From The School
Founded by brothers Leonard and Ronald Lauder in 1983 in honor of their father, Joseph, the Joseph H. Lauder Institute for Management & International Studies provides a fully integrated business education to a new generation of leaders coming of age in a rapidly globalizing world.
The Lauder Institute prepares leaders to speak the global language of business, culture, and politics. Fluently. Our students are committed to preparing themselves for a world of specialization, change, and uncertainty. Lauder Institute faculty are not only outstanding teachers but also respected thought leaders whose research and publications sway thinking from academia to the business world.
Our rigorous academic program integrates excellent teaching in tailored arts and sciences coursework with advanced language study and cultural immersion experiences. The unique JD/MA or MBA/MA joint degree program at Lauder was the first of its kind and it has remained in a class by itself.
The Lauder Institute is a cosmopolitan hub at the University of Pennsylvania for students who are passionate about international management issues and global studies. Each class of 70 Lauder students becomes part of a small, tight-knit community. While truly a part of Wharton and Penn, Lauder students benefit from dedicated faculty who deliver a unique curriculum specifically designed to create a fully integrated learning experience.
Lauder students don’t just study the world from the classroom; they take the classroom to the world. Students begin their Lauder experience with four weeks on the Philadelphia campus followed by an eight-week summer immersion program in cultures abroad. The Global Knowledge Lab (GKL), a practical, yet analytical, research undertaking, also provides students with the opportunity to develop and merge their language, managerial, and cultural skills during travel to multiple global regions.
Like current Lauder Institute students, Lauder Institute alumni can be found around the world. Our graduates are and have been global leaders in their respective fields, from multinational management consulting firms to microfinance operations in emerging economies, from major media and entertainment companies to technology start-ups.
How the Lauder program works
Unlike a typical academic calendar beginning in the fall, the Lauder Institute program starts in May of the first year. Whether in combination with the MBA from Wharton or the JD from Penn Law, the Lauder program lasts 24 months.
Completing the required coursework at the Lauder Institute begins with choices. Students select one of six Programs of Concentration, which span five geographic regions and the Global Program. The Institute also offers instruction in ten languages.
Starting with an eight-week immersion abroad in their first summer and extending through two short-term immersions – plus an optional Culture Quest adventure – students at Lauder take deep and meaningful dives into different countries and cultures over the course of their two years here. Read more.
Admission
To apply to the Lauder Institute, applicants must submit either an MBA/MA application or a JD/MA application by the appropriate application deadline. The Lauder Institute does not offer the MA in International Studies as a stand-alone degree. The MA is available only through the Lauder Institute’s uniquely integrated and interdisciplinary joint-degree program.
Although the Lauder Institute’s portion of the application is virtually identical for both types of applicant, the application processes are distinct. Please click through to information for either MBA/MA applicants or JD/MA applicants to find a complete summary of application requirements.
For quick answers to frequently asked questions, please click through to the Lauder Admission FAQ.
What are we looking for?
Our students come to the Lauder Institute from a diverse assortment of countries, industries, and educational backgrounds. In the aggregate, they speak dozens of languages, and all enter with advanced knowledge of at least one language other than English.
Given the diversity of the applicant pool, the Admission Committee has no formula for success in the admissions process. Generally speaking, a successful application demonstrates the following:
- Strong passion for international and global issues
- Excitement about learning about new cultures and exploring the world
- International experience through professional, academic, or personal experiences
- Good command of one or more foreign languages, often through extensive academic study, professional or personal overseas experiences, or as a heritage speaker
For questions about admissions, please contact The Lauder Institute at lauderinfo@wharton.upenn.edu or at +1 215 898 1215.
Admissions Events
Every Thursday at 2pm from October through April, there is an on-campus information session for applicants interested in the Lauder program. In addition, the Lauder admissions team joins the Wharton admissions office in recruitment events throughout the year, around the globe.
To sign up for an admissions event, please visit the Wharton admissions events page here and note additional events are updated regularly.
