Global Engagement

The Education Abroad Fair, hosted each year by Penn State Global, is the place to start for the first phase of your study abroad journey. The Education Abroad Fair is a one-stop-shop where students can get an overview of the study abroad programs available through Penn State.  

Review these tips to get the most out of the Education Abroad Fair.

Study abroad has been shown to provide multiple opportunities to:

• See and explore other parts of the world
• Gain a new perspective
• increase cultural competence
• Develop language skills
• Gain professional experience
• Step outside your comfort zone
• Form friendships
• Increase self-confidence
• Understand and appreciate ambiguity 

There are also many desirable outcomes of study abroad programs including:

• Increased hireability
• Higher starting salaries
• Higher acceptance into graduate school
• Developed interpersonal and cognitive skills 

Sources: IES Abroad and U.S. News

Planning to study abroad can be a daunting task. It's important to start early (at least 1 year prior to your intended travel semester) and use your resources. Remember, you are not alone!

1. Schedule an appointment with HHD's Engaged Learning Specialist to discuss education abroad, the application process, and beginning steps.
2. Review Penn State Global's Steps to Study Abroad. These steps will help guide your planning process.
3. Complete the Education Abroad 101 module to gain a better understanding on what is meant to study abroad, funding your experience, and resources to help you plan.

There are many study abroad program options to choose from. 

• Faculty-Led Embedded: You enroll in class on your campus at Penn State. As a part of the class, a Penn State Faculty member will lead an excursion abroad either during a break such as fall break, winter break, spring break or at the beginning of the summer.
• Faculty-Led Freestanding: Faculty-led freestanding programs are like moving a Penn State classroom abroad. You will be taught by a Penn State faculty member and follow a designed travel itinerary with the other Penn State students. Most programs are offered during summer and range from 2 to 8 weeks.
• Direct Enroll/Exchange: You will become an international student at that host university, taking classes with both local and international students. Exchanges are direct enrollment programs where Penn State accepts a student on campus in exchange for your place on campus.
• International Internships: Internship programs are opportunities where you will be placed in an organization or company either virtually or in-person to gain work experience in an international context and receive academic credit. Internships can be either one component of a study abroad program or done as a standalone experience. Internships through the Education Abroad office will always require enrollment in a credit-bearing class.
  • The Perrault 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, personal-mentoring, and an internship abroad related to health and the betterment of human condition broadly speaking.
• Research Abroad: Research or field study programs are hands-on experiential learning opportunities which are often tailored specifically for a student’s particular interests. They offer a chance to gain research experience and prepare you for graduate school or a career in research.
• Study Center: Study center programs are sponsored through outside organizations such as IES, CIEE, The Danish Institute for Study Abroad, and Arcadia. You will take courses at their study center abroad with other students who are pursuing their degree at an American university or college. 

It is important to consider the following when choosing a program:

• Where do you want to go abroad? Is there a particular region or country you're interested in studying in?
• When do you want to go abroad? Spring and Summer semester programs are the most common, but with careful planning you may study abroad during any semester that works with your academic plan. All programs have a minimum year requirement (typically second- or third-year standing) and a GPA requirement.
• How long do you want to be abroad? Programs range in travel from one week to a full academic year. 
• What is the language of instruction? Many programs are taught in English, but some programs have a language requirement to ensure your sucess abroad. 

Review Penn State Global's Tips for Choosing a Program and browse the Penn State Global Program Search to find specific programs of interest, or look below for department-specific opportunities.

Program costs vary greatly depending on program length, location, and type of program. Note that some programs will include things like housing and meals in the billable costs (costs charged to your Penn State account), whereas others may not. It is important to review budget sheets carefully and compare program costs before choosing a program.

Many programs in non-traditional locations tend to be cheaper due to a lower cost of living. There are also more scholarships available for programs in these locations. Non-traditional locations include anywhere outside of Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Potential Funding Opportunities:

• Penn State Education Abroad Scholarships
• Penn State Global Embedded Programs Scholarship
• Student Engagement Network Grant Program
• HHD Starling Engaged Learning Fund

Next Steps:

• Contact the Office of Student Aid to determine what financial aid you have available and what might apply to a study abroad program.
• Review the Penn State Global Easy Guide to Study Abroad Scholarships.
• Meet with your academic adviser and education abroad adviser (determined by the location of your chosen program) to determine what schoalrships you are eligible for.

Depending on the type of program you choose, you have some flexibility in the courses you may take abroad. Each program page on the Penn State Global website has an "Academics" tab where you will find information on the courses taken as part of that program.

Often times faculty-led programs have prescribed courses that students are expected to take as part of the education abroad experience. These courses already have a Penn State course number assigned to them. 

If you choose to complete a direct enroll program, you will be expected to select appropriate courses for your degree program in consultation with your academic adviser. Some students prefer to save some of their general education requirements (e.g., GA, GH, etc.) to take while abroad. These often translate to courses about the art, culture, and food in a chosen country. 

However, there are some opportunities to take major requirement courses. If a program has flexibility in the courses offered, there will be a Historical Course List available. This list includes all courses that Penn State students have taken abroad as part of that program and the Penn State credit the course was used for.

If you do not see a specific major requirement course on this list, you are able to request a Course Equivalency Evaluation. The Course Equivalency process involves submitting a Course Equivalency Request with a copy of the course syllabus so the appropriate academic department may evaluate the course to determine how closely it matches a Penn State-offered course. The review process can take two to four months to complete. 

For questions on course selection, please schedule an appointment with your academic adviser.

Students may only apply for one education abroad program per term (e.g., Spring, Summer, Fall). Students will need to submit an application by the posted deadline on the specific Penn State Global page for the program they intend to participate in. Note: embedded programs do not require the same application; students should instead contact the faculty leader for the embedded course. 

Penn State Global provides step-by-step instructions for completing the education abroad application.

Application requirements vary by program, but the following is required for all education abroad programs:

• Education Abroad Questionnaire
• Education Abroad Policies and Procedures
• Academic Recommendation
• Note: many of Penn State's approved programs require applicants to submit an additional application or specific materials to the host program/institution. If necessary, the Penn State Global program page will provide instructions and deadlines for this additional step.

Typically, application deadlines follow the pattern below:

View Penn State Global's Application Timeline for specific dates and deadlines.

Florence, Italy: Human Development and Family Studies (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HDFS 499.1, HDFS 499.2, and HDFS 499.3 for 9 credits

• HDFS 499.1: Early Childhood in Italy
• HDFS 499.2: Historical Roots of the Modern Italian Family
• HDFS 499.3: Italian Relationships, Both Cultural and Familial

London, United Kingdom: Adulthood & Families (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HDFS 249N or HDFS 397 for 3 credits

• HDFS 294N/HDFS 397: Adult Development and Aging

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Non-Profit Organizations and Cambodian Youth (Maymester) [Offered through Shreyer Honors College; 2025 application due December 6, 2024] - students will earn 3.25 honors credits by enrolling in HDFS 497 in Spring 2025 for 3 credits and HDFS 499 in Summer 2025 for 0.25 credits

• HDFS 497: Cambodia Study Tour
• HDFS 499: Cambodia Study Abroad

Seoul, Korea: Sociology and Culture in Korea (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in SOC 499, HDFS 499, or ASIA 499 for 3 credits

• SOC 499/HDFS 499/ASIA 499: Sociology and Culture in Seoul, Korea

Greece: HM 299: International Hospitality Management (Spring Break) - this embedded travel experience takes students to Athens to explore and experience Greek hospitality. Students will participate in multiple hotel and restaurant tours, a winery tour, a Greek cooking workshop and explore some of the major tourist attractions in Greece. 

Europe: Hospitality Management Studies (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HM 399A and HM399B for 6 credits

• HM 399A: International Hospitality Management
• HM 399B: International Restaurant and Food Service Management

Copenhagen, Denmark: Biking Culture & Urban Design (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in KINES 405N or LARCH 405N for 3 credits

• KINES 405N: Bicycling Culture and Urban Design

Grenada, West Indies: Pre-Med at St. George's University (Summer) - students will be enrolled in KINES 499 for 3 credits

• KINES 499: St. George's University Pre-Med Study Abroad in the West Indies

West London, United Kingdom: Kinesiology, Youth Sport, and Athletic Wellfare (Summer) - students will be enrolled in KINES 499 for 3 credits

• KINES 499: Kinesiology, Youth Sport, and Athletic Wellfare in London

The following opportunities are not specific to an HHD department, however, some HHD students may have a particular interest in a program's content area. Speak with your academic adviser to determine if the courses offered as part of these programs will fit with your academic plan.

Florence, Italy: SC 475: Anatomy in Italy (Spring Break) - this embedded travel experience takes students to Italy to learn about a unique blend of Biology and History, investigating the evolution of anatomy and physiology in Renaissance Italy. This course is a co-requisite with IT 175: Italian Language & Culture for Embedded Experiences Abroad. 

Oxford, United Kingdom: Medical Humanities (Summer) - students will be enrolled in HHD 499 or BIOET 497 for 3 credits

• HHD 499/BIOET 497: Exploring the Human in Medicine

Cape Town, South Africa: Women's Gender and Reproductive Studies (Maymester) - students will be enrolled in WMNST 399 for 3 credits

• WMNST 399: The Quest for Reproductive Justice in South Africa

Dublin, Ireland: Culture & DIsability (Summer) - students will be enrolled in RHS 420 or SPLED 420 for 6 credits

• RHS/SPLED 420: Culture and Disability

Amsterdam, Netherlands: Dutch Criminal and Social Justice (Summer) - students will be enrolled in CRIM 499 for 6 credits

• CRIM 499: Dutch Criminal and Social Justice

Arush, Tanzania: Biology of Eco-Health (Summer) - students will be enrolled in BIOL 489 for 3 credits

• BIOL 498: Special Topics - EcoHealth in Tanzania

Serbia: BBH 499: Social Determinant of Health in the Republic of Serbia (Spring Break) - this embedded travel experience offered through Penn State Lehigh Valley takes students to Serbia to learn about the different factors that influence health. Contact Samantha Beebe (sab705@psu.edu) for more information. 

The Netherlands: CRIMJ 497/499: Comparative Drug Policy, Social Interventions, and Health (Spring Break) - this embedded travel experience offered through Penn State Berks explores policies related to substances. Contact Jen Murphy (jxm1192@psu.edu) for more information.

Costa Rica: AA 230N: Arts and Wellness in Communities (Spring Break) - this embedded travel experience offered through Penn State Fayette explores how the arts can impact community health. Contact Bequie Perry (rjs7134@psu.edu) or Valerie Vanderhoss (vuv3@psu.edu) for more information. 

Several courses in HHD have domestic short-term travel experiences. Review the full HHD Outreach list of courses and discuss with your acadmic adviser to consider which short-term experience may be right for you.

Featured Programs:

Denver, Colorado: KINES 295C: ACSM & IDEA Health & Fitness Summit Conference - this course takes students to a new location each year based on the American College of Sports Medicine's event schedule. The course provides students the opportunity to participate in conference activities and network with conference attendees.

Los Angeles, California: KINES 497: Interdisciplinary Study of Street Medicine - this course takes students to Los Angeles to learn about and experience the growing systemic problems faced by unhoused individuals and how the Street Medicine team at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine provides direct care for unhoused individuals free of charge. 

Elmont, New York: RPTM 475: Advanced Arena Management - this course develops advanced skills and understanding in arena and live entertainment management fields including operations, budgeting, marketing and staffing. The course is taught from a local entertainment arena, and students will take a multi-day trip to the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY to better understand arena management.

Maastricht, Netherlands: Center for European Studies, Maastricht Univeristy

• BBH 399: Introduction to Epidemiology
• BBH 499: Disease and Prevention

Stockholm, Sweden: DIS Study in Stockholm

• BBH 399: Cognitive Neuroscience of Addiction

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• BBH 399: Endemic Disease & Their Socioeconomic Context
• BBH 399: Environment, Health, & Development
• BBH 399: The Impact of Globalization on Health & Development

London, United Kingdom: IES London - Health Policy & Practice

• BBH 299: Health Psychology
• BBH 430(3) + BBH 499(1): Epidemiology & Stats

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• BBH 399: Medicine and Disease Before Biomedicine

Melbourne, Australia: Monash University

• BBH 316(3) + BBH 399(1): Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• HDFS 250: Sexuality & Gender
• HDFS 299: Childhood & Youth

Cape Town, South Africa: IES Cape Town - Health, Culture, & Development

• HPA 499: Health & Community

London, United Kingdom: IES London - Health Policy & Practice

• HPA 496: Social Welfare Policy in the United Kingdom and Famaica - A community-Based Learning Perspective and Practicum
• HPA 499: Comparative Healthcare Systems and the United States Policies in Great Britain, Europe
• HPA 499: Health Inequities and Social Determinants of Health
• HPA 499: Public Health in Europe - Issues and Social Policies
• HPA 499: Public Health in Practice

Valencia, Spain: University of Virginia Global Health (Summer)

• HPA 499: Comparative Health Systems

Florence University of the Arts (Maymester & Summer)

• HM 242: Marketing Fundamentals
• HM 280: Fundamentals of Hotel and Accommodations Management
• HM 366: Human Resource Management
• HM 499: Art, Food, Fasion, and Wine: Creative Advertising of Italian Destinations
• HM 499: Everything Chocolate: From Therapy to Pleasure
• HM 499: Exploration of Wine Culture in Italy
• HM 499: International Tourism
• HM 499: Italian Classical Cakes and Tarts
• HM 499: Pairing Food and Wine
• HM 499: The Italian Food Industry: From Farm to Table
• HM 499: Wine Bar Management

Gold Coast, Australia: Bond University

• HM 242: Marketing Fundamentals
• HM 280: Fundamentals of Hotel and Accommodations Management
• HM 366: Human Resource Management
• HM 499: Adventure Tourism
• HM 499: Wine Studies

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• HM 499: Barcelona - The Culinary City
• HM 499: Food as an Expression of Culture
• HM 499: Food Business Findamentals - Entrepreneurship and Marketing
• HM 499: Organizational Behavior: Psycholgoical Approaches in a European Perspective

Dubrovnik, Croatia: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

• HM 242: Marketing Fundamentals
• HM 280: Fundamentals of Hotel and Accommodations Management
• HM 366: Human Resource Management

Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute (Exchange)

• HM 242: Marketing Fundamentals
• HM 280: Fundamentals of Hotel and Accommodations Management
• HM 366: Human Resource Management

Brno, Czech Republic: CzechMates

• KINES 84: Physical Activity and Lifestyle Change
• KINES 92: Self Defense

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• KINES 399: Sports and Society in Spain

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• KINES 384(3) + KINES 399(1): Movement Analysis
• KINES 399: Sport and Learning in Australian Culture

Leeds, England: University of Leeds

• KINES 350:  Exercise Bioenergetics
• KINES 360: Human Motor Development
• KINES 497: Exercise at the Limits - Physiology in Challenging Environments
• KINES 497: Muscle Function and Adaptation
• KINES 498: Motor Psychological Aspects of Rehabilitaiton
• KINES 498: Physical Activity and Health
• KINES 499: Sport Medicine, Health, and Nutrition
• KINES 499: Exercise Prescription for Health and Disease

Loughborough, England: Loughborough University (Exhcnage)

• KINES 199: Psychology and Health
• KINES 202: Structural Kinesiology
• KINES 299: Basci Science and Regenerative Therapy
• KINES 321(3) + KINES 399(2): Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology
• KINES 399: Understanding the Brain
• KINES 399: Applied Cognitive Research
• KINES 399: Psychology for Physical Educators
• KINES 498: Applied Psychology in Competetive Sport
• KINES 498: Conceptualizing Sport
• KINES 498: Critical Persepectives in Sport Management
• KINES 498: Current Themes in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• KINES 498: Physical Activity and Health
• KINES 499: Applied Sport Physiology
• KINES 499: Basic Science and Regenerative Therapy
• KINES 499: Human Evolution and Adaptation
• KINES 499: Sport Governance

Lisbon, Portugal: Penn State in Portugal (Maymester) - this customized program offered through a partnership with CIEE provides the opportunity for Penn State students of any major to travel to Portugal. 

• NUTR 251: Introductory Principles of Nutrition

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• NUTR 421: History and Culture of Food in Italy
• NUTR 497: History and Culture of Food

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• NUTR 299: Diet and Nutrition for Health and Sport

Seville, Spain: CIEE Seville

• NUTR 499: The Mediterranean Diet - From Fiction to Facts

Florence, Italy: International Studies Institute (ISI) at Palazoo Rucellai (Summer)

• EDUC 399: Childhood Education - Teaching and Multicultural Competence
• PSYCH 299: Criminal Behavior
• PSYCH 299: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSYCH 445: Forensic Psychology
• RHS 199: Disabilities Studies - Discovering Abilities
• RHS 399: Disabilities Studies - Discovering Abilities, Naratives, Identities (Community Engagement Practicum)
• SOC 19: Social Media, Social Food
• SOC 199: Diversity in Italy
• SOC 297: Identity and Culture in Italy - A comparative Approach

Maastricht, Netherlands: Center for European Studies, Maastricht Univeristy

• PHIL 132: Medical Ethics - Moral Healthcare Deilemmas from a European Perspective
• PSYCH 212(3) + PSYCH 299(2): Developmental Psychology
• PSYCH 299: Psychology and Law

Barcelona, Spain: IES in Barcelona

• MGMT 399: Leading Across Cultures - Principles and Practice
• PSYCH 232: Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSYCH 243: Psychology, Health, & Well-being: Beyond Just Treating Mental Disorders
• PSYCH 499: Cultural Perspectives in Psychology

Sydney, Australia: IES Univeristy of Sydney

• BMB 499: Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences
• BMB 499: Biochemistry of Human Disease
• EDPSY 199: Child Development (3-8 years)

Melbourne, Australia: Monash University

• SOC 3(3) + SOC 199 (1): Understanding Social Behavior

Leeds, England: University of Leeds

• PHIL 14(3) + PHIL 199(2): Philosophy of Sex and Relationships
• PSYCH 212: Developmental Psychology
• PSYCH 299: Psychology for Healthy Minds
• PSYCH 441: Health Psychology

The Global Health Corps are looking for a global and diverse group of passionate and talented emerging leaders to apply for their annual fellowship. The fellowship includes yearlong paid placements within partner organizations in Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, the US, and Zambia to address real-time capacity gaps and strengthen health systems. Additionally, fellows receive logistical and financial support during the year, including a monthly living stipend, housing, insurance, visa assistance, and travel.

Princeton in Africa matches talented and passionate college graduates with organizations working across Africa for yearlong service placements to help improve education and public health, source fresh water and alternative energy, and increase family incomes.

India: The William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India is helping to shape the next generation of leaders committed to impactful change while also strengthening civil society to be more efficient and effective. The Fellowship pairs a select number of highly skilled young professionals with leading non-governmental organizations and social enterprises in India in order to accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable.

Japan: The Gaba Teach English in Japan Program is a professional position for teaching 1-on-1 English in Japan to adult learners. Candidates apply and are hired for yearlong, paid teaching positions. For international (non-Japanese) applicants, Gaba offers a visa sponsorship program to Japan.

Korea: The English Program in Korea (EPIK) was established in 1995 and is affiliated with the Korean Ministry of Education. Since its inception, EPIK has had the goals of improving the English-speaking abilities of Korean students and teachers, developing cultural exchange between Korea and abroad, and of introducing new teaching methods into the Korean education system.

Multiple Locations Available: Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia. Eligible languages are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese. The Blakemore Foundation makes grants for study only at specific language programs. Please refer to the current list of approved programs.

Multiple Locations Available: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.

Germany: The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Chancellor Fellowship Program is targeted at university graduates from Brazil, China, India, Russia, and the USA who have an international outlook and initial leadership experience. The fellowships give them the opportunity to spend a year in Germany networking with other prospective leaders from abroad and working in a sector such as politics, economics, the media, administration, and culture

Germany: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals is a yearlong fellowship, funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress through the U.S. Department of State. The program annually gives 75 American young professionals the opportunity to study, work, and live with a host in Germany.

Germany: The Émigré Memorial German Internship Program–German State Parliaments (EMGIP) provides U.S. and Canadian students with internships at a German state parliament. These internships afford students an excellent opportunity to gain government work experience, improve their advanced German language skills, and learn about German culture firsthand.

Ireland: The Mitchell Scholars Program, named to honor former US Senator George Mitchell’s pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. The Scholarship offers one year of study in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

United Kingdom: The Fulbright U.K. Summer Institutes are three- and four-week programs for first- and second-year undergraduate students. Participants explore the culture, heritage, and history of the U.K. while experiencing higher education at a U.K. university. The Summer Institutes cover the majority of participant costs, including round-trip airfare from the U.S. to the U.K., tuition and fees at the host university/institution, accommodation and meals, and in some cases a small daily allowance.

United Kingdom: Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students from outside the U.K. to study at the University of Cambridge. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a person’s intellectual ability, leadership capacity and desire to use their knowledge to contribute to society throughout the world by providing service to their communities and applying their talents and knowledge to improve the lives of others.

United Kingdom: Founded by a 1953 Act of Parliament, Marshall Scholarships offer 1 – 3 years of post-graduate study to young Americans to a pursue a graduate degree in the United Kingdom in almost any field of study. Marshall Scholars receive funding for graduate study, including tuition, stipend and travel expenses. 

Scandinavia: The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to individuals who have already completed a bachelor’s degree to pursue research or study in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year. The number of awards varies each year according to total funds available. Awards are made in all fields.

Spain: The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain. The program is primarily devoted to providing US and Canadian students and graduates majoring in any subject who are native speakers of English or French with the opportunity to assist foreign language teachers in a variety of schools in Spain and to learn about Spanish culture and society and also about its education system.

Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) partners with non-governmental organizations and multilateral organizations and places highly qualified recent college graduates in yearlong service fellowships with nonprofit, public service, humanitarian, and government organizations with a social mission in Latin American and Caribbean.

New Zealand: The Northern Hemisphere Summer Research Scholarships are a great way to develop international research collaborations with leading researchers at the University of Auckland, gain valuable research experience, and experience living and studying in Auckland. The main purpose of these Scholarships is to give current university students from key partner universities, including Penn State, an opportunity to experience research at the University of Auckland, and to thereby encourage the development of and strengthening of research relationships with the University of Auckland.

The Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program is a social justice program that trains, inspires, and sustains leaders. Fellows gain field experience fighting hunger and poverty through placements in community-based organizations across the country, and policy experience through placements in Washington, D.C. The program bridges community-based efforts and national public policy, and fellows develop as effective leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship Program at Stanford University is the largest fully endowed scholars program in the world and offers a transformative experience comprised of opportunities for leadership development, mentorship, and immersive interdisciplinary experiential learning. 

The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program offers a dynamic and stimulating leadership curriculum that encourages students to examine their personal strengths, identify areas for growth, and ultimately take action as a leader. In that spirit, these leadership lessons are taught within a framework highlighting the inspirational leadership model of George Washington.

The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program is a competitive federal program that awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training leading to a degree in medicine (allopathic or osteopathic), dentistry, or a postgraduate degree or postgraduate certificate from a school or program in nurse-midwifery education, physician assistant (PA) education, or nurse practitioner (NP) education specializing in adult medicine, family medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, psychiatric-mental health, or women’s health. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers scholarship support (up to $20,000 per academic year), paid research training at the NIH during the summer, and paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation.

The Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) is a competitive, two-year, paid training program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PHAP associates are assigned to public health agencies and nongovernmental organizations in the United States and US territories, and work alongside other professionals across a variety of public health settings. Throughout the two-year training program, associates gain hands-on experience that will serve as a foundation for their public health careers.

Administered by University of Michigan's School of Public Health, the UM SEP in Health Management and Policy is an 8-week comprehensive experience for undergraduate students who are committed to eliminating health inequalities and who seek to improve the health status and health care of underserved communities across the US. The program provides students with an 8-week health internship experience, graduate-level lectures, site visits to health organizations, community outreach projects, networking opportunities, and preparation for graduate school, including a GRE course. 

Boren Scholarships, funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), promote long-term linguistic and cultural immersion and encourage American undergraduates to focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Boren Scholars receive up to $25,000 in order to add an important international and language component to their undergraduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. In exchange for funding, all Boren Scholars commit to a one-year service requirement with the federal government. Service must begin within 3 years of graduation.

The Cultural Vistas Fellowship affords underrepresented U.S. university students the unique opportunity to advance their career goals, develop global competencies, and experience life in another culture. Up to 12 fellows to take part in this multinational professional development program that includes eight-week summer internships in Argentina, Germany, and India.

The Critical Language Scholarship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, seeks to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages by providing American undergraduate and graduate students with group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences overseas. The summer programs are fully funded and last 7 – 10 weeks.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is now the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

The Humanity in Action Fellowship brings together international groups of Fellows to study minority rights and produce original research exploring how and why individuals and societies, past and present, have resisted intolerance and protected democratic values. Separate programs take place for five weeks every summer in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sarajevo, and Warsaw.

Peace Corps volunteers are currently serving in 76 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. Volunteers serve for 27 months (24 months of service + 3 months of training) with skills in agriculture, environment, business, health, development, education, and information technology.

Child Family Health International is dedicated to transformative Global Health Education programs, research, and thought leadership emphasizing community leadership, global citizenship, and ethical engagement.

The Global Health Minor (GLBHL), housed in the department of Biobehavioral Health, is available to students interested in a career in a health profession. This minor exposes students to the top issues affecting the health of various populations across the world. 

Students must complete a supervised fieldwork experience, either internationally or domestically, for a period of approximately five weeks during the first summer session (May through June). Students will be enrolled in BBH 390B for 6 credits.

• Global Health Field Work in Ecuador
• Global Health Field Work in South Africa

Students interested in learning more about Jewish heritage and participating in service projects such as cleaning up the local Jewish cemetery and helping out at the local synagogue are invited to apply for the Alternative Spring Break Trip to Curacao with Penn State Hillel. 

Education Abroad Peer Advisers are education abroad returnees who have enjoyed their experiences so much that they now work to advise other students on education abroad opportunities at Penn State. Each peer adviser can explain program options, give an overview of the education abroad process, as well as provide information about their experience abroad.

When students return from abroad, they will receive an email from the Education Abroad office with instructions on how to apply for a peer adviser position. Typically, peer advisers are selected at the beginning of each academic year. Competitive and thoughtful applications from a wide range of experiences will be invited to interview for the position. 

The Global Engagement and Leadership Experience, as the name implies, is a "global" leadership opportunity for students to explore the ability to interact across differences, both at the individual and group level. Trained facilitators work to guide students in their understanding of self, while also providing opportunities to learn about the cultures and identities of others through fun and reflective activities. 

Global Careers Institute (GCI) a professional development program designed to prepare Penn State students for career success in the global marketplace. Participation in the Institute is competitive and by application only.

Global Ambassadors

Global Ambassadors (GAs) support international students through hosting and volunteering at international and multicultural student events.

Contact: Adviser, Analize Mousaw (adm185@psu.edu)

Global Engagement Community

The GEC engages a diverse group of globally-minded students (both international and domestic), supported by faculty and staff mentors, around the goals of peer-based intercultural exchange and the development of global competencies and citizenship traits. 

Contact: Adviser, Nikki Mattson (nla12@psu.edu)

Global Medical Brigades

Global Medical Brigades aims to help provide sustained health care to underserved communities throughout the world. Along with affiliate groups at other universities, our PSU team recruits student volunteers and medical professionals, gathers medicine, and then travels overseas to perform what are called "brigades" in local clinics.

Contact: Adviser, Stephen Kodish (quk80@psu.edu)

United Nations Association at Penn State

The UNA-USA Penn State Chapter is a student organization at Pennsylvania State University dedicated to discussing the most pressing issues of our time with a focus on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contact: Adviser, Dana Naughton (dmn161@psu.edu)

GLOBE

GLOBE is a living learning community for Schreyer Honors College students looking to foster respect and awareness for the world and its diverse people, contribute to international progress by developing a network for future collaborations, and build an inclusive community that embraces different mindsets and encourages personal and academic growth.

Contact: Adviser, Sarah Lyall-Combs (svl1@psu.edu)