Graduate Admissions FAQ's

The institution code to use for Graduate Admissions in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania is 2926 for both the GRE and TOEFL (2888 can also be used for TOEFL).

The department code is not necessary for either the GRE or TOEFL because all engineering applications are processed in a central Graduate Admissions office.

The GRE is required for all applicants.

You can only waive the TOEFL requirement if:

1. The medium of instruction at you undergraduate institution was English; or
2. Your national language is English; or
3. You studied for at least three years in an English-speaking country.

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.

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.

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 2926).

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

Once you have submitted an application, you can log in to your application or Grad CONNECT at any time to check the status.

As the graduate admissions office receives and processes your documents it will be reflected in your application account and your Grad CONNECT page. Once your application is complete and ready for review, the status will read: Under Review.

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.

Your application will be reviewed once your application is submitted online and all of your supplemental documents have been received, either electronically or by mail.

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.

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 ____ 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.

You may apply to more than one program in the School of 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.

Admission decisions are typically made within 4 to 6 weeks of when an application is complete.

(An application is complete when it is submitted and we have received all supporting documents either electronically or by mail.)

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 PhD, you must submit your decision form by April 1.

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 can request to defer enrollment, but you cannot defer the offer of admission. In order to defer enrollment you must return the enrollment form, pay the deposit and submit a written request to defer your enrollment to the subsequent spring or fall semester.  To do so, please email engstats@seas.upenn.edu and your request will be forwarded to the department for consideration.

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

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.