INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Admissions for International Students
Admissions for International Students
The PSU undergraduate program offers over 130 majors and minors across 16 schools and colleges, including the nationally ranked School of Business Administration and College of Engineering & Computer Science. The university also has many graduate programs, including counselling psychology, one of only two accredited programs accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
To apply for admission as an international student to PSU, you must meet all general requirements outlined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (OUA) before submitting your application materials:
International applicants need to submit a self-reported academic record with their application. This is a requirement of the Office of Admissions, and it must be emailed directly to international@psu.edu or faxed to 814-865-7414. The self-reported academic record should be submitted electronically through the Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application (if you use this service).
Steps to Apply
To apply, you must:
- Apply online at https://eapply.psu.edu/international/.
- Submit your required documents and payment via the online application. We accept credit cards, debit cards and electronic checks. The application fee is $75 for most international students (excluding those from China and India).
- Complete an essay in the Personal Statement section of the application (500 words).
- Submit official transcripts from all secondary schools attended–including high school graduation certificates–and any postsecondary work completed outside the United States or Canada by mail or electronically through Parchment eScrip-Safe or Credentials Solutions (formerly known as DiplomaMate).
If you have taken standardized tests such as SAT/ACT exams or TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test), please submit these scores along with official test score reports sent directly from ETS using their code number(s) found on their websites: www2a2b3c4d5e6f7g8h9i0j1k2l3m4n5o6p7q8r9s0t1u2v3w4x yz
International Credentials
If you are applying from a country outside of the United States and are not fluent in English, you must submit an official transcript from each school you attended. These transcripts must be sent directly from your institution to PSU’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
The original language version of your transcript must be accompanied by an English translation that has been reviewed and approved by an accredited organization such as the World Education Services (WES). If there is no authorized WES representative in your country, please contact us at international@pdx.edu before submitting your application so we can assist with this process.
Dates & Deadlines
International students:
- The priority deadline for international undergraduate students is November 1.
- If you are an international student admitted to Penn State and must submit your I-20 form, please do so by December 15.
- Domestic students: The priority deadline for domestic undergraduate students is December 15.
If you still need to apply to Penn State, we encourage you to do so by December 15.
Financial and Visa Information
- You must pay an additional $200.00 for the PSU International Student Scholarship Fund.
- International students must pay the PSU international student health insurance fee of $1,418.00 (including coverage for spouses/partners and children under 23 years old).
If you have a visa type or country exempt from the PSU international student health insurance fee, please get in touch with the Office of International Students and Scholars.
If you’re an international student, applying to PSU is easy. All you need is a high school diploma and the ability to speak English. We’ll help guide you through each step of the process:
- Apply online! You can apply for admission on our website or through [internationalstudent@pdx.edu](http://internationalstudent@pdx.edu).
- Apply for financial aid by filling out our Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and submitting it electronically via our portal in early January before classes start in late August/early September each year–it’s that simple! Once we receive your FAFSA, we will send you an email notifying you whether or not we have been able to award any federal grants based on information provided by the U.S. Department of Education (DoE). The DoE allocates funds based on need rather than merit, so don’t worry if this doesn’t happen right away; we encourage everyone who qualifies under this program category to submit their application as soon as possible so that those who need help have time enough before classes begin at PSU in order not only get everything done but also get settled into their new surroundings comfortably before starting school full-time during fall semester break period begins next month.”
