Fall 2022 & Academic Year 2022-23

The staff in Penn State Global are working diligently to plan for a return to education abroad programming that is responsible and carefully managed, with the health and safety of our students, program leaders, and host communities as top priorities.

Applications for education abroad programs for the fall 2022 and academic year 2022-23 terms were opened in October 2021, and instructions and deadlines are listed on the Education Abroad website. With the need for global skills made ever clear by the worldwide challenges we have faced together; we encourage students to explore the benefits and options available for participating in an academic experience abroad.

Vaccine Attestation and International Travel

October 7, 2021

Effective August 2021, Penn State students approved for international travel are required to attest that they are or will be fully vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19 by their date of departure, or that they have or are pursuing a medical or religious exemption via the appropriate Penn State office(s):  

• Medical condition: University Health Services at uhs-insurance@psu.edu
• Documented disability: Student Disability Resources Office at edaccessibility@psu.edu
• Religious belief: Affirmative Action Office at aao@psu.edu

Exemptions approved by Penn State offices hold no influence with foreign governments or international educational institutions, many of which have enacted strict vaccination protocols. Therefore, students who are not vaccinated, even those who have been approved for an exemption by Penn State, may face limitations or restrictions in their participation in education abroad programs, including cancellation of their admission, due to regulations by foreign governments or international educational institutions. The Penn State Education Abroad Office will work to identify reasonable accommodations which can be made for students who have been approved for a medical or religious exemption from the University’s vaccination requirement. If reasonable accommodations cannot be identified without fundamentally altering the nature of the educational program or activity, including if significant health and/or safety concerns remain, Penn State reserves the right to rescind the offer of admission to study abroad, regardless of any academic unit’s approval. 

For students planning university-affiliated international travel that is not part of a Penn State Education Abroad program, in the case of an approved medical or religious exemption from vaccination, the University will explore whether reasonable accommodations can be identified for student participation without fundamentally altering the nature of the educational program or activity.  If reasonable accommodations cannot be identified, or if significant health and safety concerns remain, Penn State reserves the right to deny or rescind approval as a university-affiliated international trip.
 
Students planning university-affiliated international travel, including applicants who have been approved for Penn State Education Abroad programs, will be required to meet this policy by completing a vaccination attestation form through either the Travel Safety Network or the Penn State Education Abroad application portal.  Failure to submit the form by the stated deadline will result in denial of approval for travel and/or removal from the Education Abroad program (if applicable).  Students who have concerns about compliance with the policy should contact the Global Safety Office (for non-Education Abroad travel) or their education abroad adviser (for Penn State Education Abroad programs) to discuss their international travel prospects.   

Updated Penn State International Travel Policy

August 6, 2021

As announced in Penn State News on July 30, 2021, all students on University-affiliated international travel that begins August 1 or later must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before departure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals not travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated, as getting vaccinated lowers the risk for severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.

In addition, as described in the article, the University-wide restriction on international travel for faculty, staff, and students will be lifted in August 2021. Health and safety reviews of program destinations are ongoing within Penn State Global, pursuant to the updated restricted destination list for students. Students applying to a program in a country on the Penn State restricted travel list will receive instructions on the petition process and next steps from their Education Abroad adviser. We strongly recommend that students hold off on making travel arrangements until closer to their program start date. If students must purchase a ticket, we strongly advise them to purchase a refundable ticket.

Please refer to the Penn State coronavirus website for up-to-date information on the University’s response to COVID-19. Students with questions or concerns should contact their education abroad adviser or educationabroad@psu.edu.