Apply Now

Per policy, an international transcript evaluation is required for ALL students who have attended an international institution (an institution that is not based in the United States or one of its territories). Official or unofficial international transcript evaluations are required for the application to receive an official admission decision.  International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES-accredited evaluation service with a U.S. equivalency. They must include a course-by-course evaluation with a GPA, and the evaluation will need to show that you have earned a degree equivalent to a United States bachelor’s degree. You must also submit a a transcript evaluation for any graduate-level course work as well as advanced degrees required by some programs. You can find a list of NACES-accredited evaluators here. Equivalency must be the United States and not another country. This requirement cannot be waived, amended, or altered. We do not require official transcript documents from the institution you attended because you will submit official transcripts to the NACES-accredited evaluation service. You can upload an unofficial copy by logging into your application or you can have an official evaluation submitted electronically to gradadmissions@georgiasouthern.edu. 

International applicants and U.S. Citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Prior to consideration for admission, international applicants whose native language is not English must take and post acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they have received a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand. Candidates are also exempt from this assessment if they are from a country in which English is an official language or predominantly spoken.

The TOEFL and IELTS examinations are administered at various times of the year and in many centers throughout the world. A score of at least 75 (internet-based test, IBT) or 537 (paper-based test) on the TOEFL and 6.0 on the IELTS is normally required to be considered for regular admission to the College of Graduate Studies. The official TOEFL and the official IELTS scores may not be more than two years old.

You must submit all required application materials to receive an admission decision. Once your application is complete, it will be sent to the program for review. Applications are reviewed by each program, and each program follows its own process and timeline for reviewing applications and releasing decisions. We encourage applicants to reach out to the program with any specific questions about the timeline for decisions.

The Office of International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP) provides visa information and assistance with I-20 questions. Students will work with ISAP to complete the I-20 form after obtaining admission, and any questions can be directed to international@georgiasouthern.edu. In addition, the center hosts International Student Orientation and many other programs throughout the year just for international students.

Applicants have the option to defer their application up to one year after its submission. To defer admission, log in to your application status portal and click “Deferral Form” on the status page. If you are registered for classes, it is your responsibility to complete the voluntary cancellation/withdrawal form here.

Please note that you can only defer your application to a semester in which the program accepts applications. You can find those listed here. Please also be sure to give yourself enough time to secure a visa and make proper preparations for travel when selecting a deferral semester.

Applicants can find information about graduate assistantship, teaching assistant, and research assistant positions here.

Georgia Southern University recognizes the importance of international education and the benefits of a multicultural student population. To help ensure diversity, Georgia Southern University awards a limited number of out-of-country tuition waivers to undergraduate and graduate international students who demonstrate outstanding academic standing, financial need, and commitment to the university and community. Students who receive this award pay in-state tuition and fees.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicants must be admitted to a graduate degree program.
2. Only students with F-1 visa status may be granted a waiver. F-1 Visa status must be maintained at all times. Waivers will be terminated for students who become legal permanent residents or lose status.
3. Graduate students granted the waiver must maintain a minimum semester and cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5 to be eligible to continue to receive the waiver. (Please note:  undergraduate-level coursework is not calculated as part of the graduate GPA.)
   • Graduate students with a semester and/or cumulative graduate GPA less than 3.5 may apply. Applications will be considered based on available funding, academic record, and essay content. If granted, the award would be for one semester only, however, may be renewed if the minimum 3.5 GPA is attained after one semester.

How to Apply

• Complete and submit a Graduate Application for Out-of-Country Tuition Waiver Form (see below)
• A new application is required for each summer term and for each new academic year

Tuition Waiver Application Deadlines & Notifications

• Fall Semester – May 1 (Must be registered for classes no later than June 30)
  • Recipients will be notified by late June 
• Spring Semester – October 1 (Must be registered for classes no later than November 30)
  • Recipients will be notified by early December
• Summer Semester – March 1 (Must be registered for classes no later than April 1)
  • Recipients will be notified by mid-April

OTHER NOTES:

1. Students who maintain their visa status and the minimum GPA requirements may continue to receive the waiver until completion of their current degree.
   • Continuing students must reapply
   • Those who fail to continue to meet the visa and grade point requirements listed above will lose the waiver and must be prepared to pay the non-resident tuition and fees. Students who have lost the waiver will be notified in writing.
2.  Students should not wait to obtain an I-20. Receiving an I-20 prior to receiving a waiver does NOT disqualify the student from consideration.
3. Students who do NOT receive a waiver must submit a new waiver application (and essay) by the application deadline to be considered for the following academic year.