As long as you have satisfied the AAVSB guidelines, you may apply: Penn Vet requires you to have qualified as a veterinarian already, and to be proficient in the English language. Take a look at the application guidelines, or contact the Program Coordinator at docsam@vet.upenn.edu to register your interest.

Candidates will join final year students, and follow a series of rotations through the year, at the Ryan Hospital for small animals, and at our large animal facility, New Bolton Center, about 40 miles from Philadelphia. You will also be required to complete a set of core competencies.

Fees, as well as cost of living estimates for the Philadelphia area, are set out here. Look at the ‘4th Year’ column, and the ‘Total (non-PA resident)’ figures. A deposit of $4,000 is required when a candidate accepts a place. This is not refundable, but it will be offset against total tuition fees.

An invoice is sent out at the beginning of each semester. An invoice for $4,000 will be raised upon acceptance into the program (this is not refundable, but it will be offset against the year’s fees). Payment is by international wire transfer; at present we do not accept credit card payments.

Here’s what we require. (You may send these documents via email.)
i. Curriculum vitae and diploma/transcript (translated into English)
ii. Your letter of intent (it would be helpful if you could include an overview of your education, your veterinary experience thus far, and your future goals)
iii. Names and contact details for three referees
iv. English language ability/official score
v. QSE result, or date on which examination will be taken
vi. Form of identification (screenshot/photocopy of passport)

This page has general information about the visa process. Unless you have a US passport, you will need an F-1 visa. The University of Pennsylvania’s Office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) will provide the necessary documentation to support your application and prepare the I-20 proof of eligibility. (There is a $180 fee for this service.) For the application, you will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during the year.

No, as a US citizen and US passport holder, you do not require an I-20/DS-2019.

Philadelphia is a cosmopolitan and cultural city, with a deep history. There is plenty for visitors to do and see, from museums and art galleries to a vibrant sports scene. Find out more here.

Try to find accommodation in reasonably close proximity to the university campus. Penn has its own police that monitor the area continuously (see our public safety site); an escort can be made available if you need to work late.

You’ll find a list of suggestions and resources here. One year’s lease will suffice. Your clinical rotations span one year, and you will need to arrive a week early for your induction, but in practice it is unlikely that you will need more than 12 months’ accommodation. 2023-24 candidates who are still deciding on accommodation may find the Virtual Housing Fair beginning on March 23 helpful.

Departing students are a very good source of second-hand furniture and domestic items; and here are a few places that may be worth exploring:
– Circle Thrift
– Philly AIDS Thrift
– Bargain Thrift Center

Parking can be a challenge. There is very good local public transport, and you can rent a bicycle in multiple locations. Try to find accommodation reasonably close to the University, and you should not need a car. You’ll be able to get a ride to New Bolton Center – some students do have cars to get between the campuses and others carpool. There are also dormitories at New Bolton Center, where students may live during rotations there. Uber and Lyft are good car services, and Philadelphia airport is well served by taxis. When you have a weekend free and wish to explore the surrounding area, it could be useful to hire a car. This City of Philadelphia page has more detail. As a PennCard holder, you can travel free of charge on the Lucy Loop shuttle service, which operates Mon-Fri around the university district, and to 30th St Station.

Yes, a bicycle is useful. Philadelphia is a good city for cycling, as long as you are careful. There are also city-wide, bicycle-share and rental schemes, such as Indego.

Rotations begin in May, and there will be an induction period for candidates prior to that. For 2023-24, the induction sessions will be held on May 2/3, and rotations start the following week. So bear this in mind when arranging travel plans. You will be asked to come to the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at 3900 Spruce Street and to announce yourself at the front desk or see the security guard. They will inform us, so we can come and collect you.

Yes. But if you do find a significantly cheaper ticket –  into Newark Airport, for example – you can get a train or a bus from there to Philadelphia.

You can take a bus, taxi or Uber from Philadelphia Airport. It will be useful for you to have some US dollars to cover initial, incidental expenses like this.

Dress code is business casual; no sneakers or sports attire. We will provide you with two white coats with the Penn logo and your name embroidered on them. You’ll find size information here: women’s sizes (Style 7202); men’s sizes (Style 7201). Along with your size information, please state exactly how you would like your name to appear. You will also need scrubs – solid color, not patterned fabric (most people wear blue or green); you can buy the scrubs once you are here (from FIGS). The Penn Vet Handbook & Curricular Guide has further detail on clothing policy for Ryan Hospital and for New Bolton Center.