Exchange applicants planning to apply to live in University housing must create a Friends of Penn State Account (FPS) https://fps.psu.edu/ to receive a special e-mail address connection that will facilitate communication from the Housing Assignments Office. The exchange application materials include an Intent to Live in On-Campus Housing Form from International Student Services (ISS) on which applicants must write the FPS e-mail account. Once all of the exchange application materials have been approved, applicants would be sent an on-line housing contract, a legally binding agreement.  

Graduate students, as well as undergraduates 24 years old or older, who want a Penn State campus apartment will be required to send an apartment application directly to the Housing Assignments Office. However, submitting an application does not guarantee placement into an apartment. Once all of the exchange application materials have been approved, applicants accepted to live in a Penn State apartment would be sent an on-line housing contract, a legally binding agreement. Note: Students may be asked to submit an advanced payment equivalent to the first month’s rent.  

Towards the end of the international students orientation program, students who have completed the Penn State on-line housing contract process will be able to move into their designated campus housing assignments. A room deposit of 100 US dollars will be charged to students’ Penn State student account and payable to the University after arrival at the start of the academic semester. The $100 deposit, minus any damage fees incurred by the student, will be refunded to an account designated by the student within a few months after the conclusion of the academic program. Unless a student arrives in the spring or is only participating in a one-semester exchange program, the housing contract lasts for 2 semesters and cannot be broken. Students apply to renew contracts in January during the start of the spring semester. Students whose exchange agreement does not pay for on-campus accommodations may request University on-campus contract information by submitting the Intent to Live in On-Campus Housing Form along with the other exchange application materials that you must complete.