Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about Georgia State’s Summer Institute.
Application Instructions
There are three required components:
- Student information and course selection
- Board of Regents questionnaire
- Intent to Register form
Click here for step by step application instructions.
The program fee includes each of the following:
- In-state tuition & fees for 6 credits
- On-campus Housing (31 nights) – You may purchase additional nights for early arrivals up to 3-4 days.
- Flexible meal plan
- Program fee
- Medical Insurance
- Transportation and excursions
- “Breeze Card” for local transportation
- Transportation to/from the airport (For cohorts only)
- Admission to Atlanta attractions, which may include:
- World of Coca-Cola
- Georgia Aquarium
- High Museum of Art
- Zoo Atlanta
Please Note:
• Medical insurance: Students must register and pay for medical insurance on their own. Information on how to register for insurance will be sent to accepted students.
• $100 refundable housing security deposit is in addition to the program fee.
• Airfare and visa fees are not included.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required for admission to the Summer Institute. However, students must demonstrate a certain level of English proficiency.
To demonstrate English proficiency, student can do one of the following:
- Submit evidence of successful completion of a recent year of English preparatory studies.
- Request an oral interview with the Office of International Initiatives.
- Submit evidence of a country specific test score to [email protected] for approval.
- Submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application. See the information below for requirements and course eligibility.
TOEFL iBT |
IELTS |
Course Eligibility |
above 69 | 6.5 or above | One field-specific course and one English course |
60 - 69 | 6.0 | Two English courses |
below 60 | below 6.0 | Referral to the Intensive English Program |
While we don't guarantee acceptance to the Summer Institute, if you meet the English proficiency requirement and all of your documents are processed and accepted by Georgia State University, then we would be happy to welcome you to the Summer Institute.
After you are accepted to Georgia State and you have received your student identification number, you should pay your non-refundable $450 deposit online. The payment is processed via Flywire as an International Wire Transfer.
- Log into your Georgia State University PAWS account (upon your first visit to that page, you will need to click "Activate Your CampusID" and follow the instructions) and select the “International Wire Payment” button in the “My Bill” section. You will be directed to the "Flywire by PeerTransfer" page.
- Follow the instructions by filling out the “Payment” section all the way down to “Create a new account” section (Here you will create your new account by entering the requested information).
- Click "Continue with Payment".
Note: in order to pay your deposit online, you need your Georgia State student ID number. You will receive this after your application has been processed by our Admissions team. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the Office of International Initiatives at [email protected].
Here are the important deadlines to be aware of:
- March 15: final deadline to apply for the Summer Institute.
- May 15:
- final deadline to pay all Summer Institute fees online through your student account.
- final deadline to pay the refundable housing deposit through MarketPlace
- final deadline to submit the Certificate of Immunization Form to the Student Health Clinic using the Patient Portal.
- June 15: final deadline to register and pay for PGH Global Health Insurance.
Please contact the Office of International Initiatives at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Here is our refund schedule:
- Before May 15: Full refund of any money you have paid (MINUS the $450 deposit).
- May 15 - 31: the Maximum possible refund is $2,385.18 which is the full amount paid of $5,300 minus deposit and tuition & fees.
- No refunds will be issued after June 1.
Please contact the Office of International Initiatives at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Arrangements will be made to pick up and drop off students arriving in cohorts. Individuals can take Uber, Lyft and use MARTA (local transportation to get to housing). More information will be provided closer to your arrival.
Insurance and Immunization Information
Yes, the program fee covers the insurance. You must enroll in PGH Global Health Insurance. The $100.16 insurance fee is part of the total program fee, but students will pay $100.16 directly to the insurance company and the remaining balance to Georgia State University.
All participants must be enrolled in PGH Global health insurance. The total cost is $100.16 for coverage between July 1 - August 1, 2024. Students must register and pay for PGH Global health insurance on their own. Your Georgia State student account will be reduced by $100.16 to reflect this change.
Please read the step-by-step instructions on how to register and pay for insurance. You must register for insurance by June 15; your coverage will automatically begin on July 1.
We have attached a manual on how to apply for PGH Global insurance, here.
Visit www.intlinsure.com/georgiacare and select Georgia State University - Summer Institute from the drop-down box.
If you have any more issues please contact PGH Global directly. Just proceed to their website and all the contact information will be there - https://www.pghstudent.com/page/customer-service
No, you must enroll in PGH Global Health Insurance. The $100.16 insurance fee is part of the total program fee, but students will pay $100.16 directly to the insurance company and the remaining balance to Georgia State University.
Georgia State University intends to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students. That is why, in compliance with the State Board of Regents immunization requirements, all students must show proof of being immunized. Click here for the immunization form.
Yes, most of the vaccines are required. The Hepatitis B vaccine is required if you are 18 years old or younger. You need a Tdap booster, if your Tdap vaccine is over 10 years old. Click here for exemptions.
The immunization form should be submitted to the Student Health Clinic through the online Patient Portal. Instructions are available here.
Visit the Health Clinic's website for more information.
Click here for login information.
If you are still having trouble logging in, please email the Immunizations team at [email protected].
Please note: Summer Institute staff cannot process immunization records or view/edit your records in the patient portal. All immunization records must be submitted to the Student Health Clinic using the Patient Portal.
The Georgia State Student Health Clinic provides them for free or for a low fee. For more information click here.
Online Application Troubleshooting
This is the address at the Commons, the place where you will be living during your stay at Georgia State University. The university staff needs a local address where you can be contacted.
This is a generic screen uploaded by our University system. You DO NOT need to upload any documents.
The Summer Institute does not require participants to submit an academic transcript or TOEFL scores, but we encourage all applicants to submit at least their TOEFL or IELTS scores, if they have it, on their online application to help with your course placement. Failure to submit TOEFL scores or transcript will NOT affect your admission into the 2024 Summer Institute.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required for application or admission to the Summer Institute. However, students must demonstrate a certain level of English proficiency.
To demonstrate English proficiency, student can do one of the following:
- Submit evidence of successful completion of a recent year of English preparatory studies.
- Request an oral interview with the Office of International Initiatives.
- Submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application. See the information below for requirements and course eligibility.
- Submit Duolingo score. Scores must be 95 and above and no more than two years old at the time of application.
TOEFL iBT | IELTS | Course Eligibility |
above 70 | 6.5 or above | One field-specific course and one English course |
60 - 70 | 6.0 | Two English courses |
below 60 | below 6.0 | Intensive English Program |
Please submit a Transient Request Letter signed by the registrar or academic dean at your current institution recommending you as a transient student.
Summer Institute Information
Yes, absolutely! The Summer Institute is designed for international students to experience life at an American campus. Not only will you earn six hours of academic credit in a university nationally ranked #2 for best undergrad programs and innovation, but you will live on-campus and participate in fun and interesting excursions to explore our beautiful city and the surrounding areas. You will find that, compared to other summer programs, Georgia State offers unsurpassed quality and personalized attention at an affordable program fee.
Of course! We know that your visit to Atlanta is a special time for you to experience U.S. culture, and we encourage you to explore. While we will arrange for group outings to attractions in and around Atlanta, you will have most evenings and some weekends free to shop, visit tourist attractions, or participate in other activities like the Touch the Earth program through the Student Recreation Center. There are numerous malls in and around Atlanta, so you will have plenty of places to shop on your own, too!
Before or after the program dates (July 1 - August 1), you are welcome to travel on your own. Atlanta's airport is a Delta hub, with flights to major cities like Miami, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. Please know that if you choose to stay in Atlanta before the program begins or after the program ends, you will have to find your own accommodation, as on-campus housing will not be available after August 1. Should you need assistance with booking airline or bus tickets to other cities, or help with purchasing tickets to other attractions, please let us know. We're happy to help you!
Please be mindful of arrival regulations and departure grace periods.
Sure! Please contact the Office of International Initiatives at [email protected] to inquire about contacting previous students.
Please find us at:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GSUOII
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GSUInternational
Instagram: http://instagram.com/gsuinternational
Snapchat: GSUOII
WeChat: GSUInternational
Academic Information
A lot of our previous students have had the same concern as you. Our experienced professors are conscious of the language levels in their classrooms and they are happy to adjust the class pace to help you maximize your learning. We assess our students' language proficiency levels and help them register for the courses that are appropriate for their language level.
The Summer Institute classes meet Monday through Friday. Each class is 2 hours and 20 minutes. There are two blocks of classes: morning classes and afternoon classes. Attendance at all classes is required.
Given the duration of the Summer Institute, we cannot guarantee that Georgia State students will be in your classes. However, we partner Summer Institute students with Global Ambassadors, who are Georgia State students who will practice English and explore Atlanta with you.
Please follow these instructions if you still have access to your student ID:
- Visit Georgia State’s Panther Access to Web Services portal at paws.gsu.edu
- Sign in with your Georgia State account username and password.
- Once you have signed in, go to Enrollment tab which is the second tab on the top menu.
- Once you open the Enrollment tab, look for Updates/Requests Student Records and click on Transcript Ordering Site.
- You will be redirected to a GoSolar website. Click on Access the Transcript Ordering Site.
- Once again you will be redirected to another site. Click under the search bar on Send to Yourself, Another Individual, or Third Party.
- Select the option that is more suitable to your needs eTranscript or Paper Transcript. Be aware that Paper Transcript takes 5-12 business days to arrive to the final destination.
- Fill out the forms and submit your payment. After processing your payment, you should receive an email with confirming your order and giving you instruction on how to download the document or when will be the estimated delivery.
Please follow the instructions for former students transcripts if you are a former student
- Visit Georgia State’s Panther Access to Web Services portal at gsu.edu
- Click on Former Student Transcripts, located at the bottom of the page.
- You will be redirected to a new page
Step 1: Enter the required personal information, then click the Continue button.
Step 2: You will be directed to the Transcript Ordering Form.
- Once again you will be redirected to another site. Click under the search bar on Send to Yourself, Another Individual, or Third Party.
- Select the option that is more suitable to your needs eTranscript or Paper Transcript. Be aware that Paper Transcript takes 5-12 business days to arrive to the final destination.
- Fill out the forms and submit your payment. After processing your payment, you should receive an email with confirming your order and giving you instruction on how to download the document or when will be the estimated delivery.
Should you encounter any problem, please reach out to the Office of Academic Records at [email protected] or 404-413-2248.
The only way to officially convert credit hours to ECTS credits is for the student's home university to contact Georgia State’s Office of the Registrar by going to https://registrar.gsu.edu/contact/, and having them handle the process.
Georgia State University has many opportunities for students to obtain their graduate degree. During the Summer Institute, a graduate information session is held. If you are interested in learning more about Georgia State’s graduate programs, please contact us for more information or click here for the university’s graduate information page.
Packing
- Your passport, I-20, Certificate of Immunization, all the
certificates you got after taking vaccine shots - Copy of your PGH Global health insurance card and
coverage plan - Credit cards that you plan to use while in the U.S.
- Small gifts or tokens of appreciation for your new Georgia State friends
- An extra suitcase, in case you want to shop a lot. But please take a
look into the luggage policy of your airline. You can also buy one
here from the outlet mall. - Lightweight shirts, pants, dress or shorts (the weather is hot and
humid.) - Lightweight jacket (it could be cold indoors.)
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Towel and washcloth
- Umbrella
- Camera and memory card
- Chargers for your electronics (phone,laptop)
- Adaptor (the USA uses 110 volts)
- Toiletries (small size, it is very convenient to buy them here)
- Laptop, iPad
- 1 or 2 notebooks, 1 or 2 folders
- Pencils, pens, highlighters
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Medicine or prescriptions that you normally take
- Additional medicine you prefer in case of headache, diarrhea,
cramps, etc… - Local snacks or treats from home that might taste good when
you’re feeling homesick (still, you need to double-check your
luggage policy since some food may not be allowed.)
Click here to print this packing list.