Sign up for your PennCard via Campus Express and follow their instructions on how and where to pick it up. Your PennCard is required to access all School of Medicine buildings. Explore Campus Express to access a variety of services, including housing, transportation and parking, dining, and much more.

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Please plan to update your contact information by the start of the semester to avoid an “Update Required Information” hold being placed on your student records. This hold prevents registration actions.

The SRFS website has a guide with specific instructions on how to update each of the required contact information items:: Update Required Contact Information Guide.

What are the four required contacts?

1. *UPennAlert Student Mobile Phone Number – This is the first option in the dropdown menu, marked with an asterisk to ensure it appears at the top. This information must be provided even if a phone number is already listed in your records.
2. Permanent Address – Enter today's date as the “Valid From” date. You may leave the “Valid Until” date blank. For the Valid From date, do not enter dates that are in the past or set future-dated entries.
3. Learning From Address – Enter today's date as the “Valid From” date. You may leave the “Valid Until” date blank. For the Valid From date, do not enter dates that are in the past or set future-dated entries.
4. Emergency & Missing Person Contact - Students are required to have at least one emergency contact on file to ensure that Penn can provide appropriate support in the event of an emergency.

Important Notes:

• All four required contact types must be present on your student record to prevent the hold.
• If you add a new address, use today’s date as the "Valid From" date. YOu may leave the "Valid To" date empty. Delete any outdated contact information.
• For US-based phone numbers, use the "Phone Number" field. For international numbers, use the "International Access Code" and "Phone Number" field. Leave the Primary and Unlisted checkboxes unchecked.
• Use an American English language browser with no translation extensions to avoid formatting errors.
• Use Google Chrome and ensure it is set to Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Questions?

If you have any questions about updating contact information in Path@Penn after reviewing the step-by-step guide, please contact pathatpenn@pobox.upenn.edu.

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All full-time and dissertation-status students are required to have acceptable health insurance coverage for both inpatient and outpatient medical care in the Philadelphia area and to provide information about their insurance coverage each year. As a condition of enrollment in the University, students subject to this requirement are required to actively enroll in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) or request an insurance waiver online.

PSIP enrollment opens July 1, and coverage begins August 1 for the coming academic year. The deadline to enroll in coverage is August 31.

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Starting in Fall 2026, the University’s standard funding package for PhD students receiving full institutional fellowships includes:   

• 100% cost for individual coverage under the Aetna Student Health Vision Preferred Plan for the University of Pennsylvania 
• 80% cost for individual coverage under either 1) the Aetna Student Health Dental Plan (PPO) for the University of Pennsylvania - or - 2) the Penn Dental Plan for Students 

Students must enroll in an eligible dental and/or vision plan during the open enrollment period (July 1-Aug 31) for the Penn Student Insurance Plan, which takes place from July 1-August 31 each year. Funds will be posted to students’ PennPay/Bursar account in the fall semester. 

Students should enroll in plans by July 31 to avoid a lapse in coverage and must enroll by August 31 to receive funding for eligible plans. Students who choose to enroll in plans after the open enrollment period will not receive grants to reimburse plan costs. More information about all insurance options can be found on the Wellness at Penn Student Insurance webpage. 

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The University of Pennsylvania requires all incoming students to be immunized against certain diseases and to submit this information before coming to campus. Student Health Services has additional information on immunization requirements and submission instructions.

Please be sure to use the Perelman School of Medicine Immunization Requirements Form.

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BGS Orientation is required for all PhD students.  Orientation will take place August 10-21. More details will be posted on our New Students site throughout the summer.

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By July 1, you should receive additional information about setting up your Penn Medicine email. Your Penn e-mail is the main channel of communication between you, your grad group, and the school administration.

Access your e-mail using your UPHS login credentials.

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To matriculate into your graduate program, BGS must receive an official transcript directly from your school containing your final semester grades, graduation date, and the degree conferred. If an official transcript has not already been submitted, you can have one sent using the methods below:

• Electronic Transcript

If using Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse: Select " University of Pennsylvania - PSOM PhD Master's and Certificates" as the recipient.

If you're having trouble locating either of the accounts above, you can request that the official transcript be emailed to bgs@pennmedicine.upenn.edu either by your school or the transcript service.

• Physical copy mailed directly from your school to BGS:

Biomedical Graduate Studies

ATTN: Admissions Coordinator

University of Pennsylvania

160 KRB

421 Curie Boulevard

Philadelphia, PA  19104-6064

If your program only sends paper copies, please email an unofficial copy with a note that an official copy is being mailed.

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Visit the SRFS “Must Do” List to set up Emergency Contact Information, Privacy Setting Options, and other requirements.

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Check out their extensive list of remote resources and activities. Make sure to sign up for their weekly newsletter to learn about upcoming programs and events!

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This summer, you will receive additional communication regarding your student stipend. This will include instructions on submitting any required documentation needed to set up your payroll. Please monitor your email, as some of this information may be time sensitive.

You will be paid on the last working day of every month. The University expects all students to enroll in direct deposit for their stipend checks

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The Provost’s Office has developed a series of videos for new graduate students.

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This fall, you will be REQUIRED to complete the two-part Laboratory Safety Training, as HIPAA training. You will be assigned this online training via Workday Learning.

(Note that training may not be assigned until later this fall.)

Exceptions: Prior students, staff, or trainees who have already attended the “Introduction to Laboratory and Biological Safety” training at Penn within the last year may be exempt from some required trainings. All lab workers using radioactive materials must also do their required training online at the above website

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• Visit ISSS for instructions on mandatory immigration check-in AND the Onboarding Center for instructions on submitting your I9 documentation to be set up in Workday and receive a stipend.

• Note:  Foreign nationals must be physically in the US before they can be paid.

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PennKey is your user ID and password that allows access to University of Pennsylvania’s electronic services. Visit PennKey Support if are having difficulty accessing up your PennKey,

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