Georgia Institute of Technology Scholarship For Indian Students: Eligibility & Tips

The average cost of studying at the Georgia Institute of Technology for undergraduate students who are not residents of Georgia is $50,270 for two semesters, including tuition fees. For graduate students, the average cost of attendance is more than $19,126 per year. However, this cost is exclusive of tuition fees, which vary as per different graduate programmes. Georgia Tech Scholarships for International Students covers tuition fees. The eligibility criteria for these scholarships are based on three factors; academic excellence, major of study, and financial need. However, these scholarships are only provided to students who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens, which means that you must be a green card holder in the US to be eligible for scholarships. In the majority of cases, an international student who wishes to study at the Georgia Tech Institute is not eligible for federal financial aid programmes or institutional scholarships. Nonetheless, international students have the choice to apply for private loans or emergency tuition loans to cover the cost of attendance at Georgia Tech.

Types of Georgia Tech Financial Aid for International Students

Georgia Institute of Technology rarely offers institutional scholarships to international students. Here are some financial aid options that international students can consider. You can apply for any of these funds online through the official website of the institute.

Emergency Funds

The institution does not offer scholarships or financial aid to international students directly. However, there are some emergency funds offered to international students by the alumni of Georgia Tech. Here are some of the emergency funds that Indian students can apply for:

Anne Robinson Clough International Student Fund

This is a one-time emergency fund available to an international student enrolled in a full-time course at Georgia Tech for at least two semesters. However, you have to remember that this fund is available for emergency expenses faced by International students in the United States. It means that students cannot apply for this scholarship to cover their tuition fees. You can also apply for Anne Robinson Clough International Student Fund if you want to participate in an academic or leadership conference but do not have the required funds for it. This fund is available to both undergraduate and graduate international students. Scholarship amount: $200-$400 one time. Eligibility criteria

• F-1 student visa holder enrolled in a full-time programme at the institute.
• Before applying for a scholarship, the student must have completed at least two semesters at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Students have unforeseen financial needs.

This emergency fund is currently not available. You must check the official website before applying.

Denning Chair for Global Engagement Fund

The Denning Chair emergency fund is similar to the Anne Robinson fund. It is also available one-time for international students and can only be used for critical emergencies. International students cannot use this fund to pay for tuition fees or other college expenses. Fund amount: $200-$400 one time. Eligibility criteria

• F-1 student visa holder.
• Must be enrolled in a full-time course at the institute for at least two semesters before applying for the fund.
• Available only to international undergraduate and graduate students.
• Must not have awarded the fund previously.

Karishma Babu & Vijay Balasubramaniyan Fellowship Endowment Fund

This endowment fund is a fellowship available once only to Indian students enrolled in a graduate programme at Georgia Tech. It is generally provided on a priority basis to international students facing unforeseen financial emergencies. However, preference is given to female students or those who are enrolled in engineering, science or computing courses at Georgia Tech. Indian students on post-completion OPT are not eligible for the fund. Fund: $900 one time Eligibility criteria

• Must be an F-1 visa holder.
• Indian citizen.
• Pursuing a graduate degree at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Private Loans

The above-mentioned funds are only available to international students in case of critical financial emergencies. International students who are unable to arrange the required funds to pay the tuition fee can apply for a private loan. However, you will need the assistance of a permanent US resident to co-sign your private loan application. You do not have to submit the application for a private loan through the institute. It is important to complete a ‘Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification’ before submitting your application directly to the private loan lender. It takes a minimum of three weeks for the bank to approve your private loan application.

Emergency Tuition Loans

The Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid at the Georgia Institute of Technology offers emergency tuition loans to international students on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can send an email to the office at ‘finaidverification@gatech.edu’ to know about the tuition loan. It is necessary to add your Georgia Tech student ID in the email. To know about the eligibility criteria and other relevant information about emergency tuition loans, you can log in to your OSCAR account.

Bursar Payment Plan

If you do not have the funds to pay your tuition fee, you can enrol for the Bursar Payment Plan and defer your tuition fee or other mandatory charges for the college by up to 50%. With the Bursar Payment Plan, you can pay half of your deterred amount 30 days after joining the class. The remaining half amount can be paid 60 days after the classes start. Enrollment fee: $75 for every term.

Application Process

1. International students need to sign up on the official website of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
2. Login to the Bill Payment Suite
3. Select the payments to plan tab and click on the display payment schedule.
4. Pay the enrollment fee.

On-Campus Employment

International students can also consider on-campus employment opportunities to meet their expenses while studying at Georgia Tech. However, the on-campus employment opportunities will not be sufficient to cover your tuition fee or living expenses. They will help you manage miscellaneous expenses. You can apply for a job at a restaurant in the student centre or in the bookstore at Georgia Institute. International students with an F-1 visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week when classes are ongoing. During midterm breaks or vacations, international students can work for more than 20 hours per week. Students can apply for on-campus jobs through the student centre jobs board.

International Internship

Students can also pursue paid or unpaid international internships for 10 weeks and up to one year. After completing an international internship, students are not required to pay their tuition fees.

Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students at the Georgia Institute of Technology can also apply for financial aid through the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA). Undergraduate scholarships or financial assistance are rarely available through NAFSA. However, you can get a merit-based scholarship based on your TOEFL score, academic records, and skills, or a need-based scholarship. There are also a few nonprofit, private, and corporate organisations that fund the tuition fee of international students studying in the United States.

Tuition Waiver

International students going through extreme financial hardships can also apply for a tuition fee waiver to Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education. However, the institute offers fee waivers to a limited number of international students for a short period. You must remember that a tuition fee waiver is allowed for only one semester at a time. International students can apply a maximum of three times for tuition fee waiver during their program. Eligibility criteria

• The student must have an excellent academic record, possess leadership qualities, and must demonstrate contribution toward community development
• Unforeseen financial need is mandatory for a fee waiver
• The applicant must have already completed two semesters of a full-time programme at the institute
• A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required
• The student must be actively involved in community service and volunteering activities at the university

Conclusion

International students are required to submit proof of sufficient funds in their bank account while applying for a visa or seeking admission at Georgia Tech. It is better to arrange sufficient funds for four years beforehand because it is difficult for international students to get scholarships for studying at Georgia Tech, especially for undergraduate programmes. There are some financial aid options that you can consider, but the majority of them do not cover the tuition fees or other mandatory academic expenses. The institute has a list of endowment funds that are provided only if an international student has a financial emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions