Updates to the Study Abroad Application Process Starting Fall 2026
To ensure greater alignment with students’ needs, Penn Abroad is implementing several updates for the Fall and Academic Year 2026 study abroad application cycle. These changes are designed in response to student feedback and to help you plan ahead, provide clarity, and maximize your opportunities.
What is staying the same?
- Attendance at Group Advising remains mandatory. Advising for Fall/Academic Year 2026 will begin October 15th. Sign up for Group Advising.
- All Penn Abroad programs have a cap on the number of applications opened per advising cycle, which you can find information about on the “Overview” tab of the PASSPORT program brochure.
What is new for Fall/Academic Year 2026?
- There is a holding period between when advising begins and when students may request to open an application for study abroad.
- Penn Abroad’s application request form for the Fall/Academic Year 2026 study abroad cycle will be made live at 12:00 PM ET (noon) on November 17th. Application requests are processed in the order they are received and during business hours only.
- Advising sessions will be offered for approximately one month before Penn Abroad begins receiving requests for applications to be opened.
- The final dates to request to open an application for Fall/Academic Year 2026 study abroad are below. Note that application submission deadlines are 10 days following request deadline, as noted below:
- January 10, 2026: Oxford, King’s College London, University of Queensland (Nursing)*
- Application deadline: January 20, 2026
- * Application deadline for University of Queensland (Nursing) is February 15
- February 5, 2026: Competitive Programs
- Application deadline: February 15, 2026
- February 20, 2026: All other programs
- Application deadline: March 1, 2026
- January 10, 2026: Oxford, King’s College London, University of Queensland (Nursing)*
Next steps?
- Attend group advising. This is the required first step in the study abroad process. Sign up for Group Advising.
- Request to open an application beginning November 17 that 12:00 PM ET (noon) and until the application request period closes in January or February, as applicable per program.
- Attend an optional regional advising session where you can learn more details about your specific program of interest and meet your assigned Global Programs Manager.
- Read and follow all application instructions carefully, including the required meeting with your major advisor and/or home school academic advisor. Submit your application by the deadline listed on the PASSPORT program brochure. Late submissions will not be accepted.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Penn Abroad at goabroad@upenn.edu.
