Submatriculation

Penn offers students many opportunities to begin a graduate program while completing an undergraduate degree. Students may apply for admission as submatriculants to a variety of the University’s graduate and professional areas of study. Submatriculation programs exist in the four undergraduate schools and in several of Penn’s graduate schools.

Application for admission as a submatriculant is made within the regular deadlines and processes for application to the graduate program of interest, usually during the student’s junior year. Prior to applying for admission as a submatriculant, a student should meet with an academic advisor in both the undergraduate school and in the intended graduate program.

Policies, options, and procedures for submatriculation vary depending on a student’s undergraduate school:

For more information about interdisciplinary submatriculation opportunities, click here.

Information by School

School of Arts and Sciences
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
School of Nursing
The Wharton School

School of Arts and Sciences

For a list of School of Arts and Sciences departments that consider submatriculation applications, visit: https://www.college.upenn.edu/submatriculation/.

In addition to submatriculating within a department, College undergraduate students are also eligible for the following specialized submatriculation programs:

BA/JD Program in Arts & Sciences and Law

This rigorous program offers an opportunity for highly qualified and motivated College students to apply to Penn Law School during what is generally the first semester of a student's junior year (between 16 and 23.99 course units). If accepted, the student will submatriculate into the J.D. program in their senior year. Applicants must be committed to the study of law in its theoretical and practical aspects.

For more information, visit: https://www.college.upenn.edu/submatriculation.

Bio-Dental Program

Bio-Dental submatriculation is a seven-year joint program of the College and Penn's School of Dental Medicine for students who will major in Biology and who wish to enroll in the Dental School during their senior year in the College. Application to the program must be made at the time of application to Penn. Applicants will be notified of their conditional acceptance into the program when they are notified of their admission to Penn. Full acceptance into the program is made after the student's junior year and is based on academic performance during those three years and meeting the admissions standards of the Dental School.

For more information, visit: https://www.bio.upenn.edu/undergraduate/submatriculation/accelerated-dental-program.

Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Molecular Life Sciences

Ambitious and highly motivated students interested in the molecular view of life should consider the Vagelos Scholars Program in Molecular Life Sciences. Students begin as first-year students and major in two sciences or submatriculate for a Master of Science degree in the standard four years. Students in this program plan to pursue scientific research careers. Scholars are invited from the admitted pool of high school seniors at the beginning of April at the discretion of the faculty director and the admissions committee.

For more information, visit: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Submatriculation is only available to students entering Fall 2017 and earlier.
Both BSE and BAS degree students in Penn Engineering may apply for submatriculation into engineering master's programs. (Note that Engineering students are not permitted to submatriculate into the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) program.)
Qualified undergraduates in Penn's other schools may apply to submatriculate into any of the Penn Engineering master's degree programs, subject to their home school's rules and regulations.

For more information, visit https://ugrad.seas.upenn.edu/student-handbook/programs-options/submatriculation-engineering/.

In addition to submatriculating within a department, Engineering undergraduate students are also eligible for the following specialized submatriculation program:

Penn Engineering/Penn Law Program

Penn's Law School offers an opportunity for qualified juniors in Penn Engineering to apply early to the Law School and submatriculate into the JD program beginning their fourth year. The program is designed as a 3-year + 3-year accelerated program for highly qualified Engineering undergraduates either in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) or Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree programs.

For more information, visit: https://ugrad.seas.upenn.edu/student-handbook/programs-options/submatriculation-law/.

Accelerated Masters

Accelerated Masters is only available to students entering Fall 2018 and later.
Both BSE and BAS degree students in Penn Engineering may apply for accelerated master’s into engineering master's programs. (Note that Engineering students are not permitted to submatriculate into the Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) program.)
Qualified undergraduates in Penn's other schools may apply for the accelerated master’s program in any of the Penn Engineering master's degree programs, subject to their home school's rules and regulations.

School of Nursing

Nursing undergraduate students are eligible for the following specialized submatriculation programs:

BSN/JD Program

Submatriculation allows students in traditional and accelerated BSN programs to formally enroll in the JD program at Penn Law School while still undergraduates. The current climate of healthcare litigation and malpractice suits is well suited for professionals who combine nursing education and experience with legal expertise. A background in both nursing and law gives students a powerful and marketable skillset, and prepares students to make an impact on the medical and legal professions.

To submatriculate into Penn Law, students should take the LSAT and apply during their junior year. If a student is admitted, they will begin taking courses at the law school during their fourth year, completing both the BSN and JD degrees in six years, instead of the usual seven.

For more information, visit https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/live/files/56-submatriculation-law.

BSN/MSN Program

The demand for nurses with MSN degrees is higher than ever. Submatriculation allows students in traditional and accelerated BSN programs to formally enroll in one of Penn Nursing's MSN Programs while still undergraduates. Students are encouraged to apply as early as their junior year. If accepted, students will begin to take master’s level coursework, earning credit toward both degrees.

For more information, visit: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/academics/a-penn-nursing-education/submatriculation/.

The Wharton School

Wharton undergraduate students are eligible for the following specialized submatriculation programs:

Wharton Law School Submatriculation Program

During the junior year, qualified Wharton undergraduate students may apply for admission to the Penn Law School and submatriculate into the Juris Doctor (JD) program. In this 3-year + 3-year accelerated program, the student’s fourth year of study is spent entirely at the Law School completing the first-year law curriculum. The remaining undergraduate and/or graduate degree requirements are then completed in the student’s fifth and sixth years of study.

For more information, visit: https://undergrad-inside.wharton.upenn.edu/submatriculation/.

Wharton MBA Submatriculation Program

Qualified juniors in the Wharton Undergraduate Program may apply for early entry (submatriculation) into the Wharton Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program. In this 3-year + 2-year accelerated program, students’ fourth and fifth years of study are spent entirely as part of the MBA Program. The program is designed to attract academically talented undergraduates with well-defined career goals and significant work experience. Students apply in the junior year.