
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is one of the top academic institutions in the United States, attracting students from all over the world. With the high cost of tuition and living expenses, many international students seek scholarships and financial aid to attend UPenn. While the university does not offer full scholarships specifically for international transfer students, it provides financial aid to admitted international students, including transfer students, based on their demonstrated financial need. UPenn meets 100% of the assessed financial need of admitted international students through a combination of grant funds and work-study opportunities. Additionally, various merit-based scholarships and external funding options are available for international students, making UPenn accessible to talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does UPenn provide full scholarships to international transfer students? | No clear answer, but UPenn does provide financial aid to international students, including those from Mexico and Canada. |
| Number of international students | 6,887 enrolled at all levels in Fall 2023 |
| Percentage of international students in the first-year class | 13% |
| Types of financial aid | Named scholarships, grants, merit scholarships, loans, work-study |
| Amount of financial aid | UPenn provides over $10 million each year in financial aid to international students |
| Requirements for financial aid | International students must apply for financial aid at the same time as admissions. They should review the Checklist for International Students and may need to complete a CSS Profile, the Penn Outside Resource Form, and submit tax return information. |
| Other recommendations | International students are encouraged to open a U.S. bank account while studying at UPenn. |
Explore related products
$20 $28.99
$19.95 $14.99
$21.35 $29.99
What You'll Learn

Named scholarships
The University of Pennsylvania, UPenn, offers various financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Named scholarships are a significant component of UPenn's international financial aid budget, contributing to 31% of the total. These scholarships are funded by generous donations from UPenn alumni and friends, directly supporting undergraduate students in financing their education.
- Ambrose C. Davis Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Established in 2007 by Dr. Ambrose C. Davis, this scholarship supports exceptional international undergraduate students. It has grown significantly over the years, allowing UPenn to provide financial aid to talented international students.
- Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business Endowed Scholarship: Created by Huntsman Program alumni, this scholarship reflects the value they place on their UPenn experience and their desire to support talented students from around the world.
- Ben Franklin Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship is a need-based award where a donor directly supports the recipient's education at UPenn. It is assigned based on specific criteria, such as the student's hometown or major.
- Maguire Foundation Scholarship: The Maguire Foundation provides last-dollar scholarship support to up to five students in each incoming class for all four years, based on financial eligibility and academic standing.
UPenn's commitment to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of its admitted international students, combined with the availability of named scholarships, makes the university a more accessible option for talented students worldwide.
Off-Cycle Internships: International Student Opportunities?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$170 $190

Grant-based financial aid
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) offers grant-based financial aid to international students. The university commits to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted international students with grants and work-study funding, just like any other undergraduate student. This makes it possible for students to graduate with a world-class undergraduate degree without any debt.
UPenn provides over $10 million each year in financial aid to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico. The university's grant-based financial aid policy fully applies to admitted international students. International students are generally not eligible for federal funding, so any financial aid received will come as institutional funding, including grant funds and work-study.
International students who wish to apply for institutional need-based financial aid must do so simultaneously with their application for admission to UPenn. Students anticipating the need for financial aid at any time during their four-year course of study must declare this at the time of their application to remain eligible for aid. International students who are not admitted with financial aid in their first year are ineligible to apply for financial aid later in their undergraduate program.
International students can also benefit from various scholarships offered by the university. These include the Ambrose C. Davis Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which was established in 2007 to support international undergraduate students. The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business Endowed Scholarship was established by alumni to provide financial aid to talented students from around the world.
H-1B Visa Impact: International Students' Master's Dilemma
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$31.19 $38.99
$26.77 $30.99

Merit scholarships
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) offers various financial aid options for international students, including merit scholarships. UPenn is committed to supporting international students through generous financial aid, ensuring that Penn can be a reality for all students.
UPenn offers merit scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These scholarships are awarded based on academic or professional merit. Each of the 12 graduate and professional schools at UPenn provides limited assistance in the form of grants, with some schools awarding grants based on financial need and others based on merit.
The University does not award scholarships based on athletic merit. However, it is important to note that UPenn's merit scholarships are need-based, and the University is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of its students.
International students interested in merit scholarships should carefully review the specific additional requirements for international applicants. They must apply for financial aid simultaneously with their admissions application, as requests made after admission cannot be considered.
Other Financial Aid Options
In addition to merit scholarships, UPenn provides other financial aid options for international students. The University offers grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to help students cover their tuition and living expenses. Named Scholarships also generate a significant portion of the international financial aid budget, and international students are encouraged to seek scholarships for which they are qualified to increase their chances of receiving financial aid.
The University provides over $10 million annually in financial aid to non-citizen students, as international students are generally not eligible for federal funding. Thus, any financial aid received will be in the form of institutional funding.
Examples of Named Scholarships
- The Ambrose C. Davis Memorial Endowed Scholarship supports international undergraduate students and has nearly quadrupled in size since its establishment in 2007.
- The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business Endowed Scholarship was established by alumni to provide financial aid to talented students from around the world.
- The Maguire Foundation provides last-dollar scholarship support to up to five students in each incoming class for four years based on financial eligibility and academic standing.
How Hosting International Students Can Reduce Your Tax Bill
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Work-study programs
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) offers various financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, loans, and grants. While it is unclear whether UPenn provides full scholarships to international transfer students, the university is committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted international students, which may include a combination of grant funds and work-study programs.
The Federal Work-Study program at UPenn is a subsidized work program that provides on-campus and off-campus employment opportunities to eligible undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs. This program offers a variety of job options, and students are encouraged to seek community service work or positions related to their course of study. Students are paid weekly for the hours they work, and the earnings do not affect their financial aid package or future eligibility.
International students at UPenn are eligible for Penn Work-Study funding, which is a great option since they are typically not eligible for federal funding. The work-study award represents the maximum amount a student can earn during the academic year, and students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session and 40 hours per week when classes are not in session.
Students can find eligible work-study positions by logging into Workday and accessing the job portal. For off-campus employment, it is important to ensure that the employer is listed on Workday@Penn or has signed an agreement with the University to hire work-study students.
Applying to Yonsei: A Guide for International Students
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Outside scholarships
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted international students through grant funds and work-study, just like any other undergraduate student. However, it is unclear whether this applies to transfer students. UPenn also has various scholarships for international students, including the Ambrose C. Davis Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which supports exceptional international undergraduate students.
Outside of UPenn, there are several scholarship opportunities for international students. Here are some examples:
- The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial help for their graduate studies. The scholarships are 50% grant and 50% loan.
- The Civil Society Leadership Awards offer full scholarships for Master's students from specific countries dedicated to fostering social change.
- Conacyt provides scholarships for Mexican students pursuing postgraduate studies in institutions abroad.
- ColFuturo provides scholarships for Colombian students pursuing postgraduate studies abroad.
- The Foreign Fulbright Student Program offers scholarships for graduate students and young professionals and artists from around the world to study in the USA.
- The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides comprehensive financial coverage, including tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance, to students from developing countries who have supported their home country's development and are applying to graduate programs.
- MPOWER Financing offers scholarships for international and DACA students. Its Global Citizen Scholarship Program has broad eligibility criteria and is offered throughout the year.
- The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship awards scholarships to women from other countries earning their graduate degrees in the USA.
- The College Board oversees the SAT college admission test and provides scholarship and financial aid information on its website.
- The EGS Scholarship covers full tuition, room, and board for up to four years for international freshman applicants.
- The Wien International Scholarship Program (WISP) is available to international students who have made impressive contributions both inside and outside the classroom.
- Clark University offers a variety of Clark merit scholarships to international students.
- GW offers the Presidential Academic Scholarship, the International Baccalaureate Scholarship, and the You are Welcome Here Scholarship to international students.
- Harvard offers a wide variety of scholarships to international graduate students from around the world.
- UChicago offers a variety of merit scholarships for international students, including the International Distinction in Education Award (IDEA) for incoming first-year international students graduating from a high school outside the U.S.
- UNLV offers the International Student Scholarship to current international undergraduates with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
- USC and UW-Madison offer several merit scholarships to international students.
- The Founder's Scholarship provides assistance to students studying abroad on a program organized by International Business Seminars.
- Barcelona SAE's TODOS program awards almost $400,000 annually in grants and scholarships to students studying abroad in Barcelona.
- The Global Opportunity (GO) Full-Ride Scholarship covers tuition, program fees, and orientation (up to $15,000) for a stand-out student to study abroad on any TEAN program.
- Boren Awards are available to students of all proficiency levels committed to enhancing their skills in critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili.
- The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded biannually to students passionate about exploring the world through study abroad programs.
- AIFS offers grants of up to $2,500 for a semester or $1,500 for a summer, winter, or internship program to over 50% of students enrolled in its programs.
- CEA CAPA offers more than $2 million each year in scholarships, affiliations, and grant programs for students studying and interning abroad.
- API awards millions of dollars in scholarships annually, ranging from $250 to full tuition at partner universities.
International Students: Asking for Help When You Need It
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
UPenn does not offer full scholarships to international transfer students. However, it does provide financial aid to international students, meeting 100% of their demonstrated needs.
UPenn determines the financial needs of international students by assessing their family's financial situation. Candidates whose families have the financial means to afford the education costs are discouraged from applying for financial aid.
International students are generally not eligible for federal funding. Funding sources for international students at UPenn include institutional funding, grants, work-study, and education loans.






























