Penn World Scholars
The Penn World Scholars program attracts outstanding students from around the globe and provides them with the foundation for lives as global leaders.
Penn World Scholars come from across the globe to attend any of Penn's four undergraduate schools and major in any academic subject. Penn World Scholars are selected by Penn Admissions based on exceptional leadership potential, academic achievement, financial need, and career plans, among other criteria. They are chosen from among a geographically, linguistically, and culturally diverse pool.
The Penn World Scholar experience at Penn is enhanced by creating opportunities for global engagement beyond the classroom, providing an avenue for global citizenship and leadership. Participants meet with University leaders, international alumni, and distinguished visitors, and they take the lead on organizing events that interest them. As freshmen, they experience Penn's Intercultural Leadership Program and grow their interpersonal and communication skills in a diverse campus community. In their sophomore year, they will explore themes of global leadership in partnership with Penn Global and other campus units. As juniors, they plan for their future personal and professional lives beyond Penn. Finally, during their senior year, they will engage in service and innovation to better communities.
Penn World Scholars Director
Dr. Rudie Altamirano | Email
Executive Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Executive Director, Immigration & Integration Services
Penn World Scholars Coordinator
Dr. Yuhong He | Email
Associate Director of Integration and Community Engagement
International Student and Scholar Services
Meet the Penn World Scholars
Class of 2022 | Class of 2023 | Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027
Congratulations to Tathagat Bhatia (PWS'21, C'21) on being awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in history and philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge in England!
Penn World Scholar Cristina Pogorevici (PWS'21, W'21) was named as one of four 2021 Schwarzman Scholars to pursue a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. As a Schwarzman Scholar, she says she hopes to learn to drive socioeconomic development by leveling global access to entrepreneurship.
During Summer 2020, Penn World Scholar Alice Cochrane (C' 22) from Harare, Zimbabwe helped design an "urban oasis" at the One Art community center in West Philadelphia. "I think it's architecture's responsibility to create gathering spaces that are responsible, safe, and that allow us to have human interaction," says Alice.
Congratulations to Penn World Scholar Class of 2019, Adam Abebe from Ethiopia, for receiving an inaugural Global Rhodes Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Oxford!
