The Program allows students to experience the US university life while being immersed in the language and culture of the US. Each year 2,000 students from 35 countries study at the ELP as part of the active university community.

Non-credit

Commuter

Accepts International Students

The Institute for Academic and Professional Studies (IAPS) introduces you to academic subjects and professional communication in English. The program helps you develop English language skills for communicating clearly and confidently in a university environment and professional settings.
In your “Exploring Philadelphia: An Academic and Cultural Experience” core course, you will discover the culture and history of Philadelphia by reading academic texts, performing research, and participating in academic discussions.

In your elective courses, you will explore two academic and/or professional subjects in English. You will build vocabulary and develop listening and speaking skills to effectively communicate your knowledge and opinions about course topics.

Throughout the program, guest lectures from Penn professors will enhance your university experience.

You will take a core course at the level appropriate for your proficiency as well as 2 content-based English language electives. Courses are available from pre-intermediate to advanced levels.

Core Course
Integrated Skills (All Levels)

This course is designed to introduce you to skills and strategies necessary to succeed in U.S. universities. With a focus on U.S. immigration and the history of Philadelphia, you will explore and enhance your understanding of the current cultural diversity within the U.S. You will read academic texts, listen to lectures, participate in academic discussions, give presentations, and perform research. Throughout the course, you will build a blog that showcases your research and your reflections on the international student experience.

Elective Courses
Elective course options are dependent upon course level, session, and availability.

Communications (Pre-Intermediate)

How does online communication influence our language, identity, and relationships? This course explores topics in social networking, public relations, and crisis management through the analysis of real-life case studies from politics, business, and entertainment. In a final group project, you will use crisis management strategies to respond to a public relations crisis.

Innovation & Technology (Intermediate and Advanced Levels)

How are technological innovations shaping the world today and how will they affect our lives in the future? This course investigates these questions by exploring how today's top innovators are engineering the future in fields such as robotics and nanotechnology. You will develop skills for describing complex concepts in concise academic language and deliver both formal and informal presentations on technologies of your choice.

Leadership (All Levels)

Through analysis of successful leaders and their leadership styles, as well as the exploration of your own leadership style, you will learn strategies for effective communication. You will explore organizational dynamics with a focus on how teams develop, learn, and achieve success together and the ways in which leaders emerge. You will analyze the presentation strategies leaders use and incorporate effective verbal and non-verbal communication strategies in team projects and class presentations.

Positive Psychology and Resiliency (Intermediate and Advanced Levels)

What can you do to increase your well-being and become a more resilient person? This course introduces you to the growing field of Positive Psychology, and examines several of the field’s key concepts, including signature strengths, positive emotions, resiliency, and grit. You will give several presentations in which you demonstrate your understanding of the concepts and how the concepts relate to your own life.

Professional Business Writing (Advanced Level)

This course helps develop your understanding of what defines professional communication by analyzing samples of various communication styles and contexts. You will examine how to create a professional resume, along with understanding protocols for professional correspondence in emails and letter format.

Strategic Planning and Persuasive Communication (Advanced Level)

As one of the most in-demand skills for future professionals, this course is designed to help you improve your persuasive speaking skills to better communicate and sell your ideas. You will learn about the elements of persuasion and effective speaking and develop presentation skills in business and public relations. Throughout the course, you will work in teams to create a brief business plan and craft a persuasive presentation to sell a product to a specific market.

Sustainability (Intermediate and Advanced)

In the sustainability elective, you will develop a critical awareness of the global issue of limited resources and expanding needs. Through historical, cultural, and individual examples of sustainable, as well as unsustainable, practices, you will examine the societal, economic, and environmental impact of peoples' choices. Through informative videos and purposeful discussion, you will ultimately decide what you, in your community, can do about this urgent matter.

Program Activities
During the program, Penn professors provide guest lectures on material related to the elective courses. This unique opportunity allows you to practice your listening comprehension and note-taking skills while learning from top professors in the field. Studnets will also have the opportunity to experience a day trip to Washington D.C. and attend a local sports event for one of Philadelphia's major teams.

In addition, through class-wide and independent field work, you will go beyond the classroom to find connections to your studies across Philadelphia’s many unique neighborhoods, and learn about the city’s history and culture in the process. Potential sites for class field trips include the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Independence Park, home of the famous Liberty Bell and the Constitution Center; and Reading Terminal Market, a central shopping and dining destination. Individually or in small groups, you will explore a chosen corner of the city and come to understand how Philadelphians from many backgrounds define and experience their neighborhoods.

Session January 2024

Jan 08 - Feb 02

4 weeks

Commuter

3265 USD

Session February 2024

Feb 05 - Mar 01

4 weeks

Commuter

3265 USD

Session July 2024

Jul 01 - Jul 26

4 weeks

Commuter

3265 USD

Session August 2024

Aug 01 - Aug 28

4 weeks

Commuter

3265 USD

Program Tuition and Fees

Prices are valid through June 2024; however, tuition and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice.

Institute for Academic and Professional Studies:
Enrollment Fee $90
Tuition $2,785
University Fees $259
Medical Insurance $131
Total $3,265
Note: These prices are subject to change in June 2024

Medical Insurance: All full-time student visa holders (F-1 or J-1) must purchase medical insurance through the ELP. Full-time students not on an F-1 or J-1 visa must provide proof of health insurance coverage.

Total: The non-refundable deposit of $310 and the $90 enrollment fee, paid at the time of application, will be applied toward the student’s bill.

Financial Aid

There is no financial aid available for the Penn English Language Programs.