New Students

To matriculate into your graduate program, SAS must receive an official transcript directly from your school containing your grades, graduation date, and the degree conferred. If your school has not already submitted an official transcript, you must arrange for it to be sent to gdasadmis@sas.upenn.edu. If your program only provides paper copies, please have it mailed directly to the following address: 3401 Walnut Street, Suite 322A, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228.

• PennKey is your user ID and password that allows access to University of Pennsylvania’s electronic services. Visit PennKey Registration to set it up. Your PennKey is required to receive your student email, PennCard, and submit your payroll documents.

• Once you set up the PennKey, you can set up your e-mail account. Your SAS e-mail account is the main channel for University communications. 

Visit Campus Express to access a variety of services including off-campus housing, transportation, dining, and registering for your PennCard (school ID). 

Visit the Student Registration & Financial Services' SRFS Must-Do List to update and verify your contact information.

These steps must be completed by the start of classes (August 26, 2025).

All full-time students are required to have acceptable health insurance coverage for both in-patient and outpatient medical care in the Philadelphia area and to provide information about their insurance coverage each year. As a condition of enrollment in the University, students subject to this requirement are required to actively enroll in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) OR request an insurance waiver online.

Incoming students may sign up starting July 1 for the 2025-2026 academic year (coverage effective August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026). The deadline to enroll in coverage is August 31. If you do not take action, you will be automatically enrolled and billed for the PSIP.

Dental insurance is available for students at an additional cost.

If you have questions about health insurance, please email wel-shsinsur@pobox.upenn.edu or call 215-746-9355.

The University of Pennsylvania requires all incoming students to be immunized against certain diseases and to submit this information before coming to campus. Visit Student Health and Counseling for information on immunization requirements and submission instructions. If you have questions about immunizations, please email wel-immun@pobox.upenn.edu or call 215-746-9355.

Visit the Graduate Student Center for an extensive list of resources and new student events. Make sure to sign up for their newsletter to stay connected with upcoming programs!