Graduate Admissions FAQ's

The institution code is 2888. If you have used our previous code of 2926, we will still receive your results. You do not have to use a department code.

If you entered your TOEFL and GRE scores into your application, you do not have to be concerned whether the official scores have been received as we use the self-reported version for the review process. If you are admitted, we will then search the system for the official version. If we do not find it at that time you will be notified.

Applications are evaluated as a whole portfolio and not on a single criterion. Thus, we do not adhere to strict minimums pertaining to test scores. Averages can be found in some university publications and media such as U.S. News & World Report and Peterson's.

This requirement can be waived if the candidate has completed at least three (3) years of academic work on a full-time basis at a university-level institution in the United States or in a country in which English is recognized as the official language or where the medium of instruction is English.

The international transcript must be noted that the medium of instruction was in English in order for you to have the test waived. If this information is not noted on the transcript then the university will have to send us verification.

We must have your official scores submitted by the testing service.

The TOEFL administrators only have scores available for the last two (2) years. If they no longer have your scores available to send, you must retake the exam.

The GRE is required by all applicants. We must receive official scores submitted by the testing service.

ETS only sends scores taken over the last five (5) years. If they no longer have your official scores available to send, you must retake the exam.

If you took an internet-based test and got your scores immediately at the end of your exam, you can manually enter your scores in your application. You must, however, make sure that your official scores are also sent to Penn Engineering (code 2888).

(In the case of the GRE you will not immediately receive your Writing score, but that is fine for initial submission of your application.)

The only documents to be mailed to the admissions office are your official transcripts from your university-level study. These documents must be sent to us in sealed envelopes from each university. Opened documents are not official and will not be accepted. No other documents are necessary as all other required documentation should have been entered online.

You may send your transcript before or right after you submit the application. We must have an official version in our records.

Your official transcripts should be mailed to:

University of Pennsylvania
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Graduate Admissions
111 Towne Building
220 S. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Time does not allow for us to verify what has been received in the mail for each applicant. In order to process the applications quickly, we use the unofficial transcript that you have uploaded. In the event of admission we will then search for the official version in our files and verify what you have reported in your application.

If you have uploaded a transcript you do not need to do the self-reported transcript form. This form is for those who do not have a transcript to scan.

Once you have submitted an application, you can log in to your application or Grad CONNECT at any time to check the status. However, official documents may not show as received as we will use the unofficial information that you have entered into your application to begin the review process.

Our application system allows you to self-report your transcript and test score information. Doing this speeds up the application process because it allows the department to begin reviewing your application, while we wait to receive your official documents.

The online system will show your documents are received as soon as they have been processed by our admissions staff. Processing time varies based on the time of year and mail delivery times, which are out of our control. During the peak season we rarely post the official documents as we can use the unofficial for review.

Completed Master's applications are evaluated following the application cycle deadline.

Completed Ph.D. applications are evaluated following the application deadline.

No. We only require two (2) recommendations, so once we have received two (including one faculty recommendation) that requirement is fulfilled and your application will be sent to the department for review.

If more recommendations come in before the application is complete, then all of the recommendations received will be reviewed.

CIS PhD applications require 3 recommendations. So 3 have to have been received to be sent for review.

Once you submit your application, we can send an email to your recommenders to provide instructions on how to submit an online recommendation.

To ensure your recommender successfully receives our instructions, please:

• make sure you have provided a valid, correct email address for each recommender.
• notify the recommender that an email will come from Penn Engineering so he/she can look out for it or add the address so the email is not marked as spam or junk mail.
• submit your online application.
• re-notify your recommender yourself through your application.

The application fee is $80. Unfortunately, we do not waive our fee.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science does not provide financial assistance for master’s students.

Master’s students may apply for a limited number of positions as research assistants and teaching assistants. Upon admission to a master’s program, students may contact the program department to check availability.

You may apply to more than one program in Engineering, but to do so you must use a different username, password, and email address for each application. We apologize for any inconvenience, but this is necessary for keeping different accounts for each application.

When applying to more than one program, you must pay a separate application fee for each application. Upon request, supporting documents, such as official test scores and transcripts may be used for multiple applications. For all other parts of the application, we recommend submitting information specific to each program.

Financial information is not required by the admissions office; do not send it.

This information can be found here.

We do not use ID numbers to match documents to applications, we use your name.

Recommendations should be submitted online. In rare cases a paper letter may be submitted but it will take longer to process as it will be among all of the received mail and will have to be manually uploaded into the application.

Master's applicants should receive an admission decision within four to six weeks following the application cycle deadline providing that their application is complete and we have received all supporting documents. Ph.D. applicants are reviewed following the application deadline.

Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be notified by email that it is available to be viewed online. To view your decision, you will have to log into your application account.

No, the letter you view online is your official letter and our system allows you to print a copy to use as needed.

If you have applied for a Ph.D., you must submit your decision form by April 15.

For master's applicants we would greatly appreciate a response within 30 days of when the decision is viewed, but there is no official deadline.

You must first accept our offer and pay the deposit. Afterwards you must contact us at engstats@seas.upenn.edu.  Your email should include  a brief reason for the deferral and indicate whether you are interested in coming in the next Spring or Fall term.

If you are paying by check the check should be made payable to the “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania”.

If you are admitted to a graduate program, you will be emailed the information and web address for beginning the I-20 application process. Please allow one week from the date of acceptance to submit the I-20 application to ensure your record is in the system.

Admitted students should address all matters related to the I-20 process with the University’s Office of International Programs.