Penn Global

Penn Global collaborates with Penn’s schools, centers, communities, and partners to deliver a comprehensive suite of global programming that generates positive impact around the world. It is guided by three pillars: 

1. Ensure every Penn student has a meaningful global experience 
2. Produce research for global impact 
3. Advocate for global engagement, rebuilding, and strengthening global networks 

This is made possible through the seven offices housed within Penn Global, which include International Student & Scholar Services, Penn Abroad, Perry World House, and the Penn Biden Center. 

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports Penn’s community of more than 9,000 international students, scholars, and employees from over 137 countries. The Office provides guidance, information, and referrals on immigration, employment authorization, overseas travel, and integration into the Penn community. ISSS is committed to ensuring that students experience the smoothest transition possible, from preparing for their journey to settling into life in Philadelphia. Once students arrive on campus, ISSS continues to offer relevant, well-informed programming and intercultural initiatives to foster an inclusive global community at Penn. 

Penn Abroad

Penn Abroad serves as the hub for global student opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania. Each year the University sends thousands of students across the globe on semester study abroad, summer internships, service learning, and short-term programs. Through global travel, students can explore a wide range of program options that deliver rigorous, individualized, and authentic experiences. Students prepare for a globalized world through integrated academic experiences that expand and challenge their global competencies. 

Perry World House

Perry World House is a center for scholarly inquiry, teaching, research, international exchange, policy engagement, and public outreach on pressing global issues. It draws on the expertise of Penn’s 12 schools and numerous globally-oriented research centers to educate the Penn community and prepare students to be well-informed, contributing global citizens. At the same time, Perry World House connects Penn with leading policy experts from around the world to develop and advance innovative policy proposals.  

Through its rich programming, Perry World House facilitates critical conversations about global policy challenges and fosters interdisciplinary research. It presents workshops and colloquia, welcomes distinguished visitors, and produces content for global audiences and policy leaders, so that the knowledge developed at Penn can make an immediate impact around the world. 

Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement

The Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement is founded on the principle that a democratic, open, secure, tolerant, and interconnected world benefits all Americans. Based in our nation’s capital, the Center invites more of our fellow citizens to participate in shaping this world, while ensuring the gains of global engagement are widely shared. The Penn Biden Center engages Penn’s students and partners with its faculty and global centers to convene world leaders, develop and advance smart policy, and strengthen the national debate for continued American global leadership in the 21st century.