Join us at the University of Pennsylvania as a visiting undergraduate student!

With its wide range of credited courses, rigorous curriculum, caring and accessible professors, walkable campus, and over 450 student clubs and organizations, Penn is a perfect fit for the most ambitious international students. Our tree-lined urban campus is located in the heart of Philadelphia, a vibrant and diverse city of 1.5 million people and the sixth largest city in the United States. Philadelphia is rich in culture, history, art, nature, shopping, and entertainment, located between New York City and Washington, D.C., and within easy travel distance to Boston, Baltimore, and the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Visiting international students have access to all of Penn's resources including our many libraries, the Weingarten Learning Center, the Marks Family Writing Center, student health and counseling services, opportunities for volunteering and civic engagement, the Center for Undergraduate Research, departmental student associations, and guest lectures.  Some of our most popular student clubs are the assembly of international students, hiking and climbing, robotics, venture capitalism, politics and government, martial arts, weight lifting and anime, but there are many more than that to choose from!

Students can study at Penn during the academic year through our International Guest Student Program, or in the summer through the Penn Summer Global Institute.  

International Guest Student Program (IGSP)

The University of Pennsylvania’s International Guest Student Program (IGSP) is open to current undergraduate students from outside of the United States.  IGSP students spend a semester or a full academic year at Penn studying with world-renowned professors and engaging fully in student life on campus. IGSP students have access to courses in all of Penn’s undergraduate schools including the School of Arts and Sciences, the Wharton Business School, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. IGSP students take four courses per semester and are typically able to transfer all credits to their home universities.  Penn's Off-Campus Housing Office can help you navigate the many accommodations available near campus, and our Dining Office can help you determine if one of our optional dining plans is a good fit for you.  Requirements for admission include a 3.3 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, English proficiency scores of 100 TOEFL iBT/7 IELTS/120 Duo Lingo English Test, one letter of recommendation and two essays.  

• IGSP fall semester: September – December, application deadline June 1.  
• IGSP spring semester: January – May, application deadline October 24.
• IGSP academic year: September – May, application deadline June 1.

Penn Summer Global Institute (PSGI)

The Penn Summer Global Institute (PSGI) is open to current undergraduate students from outside of the United States.  PSGI students spend six weeks at Penn, from early July until mid-August, living and dining on campus, studying with world-renowned professors, and engaging in weekly cultural activities. PSGI students have access to courses in all of Penn’s undergraduate schools including the School of Arts and Sciences, the Wharton Business School, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. PSGI students take two intensive courses and are typically able to transfer all credits to their home universities. Requirements for admission include a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, English proficiency scores of 100 TOEFL iBT/7 IELTS/120 Duo Lingo English Test, one letter of recommendation and one essay.