Application Process
Learn how to apply for a term or year abroad at Penn.
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Start planning how your study abroad experience fits into your Penn journey.
Penn Abroad will guide you in setting goals, selecting a program, and completing your application. All undergraduate study abroad applications must go through Penn Abroad— use the steps below to get started.
Application Process
Step 1: Attend Group Advising
Attending a study abroad group advising session is required before requesting to open an application. Appointments cannot be guaranteed and are based on availability. To ensure students have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information, attendance at a group advising session is considered valid for the current advising cycle and the immediately preceding cycle. If more than one advising cycle has passed since attending a group advising session, students will be required to attend a new session before they may request to open an application.
For example: If you attend group advising between November – February, your attendance remains valid through the following application cycle which runs from April – September. After that point, you will need to attend a new session to be eligible to apply.
Early registration and attendance to group advising is strongly encouraged as appointments fill to capacity quickly. In addition, all Penn Abroad programs have a cap on the number of applications opened per advising cycle. To ensure you are in the applicant pipeline for your preferred study abroad program, you are encouraged to begin the study abroad application process as early as possible.
Advising and Application Timeline
Fall & Academic Year Programs
- Advising begins in November of the preceding academic year.
- The last day to open an application is 10 calendar days prior to the application deadline.
- Application deadlines are listed on the program brochure and are generally between January and early March.
Spring Semester Programs
- Advising begins in April of the preceding academic year.
- The last day to open an application is 10 calendar days prior to the application deadline.
- Application deadlines are listed on the program brochure, and are either May 15 or September 15 depending on the program.
- Exceptions for some programs apply, specifically the University of Cambridge and Oxford University.
Summer Term Programs (for Wharton & Engineering students only):
- Advising begins in November.
- The last day to open an application is 10 calendar days prior to the application deadline.
- The application deadline for all summer programs is February 1.
Register for a Group Advising session on Calendly
Summer Term Programs
Please note that advising for Fall and Spring term programs is unavailable each year from October to early November and from March to early April during application review. Advising for Summer term programs is only available from November to January.
When advising for your program of interest is unavailable, you are welcome to attend drop-in hours or look out for upcoming events to learn more. If you have any questions, please contact goabroad@upenn.edu.
Step 2: Review Eligibility
To study abroad, you must meet certain general eligibility requirements that apply to all programs. Please refer to the Study Abroad Academic Information page for a comprehensive list of these requirements.
Additionally, individual programs may have their own GPA minimums, language prerequisites, and/or course-specific requirements. For program-specific eligibility requirements, please refer to program brochures within PASSPORT.
Step 3: Choose a Program
As you explore program options, consider your academic and personal goals. Once you know why you want to study abroad, it will make it easier to decide where you will study abroad. Thinking through these questions will help you navigate the many exciting program options.
Step 4: Open Application
After attending advising, submit a request to open an application. The relevant Global Programs Manager will confirm your eligibility before opening the application.
Application Opening Timelines
- Fall & Academic Year Programs: Requests can be submitted as early as November of the preceding academic year.
- Spring Programs: Requests can be submitted as early as April of the preceding academic year.
- Summer Programs: Requests can be submitted as early as November of the preceding calendar year.
For all programs, the last day to open an application is 10 calendar days prior to the application deadline. Application deadlines are listed on the PASSPORT program brochure.
Important Information Regarding Application Caps
- All Penn Abroad programs have a cap on the number of applications opened per advising cycle. The cap on open applications for each program is listed on the “Overview” tab of the PASSPORT program brochure.
- Once a program reaches its application cap, no additional applications will be opened even if the Penn Abroad deadline has not yet passed. Waitlists will not be maintained.
Important Information Regarding Program Capacity
- Opening an application does not guarantee placement. Some programs have fewer available spots than the cap for that program, meaning a selection process will take place.
- You will have the opportunity to explain your unique fit for a program within your application essays, and this information will be used in the selection process for programs where there are more applicants than space available.
- Students may have only one application open at a time. Within the application, you must also select a backup program from an approved list in PASSPORT.
- Students not selected for their first-choice program will be automatically rerouted to their backup program if space is available and eligibility requirements are met.
- Additional academic approval will be required for the backup program.
Step 5: Apply
Once your application is open, you will gain access to instructions for completing both your Penn Abroad and host program applications. Begin working on your application immediately to ensure you have ample time to address any questions with your Penn Abroad and academic advising contacts and submit it before the deadline listed on the PASSPORT program brochure.
As part of the application process, you must meet with your home school academic advisor for study abroad. During this meeting, you will:
- Review your academic eligibility
- Discuss course options
- Begin the course approval process
College of Arts & Sciences Students must also obtain academic approval from their major department.
Schedule these meetings early, as advisors’ schedules fill quickly, and they are not required to accommodate last-minute requests.
Additional Resources