Visiting International Students

If you are an international student who is currently studying full-time at another college or university in the United States, you can follow the instructions in the domestic students tab to register for Penn State courses as a visiting student. If you are an international student currently studying outside of the United States and do not have a visa for study in the United States, please email summersession@psu.edu to request the visiting student application. You must email by April 12, 2024 to begin the process of applying to study at Penn State for Summer 2024.

Eligibility Requirements

So that international students can be prepared for their Penn State experience, English Language Proficiency is required of all applicants. For students whose prior education has not been in an English-speaking environment, English proficiency must be documented. You must achieve the minimum scores required for one of the tests below:

  • Internet-based TOEFL: 80+
  • Paper-based TOEFL: 550
  • IELTS score of 6.5
  • IGCSE score of A, B, or C on the English language exam
  • IB score of 5 or higher on the English A exam.

Applicants who have attended any U.S. institutions must request that official transcripts be sent from those institutions; certified copies or student copies of U.S. transcripts are not acceptable. The Office for Summer Session reserves the right to verify these results.

Participants must have earned a high school diploma.

Visa Requirements

Penn State’s Visiting International Student Summer Program is open to international undergraduate students who require visa sponsorship. Applicants must enroll in the program full-time (at least 6 credit hours per 6-week session) and may attend in the summer only. 

Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email informing you of the decision. You will also be notified automatically by the Directorate of International Students and Scholars (DISSA) via email and asked to complete the “Summer Session International Student Form.” You will need to supply the following information on the form:

  • Passport
  • Financial Guarantee (bank documents, scholarship letters, etc.)
  • Letter of support from guarantor
  • Current immigration documentation
  • Immigration documentation for dependents (spouse and children)
  • Contact information for current U.S. institution, if you are currently enrolled at another university in the United States
  • Confirmation of understanding: insurance is mandatory for all international students and their accompanying dependents; Penn State Visiting International Student Summer Program is a 6-week program

For information about the cost of tuition, fees, and room and board, visit: