WELCOME TO GEORGIA STATE
Watch the session recordings and view the slides below.
New Graduate Student Orientation
This university-wide orientation will complement program-specific orientations or welcome events hosted by your college, school or institute.
Our online orientation modules give new students more information about graduate education at Georgia State. Completion of the online orientation modules is not mandatory, but completion is required to register for and attend the live virtual sessions.
Live virtual sessions will be held Wednesday, Aug. 12. During the live virtual orientation, you will have an opportunity to network with other graduate students and meet with key campus partners.
Next Steps - Getting Started
Once you're enrolled, you'll start to receive regular communications from The Graduate School, including the dean's monthly newsletter, event invites and more. The following resources will help you find your way as you begin your graduate school experience.
Advisement
The graduate director for your program is the point of contact for advisement on matters related to graduate study, such as course selection, enrollment requirements, assistantships, etc. For information on degree/program requirements and academic and administrative policies, please consult the Graduate Catalog.
Graduate students may be eligible for assistantships, fellowships and financial aid to help finance the cost of graduate study and related expenses. Learn more about paying for graduate school.
Individual departments award graduate research assistantships and graduate teaching assistantships to qualified students. Assistantships include an annual stipend and a tuition waiver. Please contact your graduate director for information and requirements. Students interested in federal student aid should visit the Financial Aid page.
If you have not already done so, you are required to turn in a final transcript showing proof of an earned degree from your graduating institution (unless it's Georgia State). Registration for classes will not be allowed until proof of an earned baccalaureate degree is submitted to our office.
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires all students applying to Georgia State University to provide verification of their lawful presence in the United States to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.
This requirement is detailed in the following Board of Regents policies:
Students may be verified through one of the following options below:
- Verification through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen (this does not apply to international students on a visa) who has completed and submitted a FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will verify your lawful presence. If you cannot be confirmed as lawfully present, the Office of Financial Aid will follow up with you for additional documentation. - Submission of one of the following documents:
Current Georgia driver’s license issued by the state of Georgia after January 1, 2008*
Current Georgia State ID Card issued by the state of Georgia after January 1, 2008*
Current U.S. passport *
An original or certified Birth Certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal* (Copy can be submitted by mail or electronically. The copy must very clearly show the raised or written seal to be acceptable. Copies that are not clear or do not show the seal cannot be accepted.)
Permanent Resident Card (front and back copy)*
S. Certificate of Naturalization *
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship *
U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad*
Military ID (must be verified in person)
*Copies of these documents are acceptable.
Submit documents directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions via the of your application. However, if you are a student in the College of Law or in an executive program, please submit documents directly to those offices.
- Verification through Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS)
If you have or are applying for an F or J visa, we will verify your lawful presence through SEVIS. As this is already part of the immigration process, there are no additional steps required to have your Citizenship Verification Hold removed. Simply comply with the requirements outlined by our Office of International Student and Scholar Services before you arrive at Georgia State University. - Verification through Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
All nonresident alien students on some sort of visa will need to submit immigration documents verifying their lawful status to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS). Such documents may include an I-94 card, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) approval notice or receipt notice, or other documentation confirming the student is in lawful visa status.
This includes students who have been previously enrolled at Georgia State and are either returning (re-entry) to a program or applying for a new program. Transient students must also be verified.
Your offer of admission is, in part, contingent upon submitting any outstanding official transcripts and test scores.
Official Transcripts
Please refer to this page for directions when submitting official transcripts. Transcripts must be received directly from the institution by the first day of class. Please note - you don't need to submit transcripts for Georgia State University or Georgia State's Perimeter College.
Official Test Scores
Please refer to this page for institution codes and/or directions when submitting official test scores. Test scores must be received from the testing agency by the first day of class.
Students in the University System of Georgia have access to affordable, high-quality health coverage through United Healthcare thanks to the Board of Regents’ decision to develop a state-wide health insurance consortium. Certain individuals are required to enroll in the Mandatory Plan. They are:
- International students holding “F-” or “J-” Visa status
- Graduate students receiving qualified graduate assistantships, fellowships or training grants
If you already have comparable coverage you can request to waive the insurance requirement. For enrollment periods, insurance premiums, waiver information and premium contributions, visit the Student Health Insurance website at sfs.gsu.edu/tuition-fees/student-health-insurance.
PAWS, or Panther Access to Web Services, is your online connection to Georgia State University resources and information. In this single location, you can register for classes, view academic records, pay tuition and fees, update personal information, apply for on-campus housing, check out news/events and much more. PAWS also allows you to customize your view, meaning you can design your layout with access to the channels of your choice. It's your Georgia State, your way.
Prior to logging into PAWS you will need to activate your CampusID and create a password. Follow the instructions below:
- Go to campusid.gsu.edu
- Click “Activate your CampusID”
- Enter your name, date of birth and PantherCard number
- Find your CampusID and create a password
- Log into PAWS with your CampusID and password at paws.gsu.edu
The PantherCard is the official Georgia State identification card. It is used for library privileges, after-hours access and as a debit card for PantherMeals and PantherCash. To obtain a PantherCard and sign up for PantherMeals or PantherCash, please visit Auxiliary and Support Services in the University Bookstore Building upon your arrival.
PantherMail, or student email, can be setup through this link.
Emergency contact information is required for all students. You can easily provide this information via your PAWS account. To ensure compliance, a registration hold has been placed on your student record and will be automatically released once you have provided this information.
Proof of immunization must be submitted to the Georgia State University Health Services prior to registration for classes. You may receive the vaccines from your local health department, private physician or Georgia State University Health Services. There is a fee at all locations for the vaccines. For more information, please visit the University Health Services page.
Students enrolled in online programs are not required to provide proof of immunization.
University Housing provides quality on-campus housing to enhance the personal growth and development of students. Within modern, safe and secure facilities are opportunities for intellectual and social engagement as well as purposeful interactions between residents and staff. Visit the University Housing site for options and rates.
Downtown Atlanta, the heart of metro Atlanta, is a fusion of arts, culture and history, dining, sports, major attractions and living. For more information on life in downtown Atlanta, please visit atlantadowntown.com, which also includes interactive maps and neighborhood profiles.
ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE.
ENGAGE IN THE GEORGIA STATE COMMUNITY.
Join an array of student-run organizations, like the Graduate Alliance. Associations range from program-specific to philanthropic and hobby-based. Have an idea for an organization that could serve graduate students across the university? Lead the way and start your own.
Contact Us
We are here to help. Contact The Graduate School Admissions office for information on the enrollment process. Program-specific inquiries should be directed to your college, school or institute of interest.