Graduate/Professional Orientation Events

ISSS hosts optional orientation activities for all new international graduate and professional students. 2023 ISSS Graduate & Professional Orientation Activities will begin in August 2023.

For information about mandatory new student immigration check-in requirements, please see our "New Student Check-In and Orientation" page.

Graduate Thrive at Penn (G-TAP) Canvas Course 

Thrive at Penn (TAP) for incoming graduate and professional students is an online program that assists students with their Penn experience. See the G-TAP Canvas course for resources available to support student success. Topics covered include academic integrity; campus engagement, wellness and health; and healthy relationships and sexual violence prevention.  

For further assistance, contact the New Graduate Student Orientation team at gradcenter@upenn.edu. 

 

Upcoming Events for Incoming Graduates & Professional Students

Below is a list of upcoming events for incoming graduates & professional students. Check out New Graduate Students Events Calendar for more events that will be added in the days ahead. 

  • Culture Chats Series for New International Graduate Students (Tuesday, August 15, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm): Are you an international graduate student new to Penn? Interested in learning more about cultural practices in the U.S? We offer free lunchtime workshops on a variety of topics related to transitioning to life at Penn and in the United States. Advance registration is required. Register for the upcoming session: Making Small Talk in Social Situations 

  • Weekly Campus Tours for Graduate & Professional students (Multiple dates and times - Check our events calendar and register for the tour that best fits your schedule): Are you a new graduate or professional student and want to learn more about Penn's campus? Join us for a guided tour of Penn's campus and learn more about the many resources and spaces Penn has to offer. The tour will provide an overview of important spaces on campus and will provide participants with a glimpse of Penn's history in the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia.  

  • Fourth Fridays @ Five: (Welcome to) Philadelphia (Friday, August 25 at 5:00pm): Don’t miss our first Fourth Friday @ Five of the year! This month we will be helping welcome new graduate and professional students with a celebration of Philadelphia - including Philly-themed Quizzo, a ubiquitous Philadelphia trivia game, as well as favorite Philadelphia food and drinks. Food and two drink tickets will be provided to current students with a Penn Graduate ID. Part of our monthly Fourth Fridays @ Five series. 

 

Orientation Activities for Graduate Students 

The Graduate Student Center (GSC) is available to help you navigate your graduate experience at Penn and organizes a variety of orientation activities for new students. See the GSC website for a full overview of the resources available to you.  

 

Reviewing housing options 

There are many on- and off-campus housing options available to students. For an overview of on-campus housing options, see the Penn Residential Services website. Information about off-campus options is available on the Penn Off-Campus Services website. 

For more information about when to look for off-campus housing, searchable rental listings, rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants, and how to address issues related to off-campus living, attend Penn Off-Campus Housing Online Information Sessions hosted weekly throughout July. 

ISO Grad Reception 2022