International Applicants

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are encouraged to submit their applications early, to ensure that all supporting materials are received by the Office of Admissions by the deadline. More information specifically for our international student community can be found at the Office of International Programs. A helpful site to visit during your application process is EducationUSA. This website provides information and a list of advising centers in your country that can help you begin your graduate studies in the United States.

IELTS or TOEFL
All international applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate training has not been conducted in the English language must submit satisfactory certification of adequate English proficiency sufficient to pursue graduate study prior to consideration for admission. This certification will encompass both comprehension and expression in the spoken and written word. Applicants must submit scores of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants may register for the IELTS at www.ielts.org. Applicants may register for the TOEFL at www.ets.org/toefl. The correct institution code to use when requesting official TOEFL scores is 2926; you do not need a departmental code. Candidates admitted to the School of Design may be required to successfully complete an English Language Program prior to matriculation.

To be admitted without conditions, the Department of Architecture requires applicants to obtain a TOEFL score of 100 (internet-based) or higher or an IELTS band score of 8.0 or higher.

Obtaining Your Visa
After you are accepted to the School of Design, you will be sent information on how to obtain the form and instructions that you will need to apply for the immigration document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) and the visa required to study at Penn. Simultaneously, we will notify our Office of International Programs (OIP) that you have been admitted. Your completed application form and your financial certification should be sent directly to OIP. Several weeks after OIP receives these documents, they will send you a student visa form (either I-20 or DS-2019). Once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019 form from the Office of International Programs, you will need to schedule a visa appointment with your local US Embassy or Consulate. When you visit the embassy or consulate for your interview, you will bring with you your new I-20 or DS-2019 form and your proof of funding documents in order to obtain an F-1 or J-1 student visa. Some embassies or consulates allow you to make a visa interview appointment in advance, while other embassies or consulates will not allow you to schedule your interview until you have received your I-20 or DS-2010 form from the University of Pennsylvania. In the majority of countries, especially during peak visa application periods (May to August), you will likely face delays in obtaining your interview and visa. For these reasons, you will want to become familiar with the specific rules and regulations that your local US embassy or consulate follows in order to plan well for the visa application process and avoid delays in arriving on time for your program at Penn.

Please note that you will be required to pay a SEVIS Fee before arriving for your visa interview (this fee can only be paid after OIP has issued and sent to you your new I-20 or DS-2019 form). Each visa applicant is also subject to paying a visa application fee; you should obtain all information regarding payment of the visa fee from the US Consulate or Embassy where you will have your visa interview.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to submit financial documentation with my application for admission to the School of Design?
A: No, you do not have to provide financial documentation until after you are admitted to a program in the School of Design.

Q: When can I get my visa?
A: After we receive your acceptance deposit and New Student Data Form, we will assign you a student id number that you will use to log onto the website of the University's Office of International Programs. This will allow you to obtain the form and instructions to apply for the immigration document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) and the visa required to study at Penn.