Penn State Education Abroad Scholarships
The following scholarships are offered through the Education Abroad Office for students studying on approved Penn State programs. Penn State students participating in officially sponsored Education Abroad programs are eligible.
Embedded Programs Scholarship
The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through Penn State Global Education Abroad for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs. An embedded program is a residentially-taught course with an international travel component included within the class.
Scholarship Description
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students from the Pennsylvania State University who are currently enrolled in a course with an international travel component (an embedded program). Qualifying embedded programs must include a travel component that involves two Penn State programs leaders and is, at minimum, one week in duration. This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive; the number of students participating in embedded programs far exceeds the number of embedded programs scholarships available.
Eligibility
Full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled in a course with an international travel component (an embedded program). All applicants must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid at Penn State. Your FAFSA must already be on file for the semester of travel.
Application Process
Effective for the fall 2023 semester and beyond, there is no application required to be considered for this scholarship. The Education Abroad scholarship selection team will utilize course rosters submitted by the embedded course leaders and will determine eligible scholarship recipients based on the criteria for this award. Students must confirm their travel participation with the course leader and students must enroll in the credit-bearing academic course(s) associated with the travel in order to be eligible to receive this award. Program leaders who submit their embedded course travel roster after the official roster deadline may prevent their students from being considered for this scholarship.
Award Recipient Criteria and Selection
Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. The primary factor considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, is the applicant’s financial need. Because of the volume of applications, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid. Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior Penn State education abroad experience.
Award Amount
- $1,000—undergraduate students
- $500—graduate students
Award Notification & Distribution
Applicants will be notified via email 2-4 weeks after the embedded course roster submission deadline. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar and according to financial guidelines and timelines established by the University. An award may result in an adjustment of student aid eligibility or loan disbursement. Please consult with the Office of Student Aid for any questions relating to aid eligibility and loans. The award may be removed from your Bursar account if you withdraw from the program, do not participate in the program, or the program is cancelled. Awards are non-renewable.
Please note: The number of applications for the scholarship far exceeds the availability of funds. We encourage all students to explore additional scholarships and funding sources.
