summer Course Guide, which is available online here.

International students who plan to study full-time in one or more Summer Session may apply for an I-20 from the University of Pennsylvania and pursue their studies on the F-1 (student) visa.  Students coming as part of a vacation or tourist visit to the U.S. may come under a B-2 tourist visa, in which case no full-time restriction applies. Students should consult with their local consulate or embassy to determine visa requirements.  If you are admitted to Summer Sessions, you will receive information about applying for a student visa along with your letter of admission. 

Applications may be submitted through our online application system. Click button to begin:

The University also has several international registration centers where you can apply for the Penn Summer Sessions.

For questions about application and admissions, please contact our office:

College of Liberal and Professional Studies
Office of Summer Sessions
E-mail:  lps@sas.upenn.edu
Telephone:  1-215-898-7326
(Monday through Thursday 8:30 am to 6:30 pm EST and Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 pm EST)
Fax:  1-215-573-2053