A blonde student wearing a navy tank top and jeans sits on a stone wall in her bare feet reading on a tablet computer in front of the iconic Tower Bridge in London.

Education Abroad

You are encouraged to study abroad as part of your master's degree program! The School of International Affairs offers a wide array of education abroad programs through the Penn State Education Abroad Office.

With programs in diverse countries and options for classroom-based study, internships, and research, you will have the opportunity to live and study overseas while fulfilling SIA degree requirements.

SIA student in Buenos Aires, Argentina

What can Education Abroad do for you?

Studying abroad adds tremendous value to your master's degree! Whether you are looking to improve your language skills, study critical issues of international affairs through diverse and unfamiliar lenses and perspectives, conduct research using resources only available in other locations, or complete an internship in a cross-cultural context, education abroad programs through SIA are a great way to boost your resume and help you achieve your personal, academic, and career goals.

Are there scholarships available?

Yes! You can apply for scholarships through Penn State Education Abroad, and external sources to help reduce the cost of studying abroad. You should also consider cost when deciding on program type and location as some programs and countries are more expensive than others.

    SIA student and others in Thailand

    How it works

    If you are interested in studying abroad, you should meet with your SIA academic adviser and the director of Career Services early in your first semester at SIA to form an education abroad plan that fits your academic schedule and career goals. You are also encouraged to meet with an adviser in the Penn State Education Abroad office to learn more about the program such as housing options, visa requirements, and more.

    When considering education abroad, you will need to keep these application deadlines in mind:

    • January 24 - for summer semester abroad programs
    • March 1 - for fall semester and academic year abroad programs
    • May 1 - for spring semester (of the following year) abroad programs

    Education Abroad Programs

    Choose a program below to learn more.

    Programs offering only classroom-based study

    SIA student in Machu Picchu, Peru

    Programs offering part-time internships or independent research in addition to classroom-based study

    Programs offering full-time internships

    SIA students in Peru

    Other Program Options