International Programs
The School of Hospitality Management (SHM) has the goal of educating students who will become socially aware hospitality industry professionals with the potential to be highly competitive in the global business arena. SHM has created a network of international academic partnerships and opportunities for students.
There are four ways in which students can study abroad:
- SHM offers an embedded Spring Break study abroad program (short presentation) during resident instruction at Penn State.
- SHM offers a month-long, four-credit Summer Studies in Europe program (short presentation).
- SHM offers semester-long programs (short presentation) in Italy, Croatia, Hong Kong, and Australia. Programs offered through SHM allow the student to complete both major and general education credits.
- The University Office of Global Programs offers a number of programs that allow students to complete general education credits.
Study abroad credits will only be accepted toward HM degree requirements if they are taken through a Penn State approved program. Credits earned in non-Penn State programs may qualify toward General Education requirements, but not to HM degree requirements.
For general information about School of Hospitality Management study abroad programs, contact Irina Tishina, Academic Advisor for the School of Hospitality Management.
Faculty-led Short Programs
- Summer Studies in Europe
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This is a four-week summer program in Europe, usually offered from mid-May to mid-June. Students will take two courses (International Cuisine and International Hospitality Management) earning six HM elective credits. Courses are taught in English by faculty from Penn State. In the current program, course time is spent in Florence (Italy) and Maastricht (The Netherlands). Students apply for this program at the Global Programs website.
The program begins in Amsterdam and Maastricht with seven days of instruction on International Hospitality Management. Students then travel to Paris for three days and travel by air to Florence, Italy. In Florence, there are eight days of instruction on International Foodservice Management. The final three days of the program are in Rome, Italy with departure from Rome to the U.S. The HM lead faculty contact for this program is Kim Cooper.
- Athens, Greece – Spring Break travel to Europe
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HM 299 (International Hospitality Management) is a one-credit offering for travel during spring break. Students must sign up for this course in 201 Mateer during the Fall semester. The deadline date for signing up for the course is December 5, 2025. An initial $500.00 deposit is required and non-refundable by December 10th, 2025, to Lori Pifer. Students are registered in the class once the deposit is received.
A full pre-payment of the course “program fee” is usually collected in the first week of the spring semester. The program fee may range from $2,400-$2,600, depending on the number of students on each trip. For questions on course sign-up, selection and deposits, contact Mitchell Lawson.
Semester-Long Programs
Students may apply for all of these programs through Education Abroad:
- Bond University - Gold Coast, Australia
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SHM has established a direct enrollment program with Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia (www.bond.edu.au). Bond University is one of the leading business and hospitality management schools in Australia. Their academic calendar is similar to Penn State. All instruction is in English and students take four 4-credit courses that will transfer into the hospitality curriculum at Penn State.
- Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubrovnik, Croatia
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SHM has established a direct enrollment program with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Dubrovnik, Croatia campus. RIT-Croatia offers hospitality management courses that can substitute for SHM core courses, HM electives and Penn State general education requirements. Their academic calendar is similar to Penn State. All instruction is in English and students generally take five 3-credit courses.
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) – Hong Kong, China
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SHM has established an exchange program with Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, China. HKPU offers hospitality management courses that can substitute for SHM core courses, HM electives and Penn State general education requirements. Their academic calendar is similar to Penn State. All instruction is in English and students generally take five 3-credit courses.
- Florence University of the Arts/Apicius International School of Hospitality
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SHM has established a direct enrollment program with Florence University of the Arts (FUA) which includes the Apicius International School of Hospitality (www.fua.it). FUA offers a wide selection of courses. Students must take courses from the hospitality management curriculum at Apicius and are allowed to take one course (general education) at FUA. Their academic calendar is similar to Penn State. All instruction is in English and students take five 3-credit courses that will transfer into the hospitality curriculum at Penn State.
Note: Programs are run based on enrollment numbers.
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Travel grants are available through SHM for eligible students. Scholarships or stipends are not guaranteed, and some are dedicated specifically for HM majors. Awards are based on a combination of high academic achievement and financial need. Please contact Irina Tishina, Academic Advisor for the School of Hospitality Management or the faculty in charge of your preferred SHM study abroad program for more information.
Additional funding may be available through Penn State Global Programs.
