Application Requirements and Procedures
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will be accepted between October 13, 2025 and March 1, 2026.
All application materials and documents become property of Penn Dental Medicine and will not be returned to the applicant.
MOHS Program Application – All applicants must submit an application through the Penn Dental Medicine (PDM) applicant portal by March 1, 2026 for the class entering August 2026.
Application Fee – A non-refundable application fee of $100 will be collected at the time of application. No application fee waivers are available.
Letters of Evaluation — Two letters of evaluation from your professors or a committee letter prepared by the school’s prehealth advisor and/or a committee familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities is required. Letters must be on letterhead stationery and include an original hand-written signature and title. Letters of evaluation from evaluators will be requested electronically by the applicant while completing the application in the applicant portal.
Note that only two letters are permitted. Additional letters received beyond the two required and letters that are not from faculty or from a preprofessional committee will be discarded.
DAT Scores – Not required but may be self-reported and uploaded in the PDM applicant portal and are not used for admission consideration.
Official Transcripts from all Colleges and Universities Attended – Official transcripts must be submitted from all post-secondary colleges and universities attended. Applicants who received their post-secondary education in the U.S. and Canada have the option of sending their official transcripts electronically through a secure file transfer with e-transcript services Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts can also be emailed securely from both Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse to pdm-transcripts@dental.upenn.edu. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted, nor will emailed transcripts from services other than Parchment or Student Clearinghouse. If electronic or email delivery of official transcripts through these services are unavailable at your institution, please have your sealed official transcripts set to the mailing address below.
Bachelor’s Degree from a Regionally Accredited U.S. or Canadian College/University – A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university must be earned prior to matriculation. If an advanced degree is listed on your application the expectation is that too will be earned prior to matriculation.
Required Prerequisite Courses – All prerequisite course work must be completed from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university and must be completed prior to matriculation. Prerequisite courses must be completed for a letter grade and must be completed for a grade of C or higher.
- General Biology – Two semesters /three quarters of biology with corresponding labs.
- General/Organic Chemistry – Three semesters/five quarters with corresponding labs in either combination of: two semesters/three quarters of general/inorganic chemistry and one semester/two quarters of organic chemistry or two semesters/three quarters of organic chemistry and one semester/two quarters of general/inorganic chemistry.
- Biochemistry – One semester/one quarter; no lab is required.
- Physics – Two semesters/three quarters with corresponding labs, covering the basic principles of classical physics.
- Mathematics – One semester/two quarters. Acceptable courses: calculus (preferred), statistics or any college-level math course.
- English – two semesters /three quarters. Acceptable courses: speech, composition, literature, humanities courses, freshman writing seminars, technical and business writing, and other writing intensive courses used to meet your school’s writing requirement. Courses may be taken outside of the English department.
Application Process
The MOHS Admissions Selection Committee will review completed applications on a rolling basis. We recommend that applicants submit completed applications with all documents well in advance of the March 1 deadline for interview consideration. Interviews will begin in March and all final decisions will be communicated in early May. A class size of approximately up to six students is anticipated for the class entering August 2026. Admitted candidates will be notified by email. Federal financial aid is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Admitted candidates must submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit which can be paid through the PDM applicant portal. Enrollment deposits will be credited toward the first semester tuition payment. Admitted students will be required to undergo four criminal background checks, complete several online compliance courses and meet University health screening and immunization requirements prior to matriculation.
For questions regarding the application process and procedures contact:
Office of Student Admissions
Penn Dental Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
240 South 40th Street, Room 122
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030
Email: PDM-MOHSAdmissions@dental.upenn.edu