Penn State Global is not involved in the academic portion of the admissions process. Here is some information regarding admission:
Students may be admitted to Penn State as undergraduates, graduate students, or professional students. After an admission offer has been accepted, International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) contacts the student to gather materials required for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 or J-1 visa, (Forms I-20 or DS-2019). Requested materials may include biographical information, financial guarantee, or documentation of current visa status.
Students who have completed the Steps to Study Abroad and are ready to open a Penn State application for their selected education abroad program, must follow the instructions and process outlined on this page. All students are required to submit an online application through the online Penn State application portal by the appropriate deadline for the term they are applying to (see "Application Timeline" on this page). To assist students with the process, we have detailed application instructions and an explanation of how to request an electronic academic recommendation.
Please note: If you are interested in an embedded program, deadlines and instructions listed on this page do not apply to you. Please contact the faculty leader of your selected embedded program for more information.
Global Collaborations has established a 5-step review and approval protocol that guides the development of the most common types of agreements, from inception to signing. The purpose of the approval process is to ensure that all interested stakeholders have been provided an opportunity to review, modify, and approve an agreement prior to the signing phase.
Penn State has over 100 active agreements with a plethora of universities in Asia as of Spring 2023. The objective of Asia partnerships is to develop a portfolio that includes a limited number of high-impact institutional partner universities with broad engagement across Penn State and transformational outcomes across teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and service/outreach. Any questions regarding Asia Partnerships, please contact Dr. Anna Marshall, Associate Director for Asia Partnerships, at awm15@psu.edu.
Penn State Global provides support services to students across the Commonwealth in Education Abroad, International Student Advising, and programming. If you are a student on a Commonwealth Campus and need help or information in any of these areas, find your campus below and contact the appropriate representative.
International sponsored students must adhere to the requirements of their academic program(s), immigration regulations, and sponsoring organization. The following are common requirements/requests sponsored students encounter before, during, and after their time at Penn State University. For more information, please contact the Sponsored Relations office.
Sponsored Relations does not provide financial aid for international students or refer international students to potential sponsors.
Penn State University is a top tier research institution, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities globally, and receiving over $800 million annually for research. Penn State prepares international students to become leaders in their fields on a global scale. Our graduates join an extensive network of 700,000 alumni which stretches to all corners of the globe. Penn State University has been a top destination for international sponsored students for several decades.
Sponsored Relations assists sponsors with the development, placement, advising, and general support of international sponsored student programs. We provide highly personalized services, with a focus on accuracy and efficiency, while addressing the needs of our sponsoring organizations. These services include, but are not limited to the following:
Dependents (Spouse & Children)
Only spouses and children (under 21) may come as dependents of the F-1 or J-1 visa holder. Health insurance is mandatory for accompanying dependents. The B-2 (visitor) visa is applicable for parents, siblings, domestic partners, and other family members who wish to visit you. ISSA cannot issue documents for B-2 visitor visas or advise on B-2 issues.
A faculty-led freestanding program is a single course or compilation of courses related to a theme or topic, where the Penn State faculty leaders deliver all or nearly all academic content during the course of the international experience. Such programs almost always occur during summer since the length of the education abroad experience typically lasts 2-8 weeks.
A faculty-led freestanding program can enhance the international offerings within a particular academic department, can support internationalization strategic goals of a college, and can allow for students from a variety of disciplines and majors to study engaging topics together in an international context. The faculty leader assumes a great deal of responsibility for the development, proposal, implementation, and execution of the program - including the academic content, travel logistics, international site visits and activities, budgeting and record keeping, and the health and safety of program participants. This may seem like an overwhelming list of responsibilities, but there are a number of support resources to help the faculty leader throughout the entire process.
There are many important steps to developing a new faculty-led freestanding program, and the process and official proposal procedures are outlined for review.
Employment for F-1 and J-1 students is limited, and working without permission is a violation of status and a deportable offense. F-1 and J-1 students may not work off campus without written permission from International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA). On-campus employment is permitted with certain restrictions. J-1 students must request permission for on-campus employment via iStart. A Social Security number is required for anyone receiving payment. ISSA can assist you with this process.
ISSA offers workshops every semester that explain the different types of off-campus work permission available to F-1 and J-1 students.
Global Careers Institute (GCI) a professional development program designed to prepare Penn State students for career success in the global marketplace. Penn State Global, with support from partners around the University is working to expand on the successes of past GCI events.
Our upcoming event is on September 27-28, 2024 - a GCI focused on graduate students at Penn State Great Valley. The next University Park event for undergraduates will be held March 21st and 22nd, 2025.
A GCI weekend kicks off with a Friday evening welcome dinner including a keynote speaker and networking opportunities and continues into Saturday with conference sessions led by leading alumni, faculty, and staff all focused on students interested in global careers. GCI is intentionally designed to serve the needs of international students and domestic students alike.
Participation in the Institute is competitive and by application only. Students from all campuses are considered and lodging and transportation is offered for students from outside of the region. All students invited to participate in the GCI weekend are required to complete online modules prior to attending the March conference.
The Global Careers Institute includes a suite of online courses comprised of five modules. All participants will be required to take these three online learning modules:
Global Careers Institute Orientation
Career Resources and Opportunities
Resumes and Employment Communications
International students will be required to complete two additional modules:
Prospective and current international students can learn about visa requirements, pre-advising, financials, health insurance, academic advising, employment, and volunteer opportunities.
In this section prospective international students will find information about requesting or refusing an I-20 or DS-2019, insurance and financial requirements, and other essential pre-arrival information.
Our goal is to assist and advise incoming international students on U.S. immigration related issues and regulations. We also help direct students to finding answers to many questions about the transition to Penn State as a newly admitted student.
For Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Pre-Arrival FAQs page.
There are three programs required of new incoming international students:
Penn State Global Welcome Webinar (graduate and undergraduate students): This online session will provide information on immigration, campus safety, avoiding housing scams, tuition and financial matters, and health insurance. Offered in May, June, and July. You will receive an email with registration instructions.
New Student Orientation (NSO) for International Students (undergraduate students only): This online session will provide introductory information on the Penn State experience. All incoming undergraduate Penn State students attend an NSO. You must complete your NSO to enroll in classes. Offered in June, July, and August. You will schedule your NSO as part of your NSO Tasklist.
International Student Welcome (graduate and undergraduate students): This in-person, on-campus program introduces you to your campus resources and experience. ISW specifics depend on campus, but they often include campus tours, social events with other new students, immigration information, and learning about various campus offices. You will receive an email with registration instructions.
Please note that there might be additional orientation programming required by your academic program or other groups.
If you are attending another (non-University Park) Penn State campus, please contact your global engagement coordinator for more information about your on-campus arrival.
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.
This section contains information about maintaining your F-1 and J-1 immigration status. While Penn State’s international student advisers can assist you in understanding the benefits, requirements, and limitations of your status, it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain your immigration status. Please read the information in this section carefully.
