Sawiris Penn Scholars Application & Program Details

To be eligible for the program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Must be Egyptian nationals currently enrolled in the architecture engineering or electronics and electrical communication engineering programs at Ain Shams University.

• Will have completed at least one year of study at your home university by the start of the program.
  • Students will be enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences but may be eligible to take classes in Penn’s other undergraduate schools, pending approval by their Sawiris Penn Scholars Exchange Advisor.

• Undergraduate applicants only.

• Equivalent of a US 3.0 GPA recommended.

• Proof of English language competency via either an IELTS score of 7.0 overall band, TOEFL-iBT score of 100, TOEFL-PBT score of 600, or DuoLingo English Test score of 130. Test scores must not be older than two years by the end date of application.

To apply for the Sawiris Penn Scholars Exchange Program interested students should open an online application.

Interested students should also consult with the International Collaboration Office for the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University for detailed application instructions after starting an application.

Once the application is opened, students must submit the following in order to be considered for the program:

1. Completed online application.

2. Official transcripts from each college and/or university attended, with English translation and US equivalencies must be sent directly from the home institution.

3. One letter of recommendation from a professor or faculty member addressing the academic background/abilities of the student, which is to be submitted by following the online application instructions.

4. Response to three application essay questions as outlined below:

   • Describe your educational history and background, making sure to address both academic and nonacademic experiences that are relevant to your participation in the International Guest Student Program. Please also be sure to note whether your records and transcripts accurately reflect your academic ability. (250 word maximum) 

   • Explain your goals for participating in the International Guest Student Program. Please address why you are interested in studying in the United States, and why you wish to study at Penn specifically, as well as some of the coursework you are interested in, and campus resources you plan to utilize. Be as specific as you can about how this program will support your current academic program and your future academic and professional goals. (250 word maximum) 

   • Tell us about a value you hold, a quality that defines you, or an experience you’ve had that is different from your peers. Explain how that will impact on how you approach this program and what you hope to get out of it. Please be original, creative and thought-provoking in your answer. (250 word maximum) 

5. Proof of English language. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores to demonstrate English proficiency as outlined below:

   • TOEFL-IBT (Internet-Based Test) score of 100. Students should use 2986 as the TOEFL Destination (DI) Code.
   • IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score, sent to Penn Abroad via the IELTS website. An unofficial copy should be uploaded for verification by the University of Pennsylvania.
   • Duolingo English Test score of 130. Results should be sent via Duolingo by filtering institution type to “Other”, then sending the score to The University of Pennsylvania, College of Liberal and Professional Studies.
   • Test scores must not be older than two years by the end date of application.

Important Dates

*Dates subject to change

The University of Pennsylvania Academic Calendar for the 2025-2026 Academic Year provides important information on semester dates and deadlines. For a full listing of key dates for the 2025-2026 Academic Year at the University of Pennsylvania, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

Ain Shams University – Dr. Angie Eldamak, Faculty of Engineering (angie.eldamak@eng.asu.edu.eg)

University of Pennsylvania – Michael Griego (griegom@upenn.edu)