Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is one of the largest universities in the US and is considered one of the “Public Ivies”, publicly-funded institutions thought to operate on a par with the elite privately funded Ivy League schools. Its broad mission is threefold: teaching, research and public service. It has around 100 000 students on 24 campuses, a teaching hospital, two law schools and the largest student-run philanthropic organisation in the world.

Academic Highlights

Penn State ranks highly over many disciplines from engineering and technology through to social science, computer science, business and economics and arts and humanities. Its Applied Research Lab has been a research partner with the US Department of Defence since 1945 and has more than 1000 researchers and related staff working there at any one time.

Location

Penn State’s main campus is the University Park campus in central Pennsylvania within the Boroughs of State College and College Township. The University Park campus includes almost all the sporting facilities for the Penn State athletics teams as well as auditoriums, theatres and the Penn State Creamery– the largest university ice cream and cheese factory in the world.

Did you know?

Every February thousands of students participate in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), the largest student-run philanthropic event in the world that raises millions of dollars for paediatric cancer care and research. In previous years, participants have stood for 48 hours nonstop and performed a line dance at least once every hour to stay awake.

Handbook/Catalogue

Penn State's course catalogue. To search, select a major you wish to study, then one of the classes offered. If the class is offered in both semesters or at multiple campuses, select your preferred semester and the University Park campus.

Penn State's course description catalogue.

Penn State's class search.

Academic Restrictions

• Some colleges and academic departments at Penn State restrict enrolment in specific courses. Penn State has more information and details on specific course restrictions.
• Business students should take particular note of the restrictions imposed and only apply if they have at least three free electives available.
• Note that Monash's agreement with Penn State is undergraduate only, and only with the University Park campus.

In most cases, one standard Penn State unit worth four PSU credits equates to one standard Monash unit worth six Monash credits.

Full-time Credit Load Equivalents

Academic Calendar

PSU Spring Semester (Monash semester 1): mid-January – early May
PSU Fall Semester (Monash semester 2): late August – mid-December

PSU's Academic Calendar

Note

• The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
• Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Important notes

This program is not currently accepting applications.

Have you been to Pennsylvania State University and want to share your experience? 
Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here!

Muskan Puri
Bachelor of Business (International Business and Marketing)
Semester 2, 2019
Studied: Business, Arts and Criminology units

Study Experience

The main academic highlight was that, along with a few other students, I was invited by my professor to lunch with Jim Bush - Senior Adviser to the CEO and Chairman of American Express. Penn State provided various opportunities and access to events such as career fairs that were beneficial to me personally and academically.

Culture

There is an immense team spirit demonstrated by Americans towards sports, especially during their football and basketball matches. They also have immense University spirit and you'll find majority of students wearing University sweatshirts and clothes. People are generally very friendly and happy to help.

Benefits of going on exchange

Going on exchange aided my personal development as I had the highest degree of independence and I could fully explore my personality. It also increased my confidence as I was able to step out of my comfort zone and gain new experiences by trying different things. Participating in exchange helps you adapt to change as you're in a new country and don't know anybody.  It also tests your ability to cope with change and challenges you to keep an open mind as it enables you to gain a new perspective and confront some cultural differences you may be ignorant about.

Career Benefits

The main professional skill you gain from exchange is the ability to make mistakes, learn from them and move on to be a better person.

Money and Budgeting

• It's expensive but try live on campus since you won't have a car and there are very few buses that run outside of campus
• Housing - choose preferences carefully as the campus is huge. Look at the distance from housing to your classes and to the town for groceries.
• Megabus often sells cheap bus tickets for travelling within the States
• Buy groceries from Walmart as it's cheaper for more quantity

Top Tips

• Join student clubs; Penn State has a significant number of them and this helps in making friends with locals
• Go to basketball games to witness Penn State Team Spirit
• Step out of your comfort zone to get most out of the exchange
• Embrace the local culture and try new things
• Make travel plans once you meet the other exchange students as they'll be in the same boat and this makes travel cheaper
• Travel as much as possible and definitely have an American road trip