Start your Penn State Experience Abroad
Nittany Lions go global with CIEE!
Congratulations on your admission to Penn State University! Before joining the University Park campus in the spring, you have the opportunity to begin your Penn State journey abroad with CIEE’s College First Year Abroad (CFYA) during the fall semester.
Through CFYA, you’ll complete your first semester abroad while earning Penn State academic credit and building a strong foundation for success at Penn State with a cohort of your fellow Nittany Lions. This experience is designed exclusively for admitted Penn State students and allows you to arrive on campus in the spring with confidence, global perspective, and a built-in cohort of peers.
Why Start Abroad?
- Arrive at University Park with academic momentum and confidence
- Gain international experience that sets you apart from day one
- Join Penn State in the spring with a global network and a unique first-year story
Global Locations
- Monteverde, Costa Rica – Study in a supportive, close-knit environment surrounded by Costa Rica’s renowned cloud forest, with hands-on learning and a strong sense of community.
- London, England – Begin your studies in one of the world’s most dynamic global cities, combining rigorous academics with cultural immersion and access to numerous historic locations.
Choose Your Fall Location
Your fall destination is based on your admitted Academic College at Penn State.
Eberly College of Science | Monteverde, Costa Rica
College of Liberal Arts | London, England
Division of Undergraduate Studies | Monteverde, Costa Rica or London, England
Make College First Year Abroad part of your Penn State story and start your college experience with a global perspective
Application Support for Your College First Year Abroad Semester
- If you have applied for a CIEE program before, log into your my.ciee.org account.
- If you have never applied for a CIEE program before, press “sign up” under the “I am a new user” section.
- You will be prompted to create your my.ciee.org account on the next page. Please enter your name, email address, cell phone number, and create a password.
- Select a School: search for your current high school and press enter. Please do not enter Penn State University.
- If you have a common high school name (such as Central High School), you may need to review the options with a focus on the city name.
- Try searching using one of the keywords in your school’s name.
- If your school is not listed: Select “My High School is not listed” from the drop-down option. Be sure to enter the full name of your high school.
Select a Program and Term: A pop-out screen will appear with the below questions. Double-check that the information displayed matches what you see on your screen:
- Type of Program: College First Year Abroad (this is CIEE’s name for the Penn State program).
- Enter your High School: Your high school that you currently attend should be displayed
- High School Graduation Year: Enter 2026
- Where Do You Want to Go: Monteverde, Costa Rica or London, England should be pre-selected for you
- Term: Under 2026 select ‘Fall Blocks II, III 2026 (Sep 28th – Dec 19th, 2026)’
Eligibility: You will see the eligibility page for College First Year Abroad. Read through the requirements and select yes to verify you meet the eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about the eligibility requirements, please contact us at hsabroad@ciee.org.
- Press continue to access the College First Year Abroad application.
- You will now see a To Do List in your my.ciee.org account with tasks that need to be completed by June 1st to be considered for Penn State’s College First Year Abroad program.
- You can log in and out of your my.ciee.org account and work on your application at your own pace. Please remember to save your work as you go.
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The World is Calling
From Costa Rica’s lush rainforests and vibrant wildlife to London’s iconic landmarks and global energy, start your college journey in a place that inspires you.
Make Lifelong Friends
Connect with fellow Penn State students and CIEE participants from across the country. Forge meaningful friendships that will last a lifetime as you explore together.
Questions? We've got answers.
Contact the CIEE team for assistance with your application or to learn more about cost, safety, cultural experiences, and more.
