Supplemental information for International Applicants
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

It is the policy of Georgia State University to encourage the enrollment of students from other countries. The institution subscribes to the principles of international education and to the basic concept that only through education and understanding can mutual respect, appreciation, and tolerance of others be accomplished. The recognition of the values of cultural exchange is inherent in our philosophy of education and is predicated on an awareness of the need to foster better cooperation, friendship, and understanding among the peoples of the world. In this regard, we welcome international students to our campus, because we believe in a cultural exchange program that will be beneficial to our own student body, to the international students involved, and to metropolitan Atlanta.

English Proficiency: In addition to meeting the regular admission requirements, an international applicant whose native language is other than English must submit official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission can be considered. For more information on the TOEFL please visit the official test website at www.ets.org/toefl. EXCEPTION: The TOEFL is not required of international applicants who have received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution.

Georgia State University also requires that all accepted international applicants demonstrate proficiency in English when they arrive on campus. This testing will be conducted during the international student orientation program that is held each semester before classes begin. Orientation is mandatory.

An accepted international applicant whose test results indicate a lack of proficiency in English will be required to enroll in and satisfactorily complete English courses deemed appropriate as a result of evaluation by the Office of Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language (ESL). Any English courses needed as a result of this evaluation become a formal part of the international student’s degree requirements and must be given first priority in registering for courses. Detailed information on the English proficiency requirements for graduate students in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is available from the Office of Academic Assistance.

Academic Credentials: Each applicant must present “official” credentials attesting to academic achievement as to level and performance. “Official” documents will vary from country to country, but should be original documents with authoritative signatures, seals, stamps, or other verifications. Whenever possible, these should be sent by the institution responsible for issuing such documents. In cases where it is impossible for an applicant to have these credentials sent from such institution(s), the applicant should forward a duly “notarized” or “attested to” copy. A proper government official or proper representative of the American Embassy in the country should do the notarization.

When the documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by translations. These translations must be the original form and contain acceptable notarization as described above for a copy of the original documents. Translations should be made by the American Embassy, the home country Embassy, or an appropriate government official. As a general rule, documents translated by the Office of the American Friends of the Middle East (AFME) and the Institute of International Education (IIE) will be acceptable.

In some cases, the OAA may require that the applicant have his or her international educational credentials evaluated by an evaluation service. In such cases, the applicant will be notified to complete the credential evaluation application forms of Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.), whose services the university frequently uses. There is an additional fee charged by these companies for this evaluation. Applicants with questions regarding credential evaluation or the service used should contact the OAA.

Course descriptions (syllabi) and any other information submitted in an attempt to qualify for exemption from course requirements must meet the same criteria for “official” documents as described above. These documents must be received directly from the institution and have a cover letter written on the institution’s letterhead mentioning the student’s name and certifying that the outline is comparable to the way the course was taught when the student took the course.

Financial Resources: Georgia State University reserves the right to admit only those international students who are academically qualified and who have documented the ability to meet the financial requirements while in attendance. Forms for providing this information and documentation are available from the OAA. (See the “Financial Statement” heading under “Application Procedures” above.) Applicants needing a student visa are required to show financial capability for their full degree program and may be required to have an amount equal to the estimated cost of the first academic year on deposit at Georgia State University before a certificate of eligibility and an acceptance letter will be issued. Continuation of the visa after the first calendar year may require further proof and certification of the applicant’s financial ability.

For the 2005-2006 academic year, a student who is single, or one coming to the United States alone, was required to show resources totaling at least $31,817 per year for tuition and living expenses. (This amount is subject to change due to inflation and/or tuition increases.) Married students have additional funds required; specific amounts are available from the Office of International Services and Programs, 252 Sparks Hall, 404/463-9073.

International applicants should be aware that the minimum financial resources requirement for a certificate of eligibility is based on an extremely modest budget and standard of living and does not include the cost of owning a car. Tuition expenses are based on the minimum enrollment required for a graduate international student, which are three courses (nine hours) per semester for two semesters a year. (For these purposes, summer term may count as a semester.) Students who plan to attend in summer must plan for additional tuition and books.

Financial aid from the university is not available for international students. International students may be considered for graduate assistantships and waivers of nonresident fees, but the stipends associated with assistantships and tuition reduction associated with the waivers may not be counted toward the minimum financial resources required for issuance of the certificate of eligibility. International students may not apply for a waiver of nonresident fees until they have earned a minimum of 18 hours of credit applicable to the degree at Georgia State.

It is extremely unwise for students who receive assistantships or nonresident fee waivers not to continue to include full nonresident tuition in their budgets. No guarantee can be made that either award will continue to be available from semester to semester.

Full-time Course Load: The international student with a student visa is required to carry a full course of study for two consecutive semesters; then a vacation semester (or a semester with a reduced course load) is permitted. Students who choose to enroll during their vacation semester must meet the minimum course load required for an assistantship or a nonresident fee waiver if either is received during that semester.

A full course of study at Georgia State is twelve semester hours for undergraduate students and nine semester hours for graduate students. International students will not be admitted as nondegree students.