Deferred Enrollment, 4+1, and Submatriculation Programs

Wharton MBA Deferred Enrollment

The Moelis Advance Access Program is a deferred enrollment program that offers students in their final year of undergraduate study a guaranteed pathway to the Wharton MBA. After admission, admitted students pursue two to four years of work experience before matriculating in Wharton’s full-time MBA program.

The first years of full-time work include a range of exciting and challenging opportunities, experiences, and decisions. Deferred MBA programs offer the opportunity to secure a guaranteed seat at a top MBA program two or more years down the road so that you can pursue these early years with increased confidence and risk-tolerance.

The program seeks students who are ambitious, innovative, and prepared to use a sense of professional liberty to maximize their early career experiences while impacting the world. Students from all academic fields and disciplines are encouraged to apply, and the program accepts a highly selective cohort of students, named Moelis Fellows, whose academic and career interests expand the traditional notions of business education.

Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Master of Science in Quantitative Finance at Wharton

Wharton’s Jacobs MSQF  is a 4 + 1 program that provides an accelerated path to a graduate degree that will prepare students to thrive in the most innovative areas of the finance industry.

The program offers a unique opportunity for Penn students to extend their undergraduate experience into a graduate degree through which they will gain technical expertise in quantitative methods, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and financial markets.

The program is designed for students wanting careers in asset management firms, hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, endowments, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and related quantitative asset management areas.

Applicants must be current Penn undergraduates in their third year (or transfer students in their second year at Penn), with a strong interest in quantitative finance and demonstrated solid quantitative training. Candidates should have a strong proficiency at coding and in coursework in math, statistics, and economics.

Submatriculation and Accelerated Master’s Programs

Submatriculation or accelerated master’s programs allow undergraduate students to begin working on a master’s degree while still completing their bachelor’s degree. Wharton students who pursue submatriculation may obtain both degrees simultaneously, or the graduate degree may be completed after the bachelor’s degree. Students can pursue submatriculation programs offered by many Penn schools; however, there is no submaticulation option for the Wharton MBA.

Students should carefully consider whether pursuing submatriculation is right for them because it will require additional courses, alter course planning, and could impact financial aid. University-wide policies related to undergraduates also enrolled in graduate programs should be consulted in the early planning phases.

Wharton single-degree students considering submatriculation should follow the guidance below when planning.  Dual-degree students should consult with their home school advisors in the early stages but must also get approval from their assigned Wharton advisor to apply to a submatriculation program.

Submatriculation Step-by-Step

  1. Review information about your intended submatriculation program and University-wide policies.
      • If you are an international student or receive financial aid, consult with the appropriate office at Penn to determine the feasibility of submatriculation, as there can be implications for student visa status and aid eligibility.
  2. Make an initial course plan integrating the requirements for the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Remember to incorporate any prerequisite or recommended courses for admission into your Wharton degree plan.
  3. Sign up for Submatriculation Advising (under Specialized Advising) as soon as possible and no later than the semester before you intend to apply. When making the appointment, please indicate that is for “Submat Advising.”
  4. Revise and update your course plan and share it with your assigned Wharton advisor and the submat advisor for review.
  5. Meet with your assigned Wharton advisor each semester to make plan adjustments and complete any necessary approval documents before your intended program’s deadlines. Expect approximately 2 weeks for your advisor to review and return your final submatriculation application.