Steps to Funding Study Abroad

Penn State Education Abroad hosts an informative webinar that discusses several key financial factors related to international education. All students interested in education abroad are encouraged to view this short webinar for assistance understanding the costs associated with study abroad and resources available to help fund a global learning journey. After watching the webinar, you can explore scholarships and other funding resources.

Visit our Paying the Way Webinar page to watch.

For most, an experience abroad requires very careful budgeting. Before creating a budget, research your program information to discover exactly which costs you are responsible for. For example, are program-led excursions included? Must you pay extra for housing during program breaks? Are meals included? Can you select your housing? If so, does cost differ according to housing type? In addition, determine which costs are billed by Penn State and which you will pay directly to the host institution. Currency exchange rates can fluctuate sharply. Be aware of the value of the US dollar to the local currency and consider this factor in the budgeting process. Keep in mind you will likely need more money during the first month to cover initial, one-time expenses (commuting passes, household items, etc.). Be sure to discuss costs with your families if they are providing financial support.

To plan out your expenses abroad, please check out our Budgeting and Planning Worksheet. 

In keeping with our commitment to student access and inclusion, we want to highlight the semester-long (fall or spring) education abroad programs that are approximately the same cost as or less than attending University Park for in-state students.

To search through those options, read over our On-campus Cost Comparable Programs page.