We are excited that you're considering Penn's Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences to further pursue your professional goals. We are here to answer any questions you have about the program and the admissions process.
See yourself in the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences
Penn’s Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences is designed for both recent college graduates and seasoned professionals aiming to advance their careers in the private and nonprofit sectors. Our program also serves as a springboard for those aspiring to pursue a PhD or enter business school. Whether you are looking to enhance your qualifications or pivot your career, we invite you to leverage your experience in our collaborative classroom environment.
Future consultants, educators, policymakers, community leaders, and business analysts find their foundation here. Whether you are engaged in humanitarian efforts globally, aiding employees in making informed decisions, or addressing public health issues in urban areas, the influence of behavioral and decision sciences is broad and impactful.
What we're looking for
Our admissions committee takes a holistic approach to evaluating applications. In addition to a solid academic record, we are looking for individuals eager to make a meaningful impact in their fields through behavioral and decision sciences.
Admissions requirements for the program reflect the high standards of the School of Arts and Sciences. Admissions criteria include:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution
- A minimum GPA of 3.5 or significant professional experience
- TOEFL and IELTS are mandatory for non-native English speakers. The minimum TOEFL scores required for admissions consideration are Internet Test (iBT) = 100 (with a speaking score of 25+); Computer-Based Test (CBT) = 250; Paper-Based Test (PBT) = 600. For IELTS, the minimum score required for admissions consideration is 7.5.
- GRE test scores are required for applicants with less than three years of full-time employment experience post-bachelor's degree.
- Undergraduate courses in (a) introductory statistics and (b) game theory or microeconomics. These can be completed at any accredited institution before the term begins; online summer courses in these subjects are available at Penn.
Submitting your application
Applications are handled in two rounds: priority admission and standard admission. Each round has a different corresponding decision release date. Applicants who have submitted a completed application by the priority admission deadline are expected to receive their decisions earlier. Applicants will have two weeks to decide and make a $1,000 non-refundable deposit after receiving the decision. Waitlist applicants will hear the decision no later than mid-May.
We encourage applicants to submit before the December 1 priority deadline for a faster enrollment decision. The MBDS program only admits a certain number of students each fall. Submitting your application in early increases your chances of being considered for enrollment.
A complete application includes all transcripts, GRE test scores (or, alternately, at least three years of full-time employment information), TOEFL/IELTS scores (for all international students who are non-native English speakers), two letters of recommendation, and required short-answer questions. You can check the status of your application through the application portal. Applications that are missing required documents, such as a letter of recommendation, will not be reviewed until all materials have been received.
Please note, the MBDS program does not allow deferrals. Be sure to apply for the academic year in which you intend to start your studies. Given recent concerns regarding visa processing, admitted students facing delays are encouraged to reach out to program staff. We are committed to supporting students as they explore options for starting their studies.
Application deadlines
| Term of Entry | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 (regular) | February 1, 2026 |
We encourage all international applicants to apply for admission early to have ample time to complete the entire visa process.
Application requirements
Applications must contain all of the following to be considered complete:
Please answer one of the following questions:
- If you have full-time work experience (excluding internships), please briefly describe it. Include the projects you worked on, your achievements, the skills you had before, and the skills you gained during your experience. (Maximum 200 words)
- If you do not have full-time work experience (excluding internships), how do you think the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences will help you with your future career or academic interests? (Maximum 200 words)
Submit your current resume, which should highlight your professional and academic experiences, including nondegree coursework, certificates, and MOOCs. We encourage applicants to include all positions held, including non-behavioral science jobs, internships, or volunteer experiences.
To apply to a program, you must submit transcripts from each post-secondary school by uploading copies of unofficial transcripts through the online application system. We accept file formats .doc, .xls, .pdf, and .txt. Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload a copy of their official transcript, along with the transcript key/legend.
If you are offered admission, you will be required to provide official final transcripts of all previous academic work to verify the information provided. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records are verified.
For a transcript to be considered official, we require one of the following:
- Original hard copy mailed to Penn LPS directly from the issuing institution (see address below)
- Copy with an official stamp, seal and/or embossed marking, which arrives in a sealed envelope bearing the institution's stamp or seal (this may be sent from the applicant)
- Emailed transcript from official electronic delivery service
Copies, opened or unsealed envelopes, and unofficial printouts or facsimiles will not be accepted. You must show your original school record for your coursework; transfer credits as indicated on another school’s transcript are not accepted. In addition, you are required to submit official transcripts from each school you have previously attended or are currently attending. Many schools take several weeks to fulfill transcript requests, so please plan accordingly.
Please note: Since all required supporting documents are submitted through the online application system, hard copy material other than official transcripts or letters of recommendation will not be accepted. Please urge your recommenders to submit their letters through the online system. All application materials become the property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application.
Official transcripts should be sent to the following address:
College of Liberal and Professional Studies Admissions
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335
- Please check with your university or college to determine if an electronic transcript delivery service is available.
- If the option is available, please request your final official transcripts be sent electronically to lps-admissions@sas.upenn.edu. Electronic submission of transcripts improves tracking and reduces processing time.
- Once your official transcripts arrive in our office, allow 3-5 business days for your academic records to be processed and verified. Processing time may be longer during peak periods.
If there are discrepancies between the self-reported academic work and official records, the offer of admission will be revoked. The school grading scale or other standards of evaluation, including minimum passing and failing marks and the definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or be provided as an attachment. You will be unable to register for courses until your final official transcript has been received and verified.
GRE scores are required for applicants with less than three years of full-time professional experience, excluding internships. The three years of professional experience must have occurred before the application is submitted.
GRE scores must be sent electronically from ETS to the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS), testing school code: 2986.
To locate a testing site near you or schedule an exam, visit the GRE website. Please note, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies is accepting at-home GRE test scores.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores to demonstrate English proficiency. Please note that the TOEFL/IELTS is required for all international students whose native language is not English; therefore, we encourage applicants to take the test to avoid delays in completing the application.
The minimum TOEFL scores required for admissions consideration are Internet Test (iBT) = 100, with a speaking score of 25+; Computer-Based Test (CBT) = 250; Paper-Based Test (PBT) = 600. The TOEFL must be sent from ETS using the institutional code 2986. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted, and the minimum score for consideration is 7.5. You may upload a copy of your IELTS test to the standardized test score section of the application. Please send the official IELTS score report to the University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies IELTS Results Service E-Delivery account.
This is a strict requirement for the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences application process to ensure all students who enter the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program can be successful in a fast-paced learning environment. We strongly recommend that you take the TOEFL or IELTS if English is not your native language, as it will strengthen your application and ensure its timely processing and completion. Exemption requests will ONLY be considered AFTER your application has been submitted and all other application materials have been received. If you have questions about how this requirement impacts you, please email mbds-penn@sas.upenn.edu.
IELTS/TOEFL waivers will not be considered until an applicant has submitted their application and all of their supporting documents have arrived and been processed. Do not email with requests before applying; due to high volume, we will not be able to respond to your request. Please read all of the admissions requirements very carefully and follow all directions.
Upon review of a submitted application, the admissions committee reserves the right to request TOEFL or IELTS scores from the applicant.
Each applicant must submit two letters of recommendation. Letters should come from individuals in a position to evaluate your professional and/or academic work, such as a supervisor or professor, and who know of your desire to enter the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program.
If you graduated less than two years ago, we recommend that you provide one recommendation from a college instructor who knows your academic work and one from a work supervisor who can speak to your professional performance. If you graduated over two years ago, two professional recommendations are appropriate.
For online recommendations, please follow the instructions in the Recommendations section of the online application.
Complete and submit the online application. There is a $95 nonrefundable application fee. You may submit your application fee online by credit/debit card.
International transcripts from institutions outside the United States
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the US are required to have a course-by-course credential evaluation (with grade point average and course levels) performed by an outside evaluation service. The course-by-course credential evaluation is required even if your international college or university is affiliated with a US institution. You do not need to have a transcript evaluation done for a university which was attended for only one semester as an exchange student. Credential evaluations will be reviewed by our administrators, and the determination of degree equivalency to US degrees is at the discretion of the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. The following evaluation service is acceptable:
World Education Services Inc. (WES): WES must complete a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials. The course-by-course evaluation should include the comparability level of your education and list each of your courses along with the equivalent US marks and credit. Please select the WES basic course-by-course evaluation (with grade point average and course levels) and request that WES send your evaluation to Penn College of Liberal and Professional Studies Admissions. The school can be found by searching the University of Pennsylvania and then selecting College of Liberal and Professional Studies. The evaluation becomes an official academic record and sole property of the University upon its receipt. For additional information about the WES application and its review process, please visit the WES website.
The World Education Service will provide instructions for how to request and submit the required academic documents for review, and the process can take several weeks to complete. Transcript evaluations may take 8 to 12 weeks to complete. We encourage you to begin this process at least 3 months in advance of the published application deadline. Your application will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee until the required official course-by-course evaluation is received.
Please note that this service charges a fee for the evaluation.
