Education Abroad Opportunities with SIA

School of International Affairs students may participate in formal education abroad programs, offered through Penn State's Office of Global Programs. The programs listed below provide an array of options for the type of experience as well as location.  The internship-only programs are available as early as Summer after the 1st year, others are available in subsequent Fall or Spring semesters. Managed by the University Office of Global Programs, Directorate of Education Abroad, these programs provide SIA students the opportunity to live and study overseas while obtaining academic credit which fulfills SIA degree requirements. On the classroom-based study programs, students enroll in classes that are equivalent to 400-level coursework at Penn State and which are relevant to their area of concentration within SIA. Select programs offer optional internships or independent research in addition to classes, and still other programs offer full-time internships. Internships or independent research completed on these programs may count toward the SIA Capstone requirement.

Students who are interested in other opportunities outside of the approved Penn State programs should consult with the SIA Academic Adviser to review their options.

Getting Started

Interested students who wish to study and/or intern abroad must first meet with SIA Academic Adviser and SIA Director of Career Services, respectively, prior to the application deadline to discuss SIA academic considerations, financial aid considerations, relevant course offerings, and internship options. Students will then also be required to schedule an appointment with the assigned Education Abroad adviser for the program to review course options, budget information, housing, visa information, and pre-departure orientation. 

The Education Abroad office also has helpful resources that outline the various steps involved in studying abroad, from the program research and application phase, to the pre-departure preparation, orientation, and re-entry process back to Penn State. 

Application Process and Deadlines

All students interested in participating in an education abroad program must submit an online application through Penn State Education Abroad by the appropriate deadline below. For many programs, the entire application process is online, though some programs may require paper document submission as well. To assist students with the process, view the detailed application instructions and an explanation of how to request an electronic recommendation. After applying, one of the most common questions that education abroad advisers hear from students is "Will I be accepted?"

Fall semester: March 1        Spring semester: May 1        Summer semester: February 1

Program Options

Programs offering classroom-based study only:

Programs offering the option of part-time internships or independent research in addition to classroom-based study:

Programs offering full-time internships: