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Edinburgh Castle
submitted by Cali Buckley

Sunrise near Te Anu New Zealand
submitted by Adam Steele

The Ponte Vecchio
submitted by Michael Falkenhol

Venice
submitted by Brian Fronk

Advising Information

All advising and applications for the various study abroad programs are coordinated through Penn State's Office of Education Abroad (EA) in 410 Boucke Building. The EA web site has a FAQ section that addresses many of the most commonly asked questions about how to choose a study abroad location, financial aid issues, and the application process, so please visit their site and review the information provided there.

If you are a science student, and you have specific questions about any of the science partner institutions, please feel free to contact Susan Knell in the Eberly College of Science for additional information. Also take a few minutes to review the Advising Sheets for your particular major (advising sheets not available for all majors yet) to get an idea of how to tackle the process of selecting a study abroad location to suit your needs.

Astronomy & Astrophysics Advising Sheet
Biology Advising Sheet
BMB, Biotechnology, and Microbiology Advising Sheet
Chemistry Advising Sheet
Mathematics Advising Sheet
Physics Advising Sheet
Premedicine Advising Sheet
Science Advising Sheet
Statistics Advising Sheet

As a general rule, you are encouraged to take the following steps in coordinating any study abroad experience, in order to ensure you gain the most from your time abroad.

Study Abroad List of Things to Do

1. Review the available study abroad options and select those that are of the greatest interest to you. It's a good idea to review the institutions' web sites, review any written materials about the exchange programs, and talk with other students who may have studied there before you.
2. Meet with a Peer Adviser in the EA Office (4th floor Boucke) any time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, to get basic information about applications, study abroad options, etc.
3. Schedule an appointment with the appropriate EA advisor(s) to discuss any specific questions you may have about the programs you are considering.
4. Research the courses you may be taking while studying abroad. This information can be obtained through various institutions' course catalogs filed in the EA library or through the institutions' web sites. Many institutions have their course catalogs on-line as well. Links to course information for the science exchange partners can be found on this site under "Science Abroad Locations ."
5. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss the courses you may be taking and how those courses will fit into your academic plan. If available, an on-line course syllabus will provide you with valuable information to help you and your academic advisor in determining if a course is an appropriate level for you. Advance planning is critical! For the science exchange partner institutions, some course equivalencies have been determined and can be found on this site under "Course Equivalency Information." EA also has developed a list of previously accredited courses that may be helpful to you for planning purposes.
6. Deadlines vary by program so please refer to the Education Abroad web site for details.
7. Check out the International Studies major & minor. You could earn a minor pretty easily while studying abroad.
8. Consider completing a travel grant application:
   Eberly College of Science Semester Travel Grant Application
   Awards are granted for students attending one of the science partner institutions for the full academic year or a semester and are awarded based on available funds.
9. Communicate with EA to complete appropriate orientations and to ensure you are ready to depart for your study abroad location. Start learning about the culture of your host country and about intercultural communication.
10. Have a great time seeing and doing science from a different perspective!