Policies Governing Study Abroad
The College faculty, in concert with Penn Abroad and academic advising in the College, closely monitor the academic quality of the programs in which Penn students enroll. Students are therefore required to meet with a College advisor and their major advisor to discuss their choice of program and the courses they wish to take abroad to ensure that they will receive credit upon their return.
Good standing and a minimum cumulative g.p.a. of 3.0 are required to apply for study abroad; some programs stipulate a higher g.p.a. If a student is placed on Academic Probation or does not maintain this minimum g.p.a. at the end of the term prior to studying abroad, approval to study abroad can be revoked by the College. Some abroad programs also require a minimum level of language skill. Refer to the online abroad program brochures for more information on language requirements
Students studying abroad pay regular Penn tuition and continue to receive financial aid as if they were in residence on Penn's campus. They will receive credit for their course work as long as the relevant academic departments at Penn approve this credit. Their grades become a regular part of their transcript and are calculated into their Penn g.p.a.
Credit will not be awarded for programs that are not formally affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.
Many students choose to study abroad for one or two semesters, usually during their sophomore or junior year, and Penn now offers programs on virtually every continent.
Penn Abroad administers these programs. Students who are interested in applying to study abroad should speak with their pre-major advisor and refer to the Checklist for studying abroad for more information on the application process.
All College academic policies apply to students while away including add, drop, withdraw and grade type change.
Students who wish to study in a country or take part in a program where Penn does not have an affiliation will need to contact Dr. Tanya Jung in the College Office.
