Global Programs

Penn State Global announces education abroad scholarships, events, deadlines

New funding is available for all students, with extra funding for students with need

Penn State Abington students studied climate change in Iceland in 2022. Credit: Valara Cheristin. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of a broader effort to increase student access and success in education abroad programs, Penn State Global is announcing new and increased scholarship opportunities, guaranteed scholarships to students receiving Federal Pell Grants, and a suite of events to kick off the fall 2023 semester. 

The deadline for applications for study abroad in spring 2024 is Sept. 10. Students can choose from more than 100 semester-long programs and will need to have their completed applications in by the deadline.

New and Increased Scholarship Opportunities

Student Access and Success Grants

More than $300,000 is available for the new Student Access and Success grants, funding available for students studying abroad during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years on Penn State-approved, education abroad programs. Students who apply for apply for admission to a semester-long, year-long, or summer program will be automatically considered for these awards during the application review phase; a separate application is not necessary. Students will be selected based both on financial need and academic merit; awards will range from $500 for summer programs to $2,000 for academic-year programs.

Federal Pell Grant and Gilman Scholarship Guarantee

Effective spring 2024 and beyond, Penn State Global Education Abroad will guarantee a minimum $1,000 scholarship for every Federal Pell Grant recipient that is approved to study abroad through any Penn State-approved education abroad program. Federal Pell Grant recipients who submit a completed application for the national Gilman Scholarship Program will automatically increase their Penn State Global guaranteed scholarship amount another $500, to a minimum of $1,500.

“Finances are the top reason that Penn State students choose not to study abroad, and we are actively developing ways to support students with the highest level of financial need so that an education abroad program can be part of every Penn Stater’s experience,” said Kate Manni, director of Education Abroad. “We are thrilled to provide additional certainty to Pell grant recipients and their families, who will able to plan for their education abroad experience with a guaranteed scholarship commitment from Penn State Global.”

The Federal Pell Grant and Gilman Scholarship guarantee is applicable for all program types and lengths (academic year, fall or spring, summer and embedded courses). Support in applying for the Gilman Scholarship Program is available through Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring Office and Penn State Education Abroad.

Embedded Programs Scholarship

Students who enroll in an embedded course will be automatically considered for a $1,000 grant ($500 for graduate students) based on financial need and academic merit. For academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25, Penn State Global will award twice the number of students as in standard years. 

Strategic Partner Mobility Initiative

Effective spring 2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025, students who commit to participate in the Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Kuala Lumpur: Monash University Malaysia, or Melbourne: Monash University outbound exchange programs will receive a guaranteed minimum scholarship of $3,000 per semester.

Perreault Fellows Program

The Perreault Fellows program is a competitive global leadership and internship program that prepares students from multiple disciplines for personal and professional excellence through learning in cross-cultural leadership, ethics, service and an internship abroad related to the betterment of the human condition. Students accepted into the program receive financial support of up to $7,500 to complete an international internship in the summer term.  Applications for this year’s cohort of fellows are due Sept. 10.

Education Abroad Events kick off Fall 2023

Students can connect with the Penn State Global Education Abroad office by attending in-person and virtual events, meeting with education abroad peer advisers, and following the office on social media.  The Explore Education Abroad website has all the information students need to stay informed.

Connect With an Education Abroad Peer Adviser

Education Abroad will welcome a new cohort of education abroad peer advisers for the 2023-24 academic year. Students can begin meeting with advisers on Monday, Aug. 28. Advisers are available for drop-in advising meetings in the Boucke Building at University Park or scheduled Zoom appointments in Starfish. Students can visit the peer adviser web page to learn more and how to get connected.

Fall 2023 Involvement Fair on the HUB lawn

Students at the University Park campus can stop by Penn State Global Learning table at the Fall 2023 Involvement Fair to speak to education abroad peer advisers and learn more about the programs available for spring 2024 and beyond.

  • Date: Wednesday, Aug. 23
  • Time: 1–5 p.m.
  • Location: HUB-Robeson Center lawn, University Park campus

Explore Education Abroad on the Boucke lawn

Students at the University Park campus can meet with the Education Abroad team to learn more about global learning opportunities right before the Sept. 10 final application deadline for spring 2024. Free snacks and drinks will be provided.

  • Dates: Wednesday, Aug. 30, and Tuesday, Sept. 5
  • Time: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Location: Boucke lawn (between Boucke and Ritenour buildings), University Park campus

Apply now for Spring 2024 Study Abroad

Final Penn State Application Deadline: Sept. 10

Students interested in studying abroad in spring 2024 can apply to more than 100 semester-long programs  by Sunday, Sept. 10, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). Students should review the Penn State application process on the Education Abroad website to get started.

On-campus cost-comparable education abroad programs

Penn State Global Education Abroad has identified more than 30 semester-long (fall or spring) education abroad programs that are approximately the same cost as (or less than) attending the University Park campus for in-state students. Many of these programs are still accepting applications for the Sept. 10 final Penn State deadline for spring 2024. Students can visit the on-campus cost comparable education abroad programs page to learn more about these opportunities.

Application deadline extended for Strategic Partner Mobility Initiative

In addition to the enhanced scholarships referenced previously, students applying for spring 2024 outbound exchange participation on the three eligible programs only (Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Kuala Lumpur: Monash University Malaysia, Melbourne: Monash University) will have an extended deadline to apply on the Penn State education abroad website by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Oct. 5.

More Information

Details about the initiatives and contact information for the Education Abroad team are available on the Penn State Global website.

Last Updated August 22, 2023