Transferring to SEAS from Another Institution

Transferring to Penn Engineering could be the best decision you ever make. Whether you are new to Penn or new to Engineering, the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania offers a wealth of opportunities for students who wish to engage in the most innovative and interdisciplinary education and research.

Prospective transfer students should know that the University does not admit freshmen at mid-year. Students who leave college at the end of their first term may apply to the freshman class entering in the subsequent September. Students who are completing their senior year of high school concurrently with their first year of college should apply as freshmen.

Incoming sophomore transfer students are eligible to apply for a dual-degree program after completing one year (eight course units) at Penn. Applicants should follow, as closely as possible, the courses outlined for the major. External transfers admitted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science are not eligible to transfer again within the University.

Students holding undergraduate degrees in science-related fields are not encouraged to pursue a second degree but should consider a graduate degree.

Requirements for Transferring to Penn Engineering

Students transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Science after one year of college should have completed at least one course in chemistry, one course in physics (involving the use of calculus), one course in computer programming, two courses in calculus, and, if possible, two courses in the social sciences and humanities. Students pursuing a major in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Materials Science and Engineering, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering and Electrical Engineering should also complete a second course in physics. External transfers admitted to the School of Engineering and Applied Science are not eligible to transfer again within the University.

Depending on the desired discipline, students transferring into the School of Engineering and Applied Science after two years of college should have completed a total of four courses in math (calculus through differential equations), two courses in physics (involving the use of calculus), one course in chemistry, one course in computer programming, three or four courses in the social sciences and humanities, and as many engineering and applied science courses as possible (e.g., mechanics, electrical circuits, materials, thermodynamics, etc.). In addition, Computer Science and Digital Media Design students must take a second computer programming course; all other majors must take a second physics course. Please see the program websites for further details about specific curricula.

How to Apply

All transfer applicants to the Penn Engineering need to select a major when applying. Applications are processed through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Application Deadlines: The deadline to apply as a transfer student for September admission is March 15, although your application may be submitted as early as January 1. Decisions will be released beginning in mid-May. The freshman application deadline is January 1 of each year.