The Lauder Institute at The University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute provides globally minded business students with a unique opportunity to earn an MBA and an MA in International Studies from a world-renowned university.

Established in 1983, the program is open to students at The Wharton School. The MBA/MA joint-degree program takes 24 months to complete and throughout the program, students develop cross-cultural leadership skills and intercultural awareness through an internationally focused curriculum and immersive travel experiences.

To be accepted into the program, applicants must complete the Wharton application along with the Lauder supplemental application. Candidates complete a Lauder-specific essay, pass an oral proficiency interview, provide information on their international experience, and participate in an admissions interview (upon invitation).

Applicants also choose a Program of Concentration when applying to Lauder. The six Programs of Concentration are in Africa (Francophone), East and Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, South Asia/Middle East/North Africa (SAMENA), and the Global Program. Regional programs are language-focused and aim to sharpen language skills, while the Global and Africa-General programs are primarily focused on global business and international politics. Applicants to the Global and Africa-General programs must still demonstrate fluency in a language other than English.

The Lauder Institute provides immersive travel experiences as part of its International Studies curriculum, including a 4–5-week summer immersion program for first-year students. This experience takes students across the globe to immerse in various cultural contexts relevant to their program of concentration. Lauder MBAs interacts with business, government, and community leaders through a series of visits, lectures, readings, group exercises and more.

Students in the MBA/MA program will also complete two Lauder Intercultural Ventures during their two-year program which take place during Winter and Spring break. Lauder Intercultural Ventures are weeklong faculty-led international immersions that focus on themes relevant to a country’s historical, economic, political, social, or cultural context.

For their master’s research project, Lauder MBAs often complete international fieldwork alongside Lauder students from different programs, which encourages comparative cross-regional analysis. The Lauder Institute provides training to students in comparative analysis and research design beforehand, as well as secondary and primary research methodology.