International Students
(See also the note at the beginning of Application Procedures earlier in this chapter for information specifically for international applicants applying from abroad.)

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 which 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. The college's code number for master's-level programs is 5251; the college's department code number is 02 (Exception: The TOEFL is not required of international applicants who have received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution.) The TOEFL became a computer-based test in many parts of the world as of July 1998, and an essay-writing score became a standard part of the test. For international applicants who apply from countries where the TOEFL is still a paper-and-pencil test, we recommend that it be taken if possible at one of the five administrations where the Test of Written English (TWE) is also given.

Georgia State University also requires that all accepted international applicants, including those exempt from the TOEFL, demonstrate proficiency in English when they arrive on campus. This testing will be conducted during the international student orientation program which 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 by the Department of Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language and the Robinson College of Business. Any English courses needed as a result of this testing 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 Robinson College of Business 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, etc. 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 institutions, the applicant should forward a duly "notarized" or "attested to" copy. The notarization should be done by a proper government official or proper representative of the American Embassy in the country.

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.

Applicants who completed all or part of their education abroad may be required to have their foreign credentials evaluated by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. If this evaluation is needed, the applicant will be notified by the Office of Academic Assistance and Master's Admissions.

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 it. A handout detailing the requirements for acceptable course outlines is available from the Office of Academic Assistance and Master's Admissions.

Financial Resources
Georgia State University reserves the right to admit only an international applicant who is academically qualified and who has documented his or her ability to meet the financial requirements while in attendance. 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 2001-2002 year, a single student, or one coming to the United States alone, must show resources totaling approximately $25,816 a 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.

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 do not include the cost of owning a car. Tuition expenses for Robinson College of Business students are based on the minimum enrollment required for graduate international students, which is nine hours a semester (three courses) for the fall and spring semesters and six hours in the summer. Students who plan to take four or five courses a semester must budget for the costs of additional tuition and books. For planning purposes, assume an additional $1500 per course per semester up to the 12-hour plateau for tuition and additional $100 per course for books.

Financial aid from the university is not available for international students. International students may be considered for graduate assistantships, but the stipends associated with assistantships may not be counted toward the minimum financial resources required for issuance of the certificate of eligibility.

It is extremely unwise for students who receive assistantships not to continue to include full nonresident tuition in their budgets. No guarantee can be made that the assistantship 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 in fall and spring semesters; the summer semester can be a vacation semester or a semester with a reduced course load. Students who choose to enroll during summer semester must meet the minimum course load required for an assistantship if received during that semester.

A full course of study at Georgia State University is 12 hours for undergraduate students and nine hours for graduate students. International students will not be admitted as nondegree students.

See also the heading titled "Office of International Services and Programs" in the Student Life and Services chapter of this catalog.

Retention of Records

If an applicant does not complete enrollment for the semester in which admission is sought, the application must be renewed and submission of such additional credentials and information as may be requested by the Master's Admissions Committee will be required. Incomplete application files are retained for a maximum of four years.

A student who earns master's-level credit and later becomes inactive may be required to re-establish his or her file. A transcript of graduate credit earned at Georgia State University will be maintained indefinitely by the Office of the Registrar.