Admission Requirements and Deadlines

MPA Application

Full-time and Executive MPA applicants should submit the following materials:

• Application for Admission (Full-time MPA deadline is January 15. Next Executive MPA deadline is March 1 to start in the Summer 2013 semester)

• $70 Application fee payable by credit card or check to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania".

• Personal statement - Essay should be approximately 1,000 words and should demonstrate a commitment to public service, career goals, and an understanding/fit to the Fels program. Further instructions are available on the online application.

• Resume

• Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.  All applicants should upload unofficial copies of their transcripts to the online application system.  Only applicants admitted to the MPA program will be required to submit official transcripts and should do so upon notification of admission. All international transcripts should be translated into English.
  

• Three letters of recommendation including at least one academic letter from a recommender who has taught the applicant.

• Standardized test scores -  Students taking the GRE should submit their scores to code 2893  (no dept. code is necessary).  All applicants MUST submit standardized test scores.  LSAT or GMAT scores are also accepted in lieu of GRE scores.  Please note that LSAC and GMAT will not report official scores to non-law/non-business schools.  Applicants submitting LSATs or GMATs should mail a copy of their score report to the Fels Admissions Office. 

• TOEFL or IELTS Scores  - Applicants who have not attended an English-speaking university for at least two years are required to submit scores for either test. TOEFL test takers should use code 2926.
    

Executive MPA Application

• Application for Admission (next deadline: July 1st to start in Fall 2013)

• $70 Application fee payable by credit card or check to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania".

• Personal statement - Essay
  should be approximately 1,000 words and should demonstrate a commitment
  to public service, career goals, and an understanding/fit to the Fels
  program. Further instructions are available on the online application.

• Resume

• Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.  All
  applicants should upload unofficial copies of their transcripts to the
  online application system.  Only applicants admitted to the MPA program
  will be required to submit official transcripts and should do so upon
  notification of admission. All international transcripts should be
  translated into English.
  

• Three letters of recommendation including at least one academic letter from a recommender who has taught the applicant.

• Standardized test scores -  Students
  taking the GRE should submit their scores to code 2893  (no dept. code
  is necessary).  All applicants MUST submit standardized test
  scores.  LSAT or GMAT scores are also accepted in lieu of GRE scores. 
  Please note that LSAC and GMAT will not report official scores to
  non-law/non-business schools.  Applicants submitting LSATs or GMATs
  should mail a copy of their score report to the Fels Admissions Office. 
  

• TOEFL or IELTS Scores  - Applicants
  who have not attended an English-speaking university for at least two
  years are required to submit scores for either test. TOEFL test takers
  should use code 2926.

• Personal Interview - All
  Executive MPA applicants are required to have an interview.

Certificate Application

Certificate applicants should submit the following materials:

• Application for Admission
• $70 Application fee payable by credit card or check to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania".
• Personal statement - essay should be between 250-500 words.
• Resume
• Transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.  All
  applicants should upload unofficial copies of their transcripts to the
  online application system.  Only applicants admitted to the MPA program
  will be required to submit official transcripts and should do so upon
  notification of admission.
• TOEFL or IELTS Scores  - Applicants who have not attended an English-speaking university for at least two years are required to submit scores for either test. TOEFL test takers should use code 2926.
• Three letters of recommendation including at least one academic letter from a recommender who has taught the applicant.
• Personal interview

Non-Degree Application

• Application for Admission
• $70 Application fee payable by check to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania".
• Personal statement - statement should be no more than 250 words.
• Resume
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Personal Interview

Applications will not be reviewed until all material has been received by the Fels Admissions Office. Please note that all materials submitted to the Admission Office become the property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned under any circumstances.

Deadlines

Campus Visits

Prospective applicants are welcome to visit Fels and meet MPA staff, faculty, and students; tour the campus; and sit in on classes. To schedule a visit, contact the Admissions Office at felsinstitute@sas.upenn.edu or call 215.746.6684 to make arrangements. You can also take a virtual tour of Penn's campus.

Questions

For answers to frequently asked questions, visit our Admissions Blog page.