During my time as the director of admissions marketing and financial aid at the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where I served on the admissions committee for more than seven years, I often heard candidates react with surprise when they learned how seamlessly the school’s master in international studies joint degree program fits with Wharton’s MBA or Penn Law’s JD program. If you are interested in international studies and exploring the option of earning a dual degree with your JD or MBA, Lauder could be right for you.
Want to hear more? Check out my interview with Linda Abraham, in which we talk about Lauder in depth here.
What Is the Lauder Institute?
The Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies was founded in the mid-1980s at the University of Pennsylvania with the initial goal of offering Wharton MBA students the opportunity to add a global lens to their business studies by earning a master of arts (MA) in international studies from the School of Arts and Sciences, in tandem with their business degree. In the 2000s, Lauder expanded to offer the joint degree MA program with Penn Law’s JD program, giving law school students the same opportunity to study language, history, culture, politics, and global studies as their MBA counterparts. Throughout Lauder’s 40 years of existence, more than 2,200 students have graduated from the program, coming from around the world to join Lauder’s cohort of roughly 70 students yearly.
The Lauder Institute’s 40th Year Anniversary
What Makes Lauder Unique?
Students in the Lauder program start their experience in the summer semester, one term before the start of the Wharton MBA program, arriving on the Penn campus in May each year. They join a small, incredibly diverse and global cohort and focus their studies on one of six Programs of Concentration. Once the MBA program begins in August, Lauder students take two classes per semester, and their studies are fully integrated into the MBA (or JD) program until they graduate two years later with both the Wharton MBA (or Penn Law JD) and the Lauder MA in international studies. While many joint degree or dual degree programs take three years or more to complete, Lauder courses are built into the same time frame as the Wharton and Penn Law programs. Aside from the initial summer term that kicks off the Lauder experience, no additional time is needed.
How Does the Lauder Program Work?
Each May, Lauder welcomes approximately 70 students to the Penn campus. The program kicks off with a few weeks of classes in Philadelphia, where students start their language studies and begin core coursework. A highlight of the summer, and of the program overall, are the international summer immersions. During June and July, these immersions take students around the world to such destinations as Africa, Europe, East and Southeast Asia, and Latin America. After returning from their summer immersions in late July, MBA students begin the Wharton program in August, and JD students start their second year at Penn Law (JD/MA students complete Lauder in their 2L and 3L years, so they graduate with both degrees at the same time).
In the first year, Lauder students take core courses as a cohort, while their other courses focus on language or are part of the Global or Africa track, depending on their chosen Program of Concentration and language proficiency. Students then continue to take two courses per semester over the remaining two years in the program and complete a master’s thesis research project. In their second summer, they are free to explore an internship or other opportunities.
What Are Lauder’s Language Requirements?
One of the core aspects of the Lauder program, from both the applicant and the student perspective, is language studies. Lauder students are required to take a language test called the oral proficiency interview, or OPI, as part of the application process. This involves a 20- to 30-minute phone conversation with a language tester. (You can learn more about the test, listen to audio clips, and register for the OPI via Lauder’s website here.)
To be admitted to one of Lauder’s regional Programs of Concentration with a target language (e.g., Spanish in Latin America or French in Europe), students must test at the advanced low level (or above) in one of the 11 languages taught at Lauder. Currently, Lauder offers courses in the following languages, which are taught at the graduate level: Spanish, French, German, Italian (new in 2024!), Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese. Applicants interested in the Africa or Global track must test at the superior (or fluent) level in any language other than English; language classes are not a component of the student experience for those programs. Students in the regional Programs of Concentration who enter with a target language take language courses in that language until they reach the advanced or fluent level as part of the degree.
What Are Lauder’s Global Immersions?
In addition to summer immersions, which take students around the world to focus on their regional Program of Concentration and delve deep into language or area studies, Lauder students take shorter immersions called Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIVs). LIVs are one-week immersive trips with a specific focus or topic, for which students travel around the globe, often to locations not included in their summer immersions. Some recent topics and destinations have been “Infrastructure and Urban Resistance” in China, “Edge of Empires” in Georgia, “Interfaith Dynamics” in Ghana, and “Buddhist Material Culture and Magic” in Thailand.
Lauder students also go on mini immersions and a unique first-year trip called the , which is not for credit but fully organized and run by students, with the support of the Lauder program team.
I recall a Lauder graduate on an admissions panel a few years back who shared that they had been to 25 countries as part of their two-year MBA/MA program with Wharton and Lauder! In short, immersive travel experiences are key to the Lauder degree.
Check out this post by Lauder on the 2024 summer immersions!
What Research Opportunities Are Available?
All Lauder students are required to complete a master’s thesis or capstone project during their second year in the program. Students take a dedicated course, have the support of aligned faculty and advisors, and even travel to do on-the-ground research as part of their project. Three capstone projects are singled out each year for their excellence, and these winners and associated prizes are announced at graduation. Some students use their capstone project as an opportunity to research an area they would like to work in or to pursue an entrepreneurial venture.
What Kind of Profile Is Lauder Looking for?
If you are contemplating applying to Lauder, the first thing to consider is your language proficiency. Do you have advanced speaking skills in one of the 11 languages taught at Lauder, or are you fluent in any language other than English? Are you passionate about global issues and would like to orient your law or business studies within an international context? Have you had some global exposure in your professional, academic, or personal experience? If so, Lauder might be a good fit for you.
Check out student bios from the Classes of 2024 and 2025.
The Lauder Institute Class of 2026
- Students: 77
- Counties Represented: 30+
- Languages Spoken: 25+
- Women: 47%
- LGBTQ+: 16%
- International Citizens: 42%
- U.S. Citizens: 42%
- Dual Citizens: 16%
Source: Lauder Institute
What Advantages Does Lauder Offer?
Undertaking an MBA or JD program is a time-intensive and costly venture, so you might be wondering what value Lauder can offer that a standalone program cannot. Lauder provides a unique global experience via not just its international studies coursework but also its highly international and tight-knit cohort and its on-the-ground global immersions. In addition, students often pursue globally oriented careers after graduating, such as working for an international organization, undertaking global social impact work, or working in the specific geographic area they focused on during their language and course studies. Also, Lauder has a dedicated Global Career Advisor who helps students think about how to leverage their joint degree studies and alumni connections to achieve their post-graduate goals.
Read more about the Lauder Advantage.
How Can You Boost Your Lauder Application?
One of the best things you can do as a prospective Lauder student is engage with admissions, whether that is by attending information sessions, participating in small group chats, or even reaching out to the program’s dedicated admissions directors to request one-on-one time. The Lauder team is keen to get to know the program’s applicants. In addition to participating in prospective student activities, you can request to chat with a student and visit campus in the fall or spring when classes are in session. This will also help you prepare for the Lauder interview, which will be conducted by a second-year student, as well as Wharton’s Team Based Discussion interview.
You should also prepare for and take the OPI language exam. You can retake the OPI if you aren’t happy with your initial score (there is no limit on the number of retakes you may do), take the OPI in more than one language, or even request an extension on the OPI exam beyond the application deadline by contacting the admissions team. This is the first aspect of the Lauder application you should think about, because it is a key threshold to admission.
What Are Some Tips for the Lauder Essays?
Essay One: Discuss why you are applying to the Lauder Institute, detailing specific reasons, experiences, and background for choosing your Program of Concentration, as well as your interest in further study in that Program. Applicants to Programs of Concentration involving language study (Africa-French; East and Southeast Asia; Europe; Latin America; South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa) should also discuss what they hope to gain from advanced language and cultural education, as well as describe how they have learned the language they will study (e.g. undergraduate courses, undergraduate major, etc.). Finally, please describe how you see yourself benefiting from, and contributing to, the Lauder community. (800 words)
For this essay, you must explain in detail why you are applying both to Lauder and to your chosen Program of Concentration and share what you expect to gain from dedicated language and area studies, in 800 words. This is an opportunity to talk about your background and what you can bring to the community, as well as how you see Lauder fitting into your academic and professional goals. Be authentic, be specific, and most importantly, be you!
Essay Two: Describe a challenging intercultural or politically sensitive situation where you had to navigate a difference in perspective or opinion. Explain how you handled it and any lessons learned. (200 words)
For the 2024-2025 application season, Lauder is requiring this second essay of 200 words. My advice here is to be specific and succinct. Two hundred words only allows for so much. The Lauder admissions team is looking for evidence of cultural and personal self-awareness, so provide a great example of a time when you displayed both.
Does Lauder Offer Financial Aid?
The Lauder program offers generous financial aid to both MBA and JD students, including full fellowships for Leonard Lauder Fellows. In addition, Penn offers Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships to students who speak certain languages, and Lauder provides funding for internships, as well as awards for students who are pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. You can learn more about funding opportunities here.
Check out the Jacobson Global Ventures Award Winners!
If you are concerned about being able to fund a dual degree, Lauder is an excellent choice; most students receive either partial or full funding for the program.
What Is #LauderLove?
One of the things you’ll often hear in the halls of the dedicated Lauder Institute building is “Lauder love.” Students and alumni even sign off emails with the expression, and it’s not just talk – many couples have met through the program and gotten married! My theory is that the Lauder Program is unique and attracts a special kind of person, someone who is curious about the world and their place in it, and who gets a buzz from meeting others who have the same mind-set. If you were to take a peek into the director of admissions’ office, you would see a wall of photos of Lauder couples throughout the years. Although Lauder can’t promise that you’ll meet your life partner while pursuing your degree, you will definitely feel the #LauderLove as part of this special community.
Lauder Love: The Journey of Married Couples Through the Dual Degree
How Are Joint and Supplemental Applications Handled?
Most Lauder applicants are interested in the dual Wharton MBA/Lauder MA program and therefore apply jointly to both programs. They do so via one application that the Lauder admissions team and trained student readers then review in its entirety. This includes the Wharton application, essays, letters of recommendation, GMAT/GRE scores, resume, and other necessary elements, along with the Lauder application, OPI language score, international exposure information, and Lauder essays. Keep this in mind as you pull your application together, and think about it as one application to a joint degree program, rather than two applications to two programs. You want to create a seamless story for the admissions readers that answers both why Wharton and why Lauder.
Finally, if you are admitted to Wharton and then decide that you would like to pursue Lauder as well, you can submit a supplemental application to Lauder by the Round 3 deadline. Similarly, if you are admitted to Wharton’s Moelis Advance Access Program, you can apply to Lauder in the admissions cycle prior to matriculation. Lauder welcomes these supplemental applications.
Check out some helpful FAQs on the Lauder program.
| Joint Degree | Round | Application Deadline | Decision Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA/MA | MBA/MA Round 1 | September 4, 2024 | December 10, 2024 |
| MBA/MA Round 2 | January 3, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | |
| MBA/MA Round 3 | April 2, 2025 | May 13, 2025 | |
| JD/MA | JD/MA for current Penn Law students (1Ls) | March 1, 2025 | Rolling |
| JD/MA joint applicants (for those applying simultaneously) | March 1, 2026 | TBA |
Reach Out to Learn More About Lauder
With more than 15 years of MBA admissions experience, including seven years at the Lauder program in particular, I would love to talk with you about your interest in the program and how to build a strong application. Reach out to me directly to schedule your free 30-minute consultation!
Kara Keenan Sweeney has more than 15 years of experience in MBA admissions, having worked for some of the world’s top business school programs, including Columbia Business School, INSEAD, and The Lauder Institute’s joint degree MA/MBA program with The Wharton School and the MA/JD program with Penn Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Kara has guided, coached, and counseled thousands of MBA and EMBA applicants, reviewed innumerable applications, sat on admissions committees, and interviewed countless applicants, including while running Wharton’s Team Based Discussions both virtually and in person. Want Kara to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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