Graduate Student Life

Graduate studies are all about balance. In addition to your course work and research, perhaps you are teaching, raising a family, participating in leadership programs, presenting at conferences, or advising undergraduate students.

Whatever you are balancing, we 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

The professor-in-charge of graduate programs will initially act as the adviser for incoming students. Students are responsible for obtaining a permanent academic adviser and designing a program of graduate study with them by the end of the student’s first semester enrolled in graduate study.

To choose an adviser, think about your area or areas of interest — what undergraduate courses were most appealing? Look at the various areas of research conducted in our department that link to your educational interests. Communicate directly with the faculty members who conduct research in those areas to find out what opportunities may be available.

Graduate & Professional Student Association 

The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) website has a lot of information that will be helpful for students new to the area. Here you will find information about childcare, paper editing services, health care, transportation, and more. 

Professional Development

The College of Engineering and the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox 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.