Admissions and Eligibility

The Master of Environmental Studies program (MES) is designed for individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds and levels of experience. Successful students in the program have come from many different undergraduate educational backgrounds such as economics, political science, and English.

Your application to the Master of Environmental Studies program will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Undergraduate academic record at an accredited college or university
  • Work experience
  • Career objectives and reasons for choosing the Master of Environmental Studies program at Penn
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if applicable

See our Application Overview for specific requirements.

Application and deadlines

The first step toward earning your Master of Environmental Studies degree at Penn is completing the online application.

You may apply to begin your studies during the fall or spring terms. Your application portfolio, including all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines:

Term of Entry Deadline
Fall 2024

Regular deadline: April 1, 2024

Spring 2025 November 1, 2024
International applicants should submit their application by October 1, 2024, to allow time to obtain visas.

Start your application now

Looking for financial assistance?

Learn about the options at Penn.

MES information session

Meet our program director and hear more about the MES curriculum, application process, faculty, and more.

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