Graduate Student Life
Graduate studies are all about balance. In addition to your coursework and research, perhaps you are teaching, raising a family, participating in leadership programs, presenting at conferences, or advising undergraduate students.
Whatever you are balancing, the department can help by providing you with the information and resources you need to succeed—in your graduate studies and for years to come.
Here you will find some useful links to information about being a graduate student at Penn State.
Academic Advisers
Each new graduate student is assigned an adviser prior to when he/she arrives, and is under the general supervision of his/her adviser. Please refer to the Graduate Programs Guide for additional information on supervision and advising.
Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
The GPSA website has a lot of information that will be helpful for students new to the area. Here you will find information from baby-sitting services to paper editing services. In addition, the GPSA has a housing committee.
Professional Development
The College of Engineering and the Graduate School offer many opportunities for professional development, from grant writing workshops to teaching certificates, to research exhibitions. Take advantage of these great resources to improve your work and gain valuable experience.
Health Services
University Health Services (UHS) is a nationally accredited health care service specializing in outpatient student health, helping Penn State students get healthy and stay healthy. Penn State requires medical insurance for all international students and their dependents, and provides medical insurance for all graduate assistants.
