Quick Links

Admission to OD

Quick Facts and Dates

Admission Requirements

International Applicants

How to Apply Online

Financing Your Degree

International Applicants

While many US citizens in our program work for global organizations that assign them to cities and countries abroad, 90% of Organizational Dynamics students take courses part-time and hail from the U.S. (generally within 100 miles of Philadelphia). The remaining 10% of our community is from abroad, and the number is growing annually. International students, therefore, are important to our Program's heterogeneity, and make significant contributions to the educational experience of all participants.

In 2008 the international students formed ODISC, the Organizational Dynamics International/Full-Time Student Community. ODISC is dedicated to assisting all international and full-time prospective students during the application process, offering career-enhancing activities, promoting multicultural diversity, and serving as ambassadors for the MS and MPhil degree programs, both here and abroad.

Education Requirements

International applicants must have a college-level education equivalent to a four-year United States baccalaureate degree. There are a number of universities around the world that offer three-year undergraduate programs which may also be acceptable. If you received a bachelor's degree from one of these undergraduate programs, you are eligible to apply. Many international candidates also have a master's, doctorate, or professional degree which should be described during the application process.

When applying, list all post-secondary educational institutions you have attended, including technical and professional schools. Use the full, actual names of the institutions attended, and provide the titles of all diplomas or degrees earned.

All academic records from educational institutions must be official and submitted directly to Organizational Dynamics by each institution. Official records are defined as original documents issued by the institution and bearing the actual (not photocopied) signature of the registrar and the institutional seal. Records issued only once by institutions should be photocopied and certified as official copies either by school officials or legal authorities such as embassies or notaries public. Please do not send the original of an academic record that cannot be replaced.

If you have attended more than one institution, submit official records from each institution, with the exception of study-abroad programs. If academic records and diplomas are not issued in English by the institution, both the official record and an authorized English translation must be submitted.

All translations should be complete and literal renditions of the original record. Records should show the date of enrollment, courses taken, units of credit or time allotted to each subject during each term or year, your marks or ratings in each subject, and, if available, your rank in the total class or group.

The institutional grading scale or other standards of evaluation, including minimum passing and failing marks and definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or be provided as an attachment.

Top

University of Pennsylvania Office of International Programs (OIP)

When your complete application has been submitted online, your name will be forwarded to the University's Office of International Programs in order that they can provide you with other information relevant to foreign students. We recommend that you discuss with the OIP expectations and information about housing and residency while a graduate student, pre-arrival information, international graduate student groups, and other issues appropriate to international students at Penn.

Immigration Forms and Student Visas

The Office of the Graduate Division of the School of Arts and Sciences will provide immigration forms for the necessary visas after you have received your letter of admission from Organizational Dynamics. If you have been admitted but do not receive these forms, contact the Organizational Dynamics office.

Information about immigration forms and visas is available here:

http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/index.html

Student Profile

Gmelina Olvida Guiang - MS, MSOD candidate

I obtained a Master's of Social Science in Economics degree from the National University of Singapore and BA in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University. I learned about Organizational Dynamics through the website and I became interested in it because I wanted to understand people better, and understand how teams can be more effective in their work. I also wanted fresh, new perspectives on leadership, change management, and organizational strategy. Read more …

Resources for International Applicants

For advice or tips about applying as an international student or to answer questions about the Organizational Dynamics international community of students contact ODISC.

Another helpful site to visit during your application process is EducationUSA. This website provides information and a list of advising centers in your country that can help you begin your graduate studies in the United States.

The University of Pennsylvania also has many international Cultural and Support Organizations that can provide information to applicants. For information click here.

The University of Pennsylvania English Language Program (ELP) offers daytime and evening courses in conversation skills, writing, grammar, and TOEFL preparation year round and at all levels. For information, contact: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/elp
Tel: +1 215-898-8681.