APPLYING TO SP2
Become a more powerful advocate for social justice
Application Fee
If you apply to any master’s-level program by 11:59 PM ET on December 1st, you qualify for a reduced application fee of $25. After December 1st, the application fee for these programs increases to $65.
The application fee for the DSW program is $65 and for the PhD in Social Welfare is $80 regardless of the time of application submission.
Please note that application fees are not refundable.
Application Requirements
Before submitting your application, please be sure to carefully review the admissions requirements and guidelines for your desired program(s) of study.
Accepting Your Offer of Admission
Upon notification of acceptance for admission to the University, you are required to submit a nonrefundable deposit to reserve your spot in the class. The deposit amount and due date is provided with the offer of admission. The deposit will be credited to your account upon matriculation.
Application Deadlines
Please note that for all programs, your application, transcripts, and supporting materials (letters of recommendation and, if applicable, official English language proficiency test scores and evaluated transcripts) must be submitted through the online application system by the deadline for your application to be considered complete. Please note that official copies of test scores typically take 3-4 weeks to arrive, so schedule your English language proficiency exam accordingly.
Master of Social Work
The priority application deadline is December 1st. The final application deadline is February 1st. Please note that it is strongly recommended to apply by the December 1st deadline to ensure the optimum practicum placement process.
MS in Social Policy
The priority application deadline is December 1st. The final application deadline is February 1st.
MS in Nonprofit Leadership
The priority application deadline is December 1st. The final application deadline is February 1st.
Select priority application applicants who are not admitted to the program may be considered in the final application pool instead of being rejected. Applications will be accepted and considered after February 1st only if slots remain to be filled in the program.
PhD in Social Welfare
The application deadline is December 15th.
Doctorate in Clinical Social Work
Applications must be submitted by February 15th.
Apply Now
We are currently accepting applications for the following programs:
COVID-19 Considerations
Recognizing the challenges of teaching, learning, and assessing academic performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Penn’s admissions committees for graduate and professional programs will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant. As we review applications, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail and other grading options during the period of COVID-19 disruptions. An applicant will not be adversely affected in the admissions process if their academic institution implemented a mandatory pass/fail (or similar) system for the term or if the applicant chose to participate in an optional pass/fail (or similar) system for the term. Penn’s longstanding commitment remains to admit graduate and professional student cohorts composed of outstanding individuals who demonstrate the resilience and aptitude to succeed in their academic pursuits.
Instructions for Specific Populations
International Students
International Students
SP2 welcomes applications from international students. Applicants should review the admission requirements for the program to which they are applying.
International applicants are encouraged to contact the University of Pennsylvania’s International Student & Scholar Services for advice and information on matters concerning immigration, adjusting to a new culture, and life in Philadelphia.
Transcript Evaluations
Please be advised that transcripts reflecting more than two semesters of study at institutions based outside of the United States must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a third-party evaluation service such as WES or Educational Perspectives, or another NACES-accredited member. This applies even if the studies were conducted in English and even if the transcript is printed in English.
Applicants with these international transcripts should upload their university-issued transcripts into the online application and order their official, third-party evaluations sent to the School of Social Policy & Practice. Please note that these international transcripts cannot be considered official until they have been evaluated. Please allow for sufficient processing time as recommended by your chosen third-party evaluation service. Transcript evaluations are due to the Admissions Office by the application deadline.
English Language Exams
For international students whose first language is not English, we require official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores taken in the last two years. Minimum scores are:
- TOEFL: 100 on the Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL
- IELTS: Overall Band Score of 7.5
- Duolingo English Test: Overall Score of 135
TOEFL scores should be sent to Institutional Code D698 and Department Code 99.
To submit IELTS scores, request an official copy of your standardized test scores to be sent directly to our office using the IELTS E-Delivery Account Name: University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice. Confirm that you have selected the correct department by verifying that the associated address is for the account is 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216.
Duolingo English Test scores should be sent to the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice. No application ID is needed.
Financial Aid
The School of Social Policy & Practice does offer limited, merit-based awards for master’s level students. Learn more about financial aid at SP2.
Visa Sponsorship Restrictions
International students must be enrolled full-time in order to qualify for visa sponsorship.
Please note that due to visa restrictions related to distance education, we are unable to accept applications from international students who may require visa sponsorship from the University. Visa sponsorship cannot be provided for the Online Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership program.
Dual Degree Applicants
Penn SP2 promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between programs, across disciplines, and throughout Penn’s 12 graduate and professional schools. We are proud to offer dual degree programs for full-time MSW students, full-time MSSP students, and full-time on-campus NPL students. Penn College of Arts & Sciences undergraduate students are also able to submatriculate into any of our master’s programs.
In order to apply for a dual degree program (including the MSW/MSSP, MSW/NPL, and MSSP/NPL programs), applicants must submit two separate applications. Each of these applications must include two sets of supporting documents, including transcripts, personal statements, and three letters of recommendation. Applications for each dual degree program will be reviewed independently of each other; it is possible to be admitted into one program and not the other.
Please note that the two applications cannot be completed concurrently; applicants must submit their first application before they can begin their second application.
Non-degree Applicants
Non-degree Applicants
Non-degree status is available to students who wish to enroll in a class without applying to a degree program. Each of SP2’s Master’s programs allow non-degree students to enroll in some courses.
Course Eligibility
Master of Social Work
Non-degree students are permitted to take up to 6 courses in the MSW program. Due to the clinical nature of many of the MSW courses, not all classes will be appropriate for non-matriculating students. Course interest is reviewed on a case-by-case basis with the Administrative Director of the MSW Program before non-degree students register for classes. In some situations, degree-seeking students receive priority for course enrollment and, therefore, those classes may be closed to non-degree students.
Master of Science in Social Policy
Non-degree students are permitted to take up to 2 courses in the MSSP program. All MSSP courses are available to non-degree students; priority for course registration, however, is given to MSSP degree-seeking students. Please contact the Associate Director of the MSSP Program to request more information about MSSP course availability.
Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership
Non-degree students are permitted to take up to 2 courses in the NPL program. All NPL courses are available to non-degree students except for NPLD 7850 and NPLD 7910. Priority for course registration is given to NPL degree-seeking students. For more information, contact the Administrative Director of the NPL Program.
Application Process
To apply as a non-degree student, you must submit an online application. While letters of recommendation are not required for non-degree students, the supporting documents of a brief personal statement and a resume are required. Students are required to submit transcripts detailing all undergraduate and postgraduate study in accordance with the School’s transcript policy.
Application deadlines are as follows:
Fall: August 1st
Spring: December 15th
Summer I or II: April 25th
Academic Policies
Students must have earned an undergraduate degree prior to taking any non-degree courses at SP2.
If a student chooses to apply to an SP2 degree-granting program at a later date, non-degree coursework may be counted towards the degree. Students must have earned at least a “B” in the course within the last five (5) years.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition and fees are charged at the annual per-course unit rate (same as the rate of tuition for each part-time program). SP2 is not able to provide scholarships for non-degree students. University of Pennsylvania employees are able to use the tuition benefit towards non-degree coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the application open?
The online application for all master’s and doctoral programs opens in mid to late September of the year prior to your first term at SP2. You can access the online application by clicking here.
I can’t find the personal statement prompt in the online application. Where is it?
The personal statement prompt is located in the “Supplemental Materials” section of the online application.
The online application won’t let me proceed until I complete a certain page, but I’m not ready to complete the page at this time. What can I do?
There are two application sections that all applicants must complete before the online system will allow them to continue, “Peresonal Background” and “Program Selection,” which are the first and second items in the sidebar. Once you have completed these two sections, you will be able to access all subsequent sections of the application.
Can I submit letters through Interfolio or another dossier service?
All letters of recommendation must be submitted through our online application, which asks references to respond to a few simple questions regarding their interactions with the applicant as well as upload a written letter. Because of the format of the recommendations, we are NOT able to accept letters of recommendation through Interfolio or another dossier service. The recommendation form must be completed and a letter must be submitted by each of your references.
Can I submit additional letters of recommendation?
All application submission and review is completed online. The online application system only accepts three letters of recommendation, so we are unable to accept any additional references.
How do I apply for scholarships and financial aid?
There is no separate application for Penn School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) financial aid, which consists primarily of merit-based scholarships and of need-based grants. Simply indicate in the online application that you would like to be considered for financial aid, and we will evaluate your application for both need-based grants and merit-based scholarships. Should you be offered admission, your acceptance letter will include information about your total award from SP2.
PhD-specific tuition and financial information can be accessed here.
Will applying for financial aid impact my admissions decision?
Not at all. Our admissions decisions are made on a “need-blind” basis without regard for an applicant’s request for financial aid consideration. Requesting consideration for school-based scholarships and grants, therefore, has absolutely no impact on an applicant’s chances for admission.
How do I submit my transcripts?
Applicants must submit transcripts detailing all undergraduate and postgraduate study via the online application. This includes coursework conducted at an applicant’s degree-granting institution(s) as well as in study abroad programs and at institutions out of which an applicant may have transferred. Applicants should upload copies of their official transcripts (i.e. not screenshots from a student record or student grade system) that clearly display their name, dates of enrollment, the names of all courses in which they enrolled, and the credits and grades awarded for each class. Applicants should not mail hard copies of transcripts to the School for purposes of application review.
Applicants who have taken one year or more of coursework outside of the United States must also submit a third-party, course-by-course evaluation, completed by a NACES-accredited company, of their international transcripts.
Applicants who are admitted to and choose to attend SP2 will be required to send official copies of all academic transcripts prior to matriculation.
Where should I send my official transcripts?
Applicants should request that their previous or current institutions send copies of their official transcripts directly to the applicant. The applicant will then scan and upload these transcripts into the online application. Official transcripts should NOT be sent to us during the application review process.
Enrolled students must have official transcripts sent directly from their institution to our office in order to matriculate.
My school does not provide electronic pdf version of my transcript and the only option is for them to mail it. If I download it from my student portal, it will be an unofficial transcript. What should I do?
We will accept an unofficial transcript from your student portal or a scanned copy of the transcript. If offered admissions, we would need the official transcript. Please note that applicants should not mail hard copies of transcripts to the School for purposes of application review.
I studied abroad as an undergraduate and completed a semester or a year’s worth of coursework outside of the United States. Do I need to provide a transcript from my study abroad institution? Does it need to be evaluated by a third-party service?
While we require transcripts reflecting the credits and grades earned for all of your prior coursework—including coursework undertaken while abroad—we do not require third-party evaluation of foreign transcripts covering one academic year or less of study. As long as it includes the course names, credits, and grades from your time abroad, we will accept either a transcript from your home institution or an unevaluated transcript directly from your study abroad institution.
I am an international applicant who spent time working or studying in the United States. Do I still need to take an English language exam?
Yes; due to the academic rigor of SP2’s degree programs, we require all applicants whose first language is not English to submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores earned within the last two years. Our minimum on the TOEFL is 100 and our minimum on the IELTS is 7.5. Our TOEFL Institutional Code is D698.
The enrollment and application processes for OpenSP2 (continuing education) programs vary. Additional information is available here.
Please note that all application materials become property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application. For information on the Privacy Policy of the University of Pennsylvania, please click here.
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