RESOURCES

SAS Grad Division

News and announcements from the Grad Division at SAS, funding your research and conference travel, dissertation grant funding possibilities, and relevant policies.

GAPSA

GAPSA provides individual grants for conference travel and for graduate group events. See below for more details!

Wellness

Wellness at Penn offers mental health resources, crisis management through I-care, among other important offerings.

Support Services

Penn offers support to its students in the form of resources to deal with violence, writing aid, accessibility accommodations, career services, and more. Check them out below!

For International Students

Are you an international student? Check out ISSS for recent details about the Final Rule (effective 9/15/2026), among other relevant info. Contact the DPS at (215) 573-3333 for immediate assistance.

Division of Public Safety

DPS provides walking escorts, emergency services (including its own Police service) for emergencies faced by both domestic and international students on/off campus.

Financial Wellness

Penn provides resources for the financial wellness of its graduate student community. Have a look at them here!

Penn Travel

Whether you’re traveling for research, or for a conference abroad, remember to register with Penn Travel to facilitate your travel in case of emergencies.

Below are resources related to International travel, Taxes, Health and welfare, and policies on campus.

  • Register your trip

    Be Safe. Be Connected. Be Covered.

    Registering your Penn-affiliated trip keeps you connected to Penn resources in the event of an emergency and pre-authorizes your medical insurance coverage. It is mandatory for all Penn students and all Penn faculty and staff traveling with Penn students or Penn-affiliated trips to register their international travel.

  • Penn Violence Prevention

    Penn Violence Prevention (PVP) engages the Penn community in the prevention of sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking on campus. We foster collaborative relationships across campus to ensure a survivor-centered, multi-faceted approach to support services and primary prevention. Through collective community action, we are committed to ending interpersonal violence by addressing gender inequity, social injustice, and oppression through outreach and education.

    The group is committed to education and outreach. Visit their website for more details.

  • Mental Health

    Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is the counseling center for the University of Pennsylvania. CAPS offers free and confidential services to all Penn undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. CAPS helps students adjust to university life, manage personal and situational challenges, develop coping strategies, and grow personally and professionally. CAPS' trained clinicians offer individual, group, and couples therapy.

    CAPS Hours:

    9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. & Fri.

    9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tues, Wed, & Thurs.

    10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sat.

  • The PhD Process

    UPenn has developed a guidebook for graduate students where they can learn more about what to expect, prepare for, and how to go about choosing an advisor or mentor for their PhD.

    You can also find out more specific information on the PhD process through 1 pagers, which break down averages including demographics, time to completion, and job placement.

    PhD Natural Sciences

    PhD Humanities

    PhD Social Sciences

  • Concur reimbursem-ent guide

    Use this guide to request a reimbursement for your organization or other funding related expenses.

  • Graduate Group Review Student Feedback Form

    PhD Graduate Groups are periodically reviewed by the Graduate Council of the Faculties (GCF) in order to identify strengths and weaknesses within each program, and to recommend any changes that may help to improve the Graduate Group. Feedback from current graduate students is an essential element in that review process. You can provide feedback by attending the meeting with the Graduate Group Review Liaison from the GCF and/or using this form.

  • Medical leave and Health insurance

    SAS-funded graduate students considering a medical leave should inform their Graduate Group Chair and ask the Graduate Chair to submit a request for medical insurance coverage from the SAS Graduate Dean. SAS will cover the medical insurance of funded graduate students for up to two semesters while on medical leave. Coverage is limited to two semesters for the duration of the SAS PhD career, however the two semesters need not be consecutive. Students already on medical leave should contact the SAS Graduate Division to have their case reviewed.

  • Penn Franklins

    Penn Franklins is a student-run wellness organization whose primary purpose is to provide peer-to-peer support to Penn graduates through empathic listening, connective experiences, and referrals.

    For more information or to find out how to get support, please email the Penn Franklins at:

    upennfranklins@gmail.com

  • Financial Wellness

    Visit the Financial wellness@ Penn to learn more and get help with budgeting, banking, debt and investing. They offer workshops and free one-on-one counseling

THRIVE @ PENN

Provost Wendell Pritchett introduces Thrive at Penn for grad students.

Thrive at Penn (TAP) is an online program that assists students with their Penn experience. TAP prepares students to make healthy choices during their university experience and provides information about resources available to support student success. Topics covered include thriving at a research university; wellness and health; the risks associated with alcohol and other drugs; healthy relationships and sexual violence prevention; and resources specific to your needs at a Penn student.


For more video resources, please visit the Penn Grad Center’s YouTube Page.