Penn says it directly: you do not apply to Penn, you apply to one of four schools or a coordinated dual-degree programme. An international applicant has one more decision on top: whether to request aid, because international admission is need-aware.
The University of Pennsylvania’s requirements for autumn 2027 entry: the schools and dual-degree programmes, the Penn essays, SAT or ACT, English, Early Decision, aid for international students and cost. With an explanation of how each rule reads from another education system.
Four questions that define a Penn application.
Yes. Penn requires the SAT or ACT from first-year applicants, including international applicants. An applicant facing genuine hardship can submit a testing waiver in the application. For Early Decision the last accepted dates are October 2026 (ACT) or November 2026 (SAT); for Regular Decision, December 2026.
Early Decision: 1 November 2026, binding, decision in December; financial documents by 6 November. Regular Decision: 5 January 2027, decision in April; financial documents by 1 February.
Yes, but international admission is need-aware: the family’s ability to pay is taken into account. An international student admitted with aid receives 100% of demonstrated need without loans, as US students do. Aid is requested with the application and cannot be requested later.
The TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo is required unless English is a native language or the language of instruction throughout secondary school. Competitive applicants typically have TOEFL 5+ on the new scale, IELTS 7+ and Duolingo 130+. Penn does not accept self-reported English scores.
The direct answer: the application goes to the College of Arts and Sciences, Wharton, Penn Engineering or Penn Nursing, or to a coordinated dual-degree programme with additional essays.
| Programme | Degrees | Extra essays |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsman | BA in International Studies (College) and BS in Economics (Wharton) | 1 |
| M&T (Management and Technology) | BS in Economics (Wharton) and BSE or BAS (Engineering) | 2 |
| LSM (Vagelos Life Sciences and Management) | BA in a life science (College) and BS in Economics (Wharton) | 2 |
| NHCM (Nursing and Health Care Management) | BS in Nursing and BS in Economics (Wharton) | 1 |
| VIPER | BA in a natural science (College) and BSE (Engineering) | 1 |
| DMD (Digital Media Design) | BSE (Engineering) | 1 |
Dual-degree programmes are small, so applicants name a secondary choice among the four schools. In Early Decision an applicant can ask to be considered early for both the programme and the secondary school, or for the programme only. Penn Engineering looks for exposure to calculus and physics; Penn Nursing for chemistry.
The direct answer: two general Penn essays of 150-200 words, one essay for the chosen school, and two recommendations: the counsellor and a teacher of a core subject.
A short thank-you note to someone the applicant has not yet thanked (150-200 words, first-year applicants only), and how the applicant will explore community at Penn (150-200 words). The third prompt is set by the chosen school.
Two are required: the school counsellor and a teacher of a core subject. A third, from another teacher or someone in the applicant’s community, is optional and its absence does not count against the applicant. The Midyear Report is for Regular Decision, as soon as mid-year grades exist.
Penn holds Alumni Conversations rather than interviews: they are not evaluative and do not influence the decision. They cannot be requested and can be declined without penalty.
The direct answer: the process is the same for everyone, grades need no conversion, and documents not in English are submitted with a certified translation.
The direct answer: the 2026-27 on-campus budget is USD 99,082; international applicants are read need-aware, and the aid decision is made once for all four years.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 65 670 USD |
| Fees | 8 308 USD |
| Housing | 13 644 USD |
| Food | 6 960 USD |
| Books, transport, personal | 4 500 USD |
| Total | 99 082 USD |
Penn is need-blind for citizens and permanent residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Everyone else is an international applicant, read need-aware. Penn states that because international aid funds are limited, some otherwise qualified candidates may not be admitted.
An international applicant files the CSS Profile and a tax return or earnings statement. Aid is requested with the application; an international student admitted without aid cannot request it later.
At Penn strategy starts with the choice of school and, for an international applicant who needs aid, with a sober view of how need-aware review combines with a binding early round.
Whether the profile supports Wharton, Engineering, Nursing, the College or a dual degree, and which school is the fallback.
Calculus and physics for Engineering, chemistry for Nursing: whether they appear on the record.
The decision is made once, before applying, and holds for all four years.
Penn itself suggests Regular Decision for those who want to compare aid offers.
150-200 words call for one clear idea. The school essay has to explain the choice of that school.
The EDMONT sequence: formal eligibility → academic competitiveness → funding → fit with the university and programme → application strategy. We do not calculate admission probabilities and we promise no outcome.
Tell us where the applicant is studying now, the intended year of entry and which Penn school interests them.
The University of Pennsylvania pages this page was checked against.
The EDMONT editorial standards set out how we check facts, date material and correct errors.
At Penn the school, the dual degree, the aid request and the round are linked. A profile review shows which combination is justified.
ELIGIBILITY → SCHOOL → FUNDING → ROUND → APPLICATION