Penn Summer Admissions for International Students

Application Deadline

• April 1, 2012

All application materials must be received in our office by the application deadline.

Application Procedures

The following items must be submitted via the Online Application system.

• Application content (contact information, educational background, etc.)
• Application essays
• Application fee 

In the application system, make sure to select "International Guest Student Program" from the "Program Interest" dropdown. Also, make sure to select the term you are applying for from the "Concentration" dropdown, either "Summer Session 1 or 12-week Session" or "Summer Session 2".

The following items must be sent directly to LPS from the originator of the documentation.  In other words, these materials must be sent from the individual or organization responsible for authenticating the content (not from the student).

• Approval letter to participate and transfer credit
• Letters of recommendation (optional)
• Standardized test scores
• Official transcripts

The following items must be sent directly to LPS from the student via postal mail. 

• Passport documentation
• Financial certification 

See below for details on all of the above required application components.

The University of Pennsylvania will review your application once all supporting materials have been received.

You will be notified of your admissions decision in April. Click button to begin, you must fill our all required sections as well as the Guest Student supplemental section:

Apply Now

Online Application Components 

Application Content

You will need to enter information common to any type of application for academic studies.  For example, you will need to provide your contact information, indicate which program of study you are interested in, and clarify if you have previously applied to our school. You will also need to confirm your educational background.  List current institution first, followed by any other universities attended and high school, and estimated cumulative GPA for each institution.

Application Essays

Please respond to each of the four Application Essay questions.

• Download the Questions

Application Fee

The non-refundable application fee of $70.00 can be paid by credit card online when students submit the Application Form.  

If a partner institution is paying the fee, the student should indicated that the fee will be sent by check.  Checks must be made payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

Supporting Application Components

Unless otherwise noted, the below items should be sent directly to:

College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS)
Attention: LPS Admissions
Program: Summer Session
University of Pennsylvania
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335 USA

Approval Letter to Participate and Transfer Credit

All students who have not completed a bach­elor’s degree must have a letter from their Dean, Academic Advisor, or Program Director indicating approved permission to participate in this program and to transfer the credits earned at Penn to their home institution.

An original signed letter must be printed on official school stationary and sent directly from the home school to LPS.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation are not required.

You may submit up to three letters of recommendation as optional additional support for your application. These should be from individuals with whom you have had a close professional or academic association and who know of your desire to enroll in the College of Liberal and Professional Studies.

If you decide to submit letters of recommendation, you may ask your recommenders to complete their letters online or to submit hard copy letters of recommendation. To submit online recommendations, follow the instructions in the Recommendations section of the online application.  If your recommendations will not be submitted online, please complete the LPS “IGSP Letter of Recommendation Form,” give it to your references, and have them complete and attach the form to their letter.

• Download Recommendation Form
  

Standardized Test Scores

International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. Use ETS institutional code 2986 when requesting test scores.

Qualifying students without a TOEFL iBT score may submit other compa rable test scores (computer- or paper-based TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge exams).

You may choose to submit standardized test scores such as the SAT if you feel it may support your application, but these are not required.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from each College and/or University attended, with English translation and US equivalencies, must be sent directly from the home institution to LPS.

Additional material is required in some circumstances (must also include English translation and US equivalencies):

• High School Transcript: If you completed less than two years of liberal arts work at the college level (approximately 16 courses in literature, philosophy, history, sociology, science, mathematics, etc.), you must submit an official high school transcript.
• General Educational Development (GED): If you left high school without graduating, and you have completed less than two years of liberal arts work at the college level, you must submit an official score report from the test of General Educational Development (GED).

Passport Documentation

Students will need to provide support documentation to authenticate and confirm Passport details.  A member of the LPS Admissions Team will contact you with details on specific materials due once you begin the Online Application process.

Financial Certification Documents

Students will need to provide support documentation to authenticate and confirm there are sufficient Financial Resources to support the planned program and study and estimated living expenses.  A member of the LPS Admissions Team will contact you with details on specific materials due once you begin the Online Application process.