Application Instructions

Detailed Penn State application instructions are listed at the top of every student's application portal once they've opened an application. Below is a summary of what students can expect for submitting a Penn State education abroad application.

Note: Students applying to an education abroad program in partnership with a host institution abroad (e.g., exchanges, direct enrollments, and third-party provider programs) will also be required to submit an application directly with that host institution. Students should consider the Penn State application as "step 1" in the process and the host institution application as "step 2." The Penn State application portal will include details for students applying to these programs.

Step-by-step Application Instructions

  1. Once you've selected your education abroad program, click the "Apply Now" button listed on the Penn State program brochure page to open your application
  2. Log in using your Penn State access ID and password
  3. Select the term you are applying to and click "Continue"
  4. Review the list of requirements. Examples of requirements for most applications include:
    • Penn State Education Abroad Application Questionnaire (reflection questions & reviewing eligibility requirements)
    • Academic Recommendation (see "Requesting an Academic Recommendation" section on this page for details)
    • Additional documents students must read and electronically sign to acknowledge their understanding of our policies and procedures
  5. Submit the Penn State application by the deadline listed in the application portal. Guidance for submitting a complete application include:
    • Your responses will automatically save so you can return to them and make edits at any time before the application deadline. Do not click “Submit” on an individual requirement until you have filled in answers for each question in a requirement.
    • You do not need to complete the requirements in the order they appear, nor do you need to complete all requirements at once. Please invest sufficient time into writing a strong application.
    • Once you have completed at least one requirement, a progress circle will appear near the top of the page, tracking your progress toward completion. Your application is complete when the progress circle is fully closed.
    • After all application requirements are complete, and the progress circle has been fully closed, a "Submit your application" button will appear at the top of the page. Clicking this button will finalize the submission of your application.
    • Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed after the application deadline.