Admission Information
Interested in applying to the Penn MPH program? The 2024 Admission Cycle is now open! Please submit all application materials through the public health common application portal, SOPHAS. Applications are reviewed by the Penn MPH Admission Committee on a rolling basis and assessed holistically, considering applicants’ coursework and grades, references, personal statements, and previous public health or relevant experiences including jobs, fellowships, or internships.
Application Deadlines
The Admission Committee convenes on November 1, 2023 to begin a rolling review of applications. Applicants will receive an admission decision 6-8 weeks after their application is verified by SOPHAS. While rolling review encourages early application submission, verified applications received after May 15, 2024 will not be reviewed. The committee encourages applicants interested in scholarships to submit by a priority deadline of February 1, 2024. International applicants should apply by February 1, 2024 to ensure their visa and I-20s can be processed in a timely fashion.
Required Application Materials
1. Verified SOPHAS Application:
Complete the SOPHAS application for the Penn MPH Program track of your choosing. The Admission Committee evaluates all tracks with the same criteria, so please apply under one track only. Matriculating students have the flexibility to finalize their track at a later time. Please note, this includes an application fee charged directly by SOPHAS, not the Penn MPH Program. For questions about a fee waiver, please reach out directly to SOPHAS support. Once SOPHAS verifies the application, the Admission Committee proceeds with review.
2. English Language Proficiency:
For applicants whose first language is not English or do not have a degree conferred by an English language institution, please submit a TOEFL or IELTS. The Admission Committee will only review applicants with a TOEFL score of 100+ or an IELTS score of 7.0+. Both TOEFL and IELTS scores can be submitted directly to SOPHAS. SOPHAS provides helpful instructions on how to submit your TOEFL scores here (use code 5688) and IELTS scores here.
3. Transcripts:
Submit official transcripts of previously-completed degrees. WES transcript evaluations are required for degrees conferred by non-US institutions.
4. Resume:
Submit an up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae.
5. Personal Statement:
Submit a brief personal statement that (1) demonstrates an understanding of public health and explains the nature of your interest in the field, (2) addresses how Penn’s MPH program will prepare you for a successful career in public health, and (3) how your personal or lived experiences will help shape the Penn MPH community and influence your training goals. This statement should be about 1-2 pages, single-spaced.
6. Three Letters of Recommendation:
Submit at least three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to some combination of your suitability for graduate study, interest in public health, and/or goals for an MPH. These references will receive a request from SOPHAS to submit their recommendation directly.
The Penn MPH Program does not require the submission of standardized test scores, such as the GRE, MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, DMAT or any equivalent. To send any scores from ETS to SOPHAS, please use code 0152 for the Penn MPH program.
Colleges and universities are asked by many groups, including accrediting associations, to describe the ethnic/racial backgrounds of our students and employees. In order to fulfill these requests, the SOPHAS application will ask you to answer several questions regarding demographic information. The Penn MPH program does not control the configuration of this portion of the application; SOPHAS does. However, this information is confidential and completely voluntary, and will be concealed from the admissions committee that is evaluating your application. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate with regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
Admission Policies
The University of Pennsylvania MPH program is not STEM designated for OPT.
Applicants to the Master of Public Health Program who were not accepted cannot appeal the decision of the Admissions Committee. However, they can elect to reapply to the program no sooner than the following academic year. The application fee is waived for re-applicants who re-apply within five years of the previous application date, but please contact a member of the MPH team. Re-applicants are not required to submit transcripts or standardized test scores if the transcripts or scores have not changed.
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106; or 215-898-6993 (Voice) or 215-898-7803 (TDD). Specific questions concerning the accommodation of students with disabilities should be directed to the Office of Student Disabilities Services located at the Learning Resources Center, 3820 Locust Walk, Harnwell College House, Suite 110, 215-573-9235 (voice) or 215-746-6320 (TDD).
Federal law, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, requires all institutions of higher education to provide information on their security policies and procedures and specific statistics for criminal incidents and arrests on campus to students and employees, and to make the information and statistics available to prospective students and employees upon request. The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Act requires Penn to provide information about its security policies and procedures to students, employees and applicants; to provide crime statistics to students and employees, and to make those statistics available to applicants and prospective employees upon request. You may request a paper copy of the report by calling the Office of the Vice President for Public Safety at 215-898-7515.
Penn 2023 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report