2020 Spring Break Travel Update
In light of the rapidly changing nature of the coronavirus worldwide, Penn State has canceled all spring break travel abroad for embedded courses and student organizations. For more information, visit the Penn State Update website.
What is Education Abroad?
Education Abroad is the opportunity to build global skills and perspectives through immersive, experiential learning abroad. You’ll enhance your education and learn the skills you need to stand out in your future career. In fact, a recent study showed that most education abroad alumni say that their experience abroad helped them land a job and then get promoted into leadership roles!
Types of Programs
Penn State offers more than 350 education abroad programs. These programs range from just a few days up to an entire year, and there are programs with coursework in English for all majors all over the world. All programs award Penn State credit, so it’s possible for education abroad programs to fit easily into your degree plan.
Lehigh Valley Programs (Faculty-Led Embedded):
- Short program designed to supplement a course taught on campus or online
- Lehigh Valley faculty leading a group of students from our campus
- Travel usually happens over spring break, sometimes fall or winter break
- Some other Penn State campuses offer online or distance-learning courses with embedded travel open to all Penn State students
- Most affordable option
Penn State Programs:
- Administered by Penn State Global Programs
- Find programs with the Program Search Portal
- Faculty-led, summer, semester, and academic year programs
- Education Abroad Adviser for each program
- Extensive variety of locations, course options, and price points (some semester programs abroad can be cheaper than staying on campus!)
How to apply
The application process varies depending on the program you’re interested in, but a good first step is to fill out our Interest Form.
For Lehigh Valley programs, please check the program page on this site and get in touch with the faculty leader directly to find out about application procedures and deadlines.
For other Penn State programs, you can apply online! Just use the search tool to find the program you’re interested in and click “Apply Now” in the upper right portion of the program brochure page. Deadlines vary by term, but they might be earlier than you think, so start planning as soon as you can. These programs also each have an assigned Education Abroad Adviser listed on their brochure pages; if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch or schedule a time to meet!
Cost & Scholarships
Education abroad programs all cost more than just tuition, but we work hard to keep them affordable and accessible to all students. There are many online resources available to help you plan and budget for your education abroad program, and we’ve even identified the lowest cost Penn State programs in each region of the world. Costs can vary widely between programs, however, so make sure to compare the budgets. In almost all cases, students studying abroad can continue to access any grants, scholarships, or other financial aid they normally receive, but make sure to check with Student Aid about your situation. There are numerous additional scholarships available, including the prestigious Gilman Scholarship and Boren Awards as well as fellowships like the Penn State Perreault Fellows Program.
Travel Information
Traveling abroad can be intimidating for experienced and 1st-time travelers alike. You’ll need a passport and perhaps a travel visa to participate in an education abroad program, and in rare cases you’ll need additional vaccines. We have great resources available online to guide you through these processes, and if you’ve ever got a question, please get in touch with the program leader or an education abroad adviser.
Eligibility
Requirements such as GPA, class standing, or course prerequisites vary extensively by program, but all students who want to study abroad should plan to have a GPA of at least 2.5 and be free of major conduct violations. If you have concerns about your eligibility, please feel free to contact us for more information.
