The Helfand/Bluhm Career Support Fellowship is run by the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and funded by a 2019 gift from David Helfand and Leslie Bluhm.
It reimburses Penn students who could not otherwise afford real estate job-search activities (company visits, club treks, interviews, networking and conferences) in the US or abroad. Students apply after each trip; the committee reviews on a rolling basis.
Benefits & funding
- Reimbursement of eligible costs per trip: coach/economy transport, lodging, conference registration, required membership fees and meals (no alcohol).
- Per-trip caps by region, from US$200 (New York & DC) to US$2,000 (Asia); the maximum is not guaranteed.
- Paid after travel, normally within 10 working days of approval.
- Awards are taxable; for nonresident aliens the University withholds 30% unless a tax treaty exempts them.
Eligibility
- Full-time enrolled Penn/Wharton student.
- Member of a Zell/Lurie-supported club: the Wharton MBA, Wharton Undergraduate, Weitzman School of Design or Penn Carey Law School Real Estate Club.
- Financial need that blocks career activities and cannot be met from personal, family or outside resources, attested on the form.
- Travel must be for real estate recruiting; independent trips need a concrete, documented event or agenda.
- Treks need school approval (plus Penn Global registration if international) before departure.
- Trips home during university breaks are not covered.
- No nationality or residence restriction is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Current full-time enrollment as a Penn/Wharton student.” Eligibility
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Meet every eligibility condition before you travel.
- 2After the trip, submit the online form with the itinerary worksheet and one PDF of itemized receipts; one application per trip.
- 3Submit within two weeks of travel, or you may forfeit reimbursement.
- 4If awarded, complete the post-travel survey.
Program timeline
Early September 2026
2026–27 application window opens (open now)
Within two weeks of each trip
submit the request
17 May 2027
final deadline for 2026–27 applications