Master of Professional Nursing

There are two deadlines for the program, the Priority deadline is November 1, 2023 (notification is in Mid-January 2024) and Regular deadline is January 8, 2024 (notification is in Late-March 2024).

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of the application. All aspects of your application, such as academic history and record, demonstrated interest in the program, research experience, work history, exposure to health care, letters of recommendations, and more are reviewed and considered.

A complete application package consists of the following:

• Completed online application: please know that you may only apply to one program option, MPN or the MPN/MSN option.
• Personal statement: you will be given the question once you start the application process
• Two letters of recommendation: we recommend an academic recommendation; we urge you to choose recommenders who know you well enough to speak confidently as to your abilities and chances of success in this rigorous program; these must be submitted online, without exception, through the online application.
• Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all your post-secondary transcripts, including transcripts for any classes you might have taken at a community college or while studying abroad must be uploaded for review purposes.

• Official transcripts are only required if offered admission and can be sent electronically (from the issuing institution) or sent via postal-mail (addresses listed below). Note: mailed transcripts can take up to six weeks to arrive at the School of Nursing after the initial request.
• Video Interview: Question Prompts will be available once you start the application process

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses required to begin in Fall 2024; we recommend that all prerequisite courses are completed by June 15, 2024.

• 4 Credits of Introduction to General Chemistry with lab
• 4 Credits of Introduction to Microbiology with lab
• 8 Credits of Anatomy and Physiology with lab
• 3 Credits of Introduction to Nutrition
• 3 Credits of Introduction to Statistics
• 3 Credits of Life-Span Human Development 

We officially approve transfer credit after acceptance into the program. We strongly recommend that you complete your prerequisite courses within the last ten years, with the exception of Human Anatomy and Physiology which we prefer to be completed within the last 5-6 years. All courses must be completed at an accredited institution and have a grade of C or higher. Prerequisite courses may be completed online.

Tips on completing the prerequisite courses:

• To meet the Anatomy and Physiology requirement, you may complete two semesters of a combined Anatomy or Physiology course or separate Anatomy and Physiology courses, both with labs. The course content should be human based and contain labs. It is recommended that the course include a chemistry prerequisite, but it is not required. A comparative Anatomy course WILL NOT meet our requirements.
• Organic Chemistry is not required and will not meet the General Chemistry requirement for the program.

Additional Qualifications

Application materials not submitted electronically can be sent to:

ATTN: Application Materials
Admissions Office
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Claire M Fagin Hall, Suite M-5
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217

​Electronic transcripts should be sent to admissions@nursing.upenn.edu.

The MPN portion takes 15 months to complete, begins in August and ends the subsequent December, at which time students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam for their RN license. The MSN (NP) portion can be done in 12-18 months full-time or 2-3 years part-time. The exact length will be determined by the specialty you choose, if RN work experience is required and whether you decide to go full or part-time.

The schedule changes semester to semester. You may have evening classes or clinicals; clinicals may also be held on the weekends. The MPN program cannot be completed part-time and it cannot be completed online.

The GRE is no longer required for any of the nursing programs, including the MPN

Yes, you must meet with the new program director to apply for a change in specialty. Please note it is not guaranteed and you may need to submit additional documents.

• Chemistry with lab (4 credit hours)
• Microbiology with lab (4 credit hours)
• Anatomy and Physiology with lab (8 credit hours)
• Nutrition, including life-cycle (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Life-Span Human Development

We strongly recommend that you complete your prerequisite courses within the last ten years, with the exception of  Human Anatomy and Physiology which we prefer to be completed within the last 5-6 years.

Transfer credit is not reviewed until after acceptance. We strongly encourage enrolling in the introductory courses in the subjects listed above. We accept credits from any accredited college or university, including community colleges and accredited online institutions. We accept virtual science labs.

You can only apply to the program with an associate’s degree if that associate’s degree is in nursing. This program truly benefits those who already hold a bachelor’s degree. You will need to complete clinicals again and do placement exams even if you completed clinicals in your associate’s nursing degree.

You can receive credit for Statistics, if you received a score of 5 on the AP test.

International applicants are required to submit an educational evaluation of all international degrees received or coursework completed.

The TOEFL or IELTS is required for non-native English speakers. If you received your undergraduate degree from an institution in which the primary language of instruction was English, you do not need to submit the TOEFL or IELTS.

All courses prior to degree conferral count towards your GPA. Any prerequisite courses taken after your undergraduate degree was granted will not count in the cumulative GPA. Please note we will evaluate all courses completed and additional degrees attained.

Applicants that apply by the priority deadline of November 1st, notification is in mid- January; applicants that apply for the regular deadline of January 8th, notification is in late-March.