The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has announced that it is reopening its study abroad exchange programme with King’s after previously suspending it for most students in December last year.
Penn Abroad had blamed admin issues from King’s side – including delays, timetabling issues and unexpected denials – for the suspension, which limited the wide-ranging programme to only select English and Business students.
The representative of Penn Abroad previously said that they had “experienced several semesters of numerous qualified Penn students being either denied admittance to KCL based on the KCL admissions process”, amongst other issues.
In an interview with the Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn Abroad’s associate director Greta Kazenski said that the decision was made after changes in King’s admissions and review processes.
“Class registration was really difficult for students”, she said, “They weren’t getting the classes that they wanted, and the registration process itself was difficult.”
King’s has launched a new system for Penn Abroad students, leading to continued “uncertainty”, according to Kazenski.
“It’ll be the first time that we are going through that, and we don’t know quite how long it will take for students to hear a decision back from King’s,” she said.
Severely Limited
The four-month suspension meant that only King’s Business School or English students would be able to choose Penn as a study abroad option. This is due to pre-existing arrangements.
Applicant numbers from Penn’s side will remain capped at 25 per cohort. It is unclear how the reciprocal programme from King’s has been affected by decision.
King’s will now “review applications holistically, including the essays and the letters of recommendation”, according to Penn Abroad.
Students will welcome the decision to lift the suspension during a turbulent period for study abroad programmes. Alongside international difficulties, the UK is restricting study visas as part of its wider immigration push.
Another reprise comes from the UK’s rejoining of the Erasmus+ programme in 2027, with institutions able to bid for funding from December this year.
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