Stanford University campus buildings surrounded by palm trees and California greenery.

United States Open for Fall 2026 entry — Early Decision 1 November 2025; Regular Decision 5 January 2026

UPenn World Scholars Programme

The University of Pennsylvania is one of only six US universities (with Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Amherst) that offers need-based financial aid to international undergraduate students on the same terms as domestic students. Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants, not loans — meaning a Sri Lankan undergraduate with limited family resources can in principle graduate with zero student debt. Aid packages routinely reach USD 80,000+ per year (LKR 25M+) for the very highest-need international students. The catch: Penn's overall admission rate for international students is around 4-5%, so the bar is exceptional A-Level / Edexcel grades + extraordinary extracurricular leadership.

University of Pennsylvania

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to ~USD 85,000/yr (~LKR 27M)

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Duration

4-Year Undergraduate Degree

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Policy

100% Demonstrated Need, No Loans

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Admitted to Penn Undergraduate

You must be admitted to a Penn undergraduate programme through the standard Common Application or Coalition Application. Penn admits to one of four undergraduate schools — Arts & Sciences, Wharton, Engineering, or Nursing. The overall acceptance rate for international applicants is around 4-5%.

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Outstanding Academic Profile

Typical admitted students have 3+ A* / A grades at A-Level (or IB 42+, SAT 1500+, ACT 34+) plus standout extracurricular leadership — research, debate, MUN, robotics, music, sport, community projects, or original ventures. Sri Lankan applicants from Royal, Visakha, Trinity, Ladies' College, OISL, Gateway, etc. have been admitted in past cycles.

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Demonstrated Financial Need

Aid is determined by parental income, assets, family size, and existing financial commitments. Sri Lankan families with combined annual incomes below approximately LKR 12 million typically qualify for very substantial aid; middle-income families may receive partial aid.

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English Proficiency

TOEFL iBT 100+ or IELTS 7.0+ generally expected, though Penn waives the requirement for applicants who studied in English-medium schools (most Sri Lankan international school applicants qualify for a waiver).

account_tree Application Process

Submit Common App by 5 January

Apply via the Common Application for Penn — Early Decision deadline 1 November 2025 (binding), Regular Decision 5 January 2026. Include Penn-specific essays, two teacher recommendations, school counsellor recommendation, and standardised test scores if available.

Submit CSS Profile and ISFAA

Complete the CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) at cssprofile.org by the relevant aid deadline. International applicants additionally submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) plus parental tax documents and bank statements.

Penn admissions + aid review

Admissions and financial aid offices review applications simultaneously but separately — Penn practises need-blind admission for US citizens and a need-sensitive policy for international applicants. Decisions are released in mid-March for Regular Decision.

Financial aid package + I-20

Admitted students receive a detailed financial aid letter alongside the admission offer, showing grant aid, expected family contribution, and any work-study component. Once you accept, Penn issues the I-20 reflecting the reduced cost — you then apply for the F-1 visa.

Why UPenn?

The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League research university founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. Penn is ranked #11 globally (QS 2026) and is the home of the Wharton School — the world's #1 undergraduate business programme. Penn's need-based aid policy makes it one of the most accessible elite US universities for international students from outside the top income brackets.