The University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin and located in Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, is a world-renowned private research university and one of the eight prestigious Ivy League schools.
The University of Pennsylvania's School of Design, commonly referred to as PennDesign, is the alma mater of notable figures such as Louis Kahn and Liang Sicheng. Its Landscape Architecture program is ranked second in the latest DI rankings, surpassed only by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Related Programs List
The University of Pennsylvania offers a wide range of architecture-related programs, covering areas such as architecture, environment, landscape, urban design, and historic preservation. These programs are housed within the School of Design.
- Master of Architecture Professional Degree (MArch) - Duration: 3 years
- Master of Science in Design - Advanced Architectural Design (MSD-AAD) - Duration: 1 year (3 semesters)
- Master of Science in Design - Environmental Building Design (MSD-EBD) - Duration: 1.5 years (3 semesters)
- Master of Science in Design - Historic Preservation (MSD-HP) - Duration: 1 year
- Master of Science in Historic Preservation (MSHP) - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Science in Architecture (MS in Architecture) - Duration: 1 year
- Master of City Planning - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Fine Arts - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Landscape Architecture - Duration: 3 years/2 years
- Master of Urban Spatial Analytics - Duration: 1 year
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements for Each Program
Master of Architecture（MArch）
Students with an undergraduate degree in a subject other than architecture may be admitted to the program beginning in June.
Students with an undergraduate major in Architecture may be admitted to the three-year program.
Students with a four-year pre-professional degree in architecture may be admitted to the program with one year of advanced standing.
Students who hold a five-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree or its equivalent are not eligible to apply to the Master of Architecture program. They are encouraged to look into one of our post-professional Master of Science in Design degree programs.
MSD-AAD
The three-semester Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Advanced Architectural Design [MSD-AAD] course of study is for architecture students with five-year professional bachelor’s degrees from the US and an equivalent degree from around the world. This course of study does not lead to a professional degree in architecture.
MSD-EBD
An advanced, three-semester Master of Science in Design with an emphasis in Environmental Building Design (MSD-EBD) for architects seeking new skills and competitive advantage in the growing field of sustainable design.
MSD-HP
The one-year Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Historic Preservation (MSD-HP) complements Weitzman School’s long-standing two-year MSHP degree. The MSD-HP directly addresses the needs of practicing design professionals seeking post-professional training, specialization, or change in career path. The MSD-HP curriculum requires 12 CUs and spans one calendar year – two full-time semesters, plus one summer studio course. Half of the required courses are elective; personalized curricula can accommodate advanced thesis research or additional studios. Applicants must possess a professional degree in design or planning fields (architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban planning, urban design, engineering) from an accredited university, and at least three years of professional experience.
MSHP
The Master of Science in Historic Preservation combines rigorous intellectual training with practical foundational skills needed for professional practice. The degree is earned in four consecutive semesters (two years), with students taking four to five courses per semester (for a total of 19 Course Units). The MSHP degree may be pursued in conjunction with other Weitzman School departments and Penn schools as part of established dual-degree programs.
MS in Architecture
The Master of Science degree, first offered in 1984, is intended for individuals with an undergraduate professional degree in architecture who wish to pursue a self-directed program of study at the advanced level. It enables students to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between the discipline and the profession. This degree is normally completed in one calendar year. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in architecture.
MCP
Entering MCP students are required to have previously taken a course in descriptive and inferential statistics, and to have a working knowledge of spreadsheet analysis and digital graphics programs. Students who lack knowledge in these areas or just want to brush-up are encouraged to attend a two-week "bootcamp" program just prior to the start of the fall semester.
MLA
The Department offers two primary courses of study leading to a professionally accredited Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA). The first professional degree program is three years in length and is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in a field other than landscape architecture or architecture. The second professional degree is two years in length and is designed for those who already hold an accredited bachelor’s degree in either landscape architecture or architecture.
Master of Urban Spatial Analytics
Having some basic familiarity with GIS and related software is helpful but we do offer a GIS Bootcamp course right before the fall semester begins to help further prepare incoming students.
For detailed information on programs and certificates, please refer to the official website:
MUP
Accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board and open to students with an undergraduate degree, the two-year professional Master in Urban Planning (MUP) degree engages with critical issues facing cities and regions in coming decades.
MDes
Applicants to the MDes program normally hold a professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning and design. Applicants with a degree in a related discipline such as engineering, geography, computer science, or industrial design also qualify for admission. The program seeks applicants who have demonstrated overall academic and/or professional achievement in the design fields and who have the potential for advanced work in the area selected for study. Applicants must specify which of the offered eight areas of study they wish to pursue. Each area has specific course requirements and electives and is under the guidance of an area academic advisor. The specific course work is customized to each student’s qualifications and academic and professional objectives and is constructed by the individual student in consultation with his or her academic advisor.
MDE
Have at least two years of professional experience in engineering, design, business, government, or other fields;
Hold a degree in design, engineering, sciences, social sciences, or a related field; and
Have demonstrated technical literacy (see below) and multidisciplinary design interests. Applicants must be prepared to submit a portfolio/set of project descriptions.
Language Proficiency Requirements
GRE
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all but Master of Fine Art applicants regardless of whether they are from the U.S. or abroad. To register for the GRE, go to Educational Testing Service at www.gre.org. Official test scores must be sent by ETS to the Weitzman School of Design. The correct institution code to use when requesting scores is 2926; you do not need a departmental code.
We suggest a minimum of 160 Verbal, 148 Quantitative, and 4.5 for Analytical Writing. Keep in mind that these are not cut-off scores as we look at all of your supporting material when evaluating your application.
TOEFL / IELTS
International applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate training of at least 4 years has not been conducted in the English language must submit satisfactory certification of adequate English proficiency sufficient to pursue graduate study, both comprehension and expression in the spoken and written word. Applicants must submit scores of either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic), Pearson's PTE Academic, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
We suggest a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL, 68 for the PTE Academic, and a band score of 7.0 for the IELTS, but these are not cut-off scores and we will review any complete application we receive. If you have spent a minimum of 4 years in an English-speaking institution (for your Bachelor's, for example), you will not be required to submit a TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score.
The correct institution code to use when requesting official TOEFL scores is 2926; you do not need a departmental code. Candidates admitted to the Weitzman School of Design may be required to successfully complete an English Language Program prior to matriculation. They will be notified of this condition in their letter of admission.
Application Materials
- Transcripts and Course-by-Course Evaluation
Applicants with undergraduate/graduate degrees from non-US institutions (except Canadian AAU-affiliated schools) must submit a BASIC course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or Educational Perspectives.
You do not need to send official transcripts; credentials evaluated by WES or Educational Perspectives are considered official.
Exceptions: If you’ve taken courses for one year or less or attended AAU-affiliated schools (e.g., McGill University, University of Toronto), submit an official transcript directly from the institution. - Personal Statement
Upload a statement (500 words max) describing your background, field of interest, and academic/career objectives.
MFA applicants should include ideas and priorities for their work. - Portfolio
All material must be original, with clear labeling of academic, professional, or personal work.
Specify your role in professional/team projects.
Format: A single PDF no larger than 10 MB:
Maximum 20 pages (10 x 12”) or 10 pages (10 x 24” spreads).
Cover pages and table of contents don’t count towards the page limit. - Interviews
Optional for some programs (e.g., MCP, MFA, MSD-AAD, MSD-EBD, MLA, MUSA). Conducted via the ApplyWeb system.
After submitting your application, look for an invitation email (check spam if needed).
Recommended setup: Computer with webcam, mic, and hardwired internet connection. - Financial Aid
International Financial Aid Application available after January 1.
Submit income/asset verification (e.g., bank statements, tax forms) via mail or email as a PDF (<4 MB).
Recommended deadline: February 15. - Writing Sample
MS in Architecture: Essay or research report in your field.
MSHP: Essay or report related to Historic Preservation or built environment history.
MSD (AAD, EBD, RAS): One writing sample and a description of computing/software skills.
MSD-HP: One professional or scholarly writing sample.
Samples should ideally be under 10 pages and can be previously written or newly prepared. - Additional Resources
Full details on supporting materials: Supporting Materials - UPenn Design
Application checklist: Application Checklist (PDF)
FAQs: Graduate Admissions FAQs