FAQ for Masters Students Admitted to Georgia Tech-Europe (non dual-degree)
Did you receive an email stating that you are being given the opportunity to apply to study at Georgia Tech-Europe, Georgia Tech's European off-campus instructional site in Metz, France? Were you admitted to a master's program at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, but without funding, and were told that you could study at Georgia Tech-Europe for half the cost? Either way, you have a decision to make!
Georgia Tech-Europe was established in 1990 and was originally called Georgia Tech-Lorraine. From an initial class of just six Electrical and Computer Engineering master's students, today, close to 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students spend a semester or more in vibrant Metz, France.
For an overview of our graduate programs, including details on living in Metz, France, please visit our Graduate Programs webpage.
Every Wednesday from 10-11am we offer a Graduate Virtual Information Session. We highly recommend attending one of these sessions to learn more about the opportunity to study at Georgia Tech-Europe.
Here are the answers to your most pressing questions. If you have additional questions, email us at Info@europe.gatech.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
I accepted the offer to study at Georgia Tech-Europe! What are my next steps?
1. Please read and bookmark this FAQ. It is updated regularly.
2. Please attend a virtual Graduate Information Session if you have not already done so - Wednesday's from 10-11am EST. This will answer many of your questions. The link for these sessions can be found on right side of the main menu bar of our website - "Virtual Info Sessions."
3. Attend a Visa Information Session as soon as possible if you have not already done so. The link for the Visa Information sessions can be found on right side of the main menu bar of our website - "Virtual Info Sessions."
4. Be patient in waiting for your "official" acceptance through the portal and your official acceptance letter. It could take several weeks before you receive this. We do understand that you need this to complete the visa process; please don't worry.
5. Please monitor your email and the portal for further instructions.
6. If you have any questions about the visa process, please email us at visa@europe.gatech.edu
I accepted the offer to study at Georgia Tech-Europe, and then immediately deferred to next year! What are my next steps?
1. Please carefully read and bookmark this FAQ. It is updated regularly.
2. There are no further actions to take right now; we will reach out to you with next steps.
4. Please email us at Info@europe.gatech.edu if you are no longer interested in attending Georgia Tech-Europe.
Can I be reconsidered to start on the Atlanta campus, if I received an email stating that I am admitted to Georgia Tech, starting with two semesters at Georgia Tech-Europe?
No. If you received an email stating the you will be admitted to Georgia Tech, spending the first two semesters at Georgia Tech-Europe, this decision is final and valid for one academic year. The schools will not reconsider your request to start on the Atlanta campus. Admission to Georgia Tech is competitive and it is an achievement to be accepted. We are one Georgia Tech, with instructional sites in Atlanta, Metz, France, and Shenzhen, China. The quality of education received on each campus is the same, and at the end, the degree is conferred by Georgia Tech. Please consider the wonderful opportunity you have been given to begin your studies at Georgia Tech-Europe. Many students quickly discover that they can receive a Georgia Tech degree at half the cost of Atlanta by studying at Georgia Tech-Europe, and they remain in Metz, France for their entire degree! The choice is yours - stay in Europe for your entire degree, or come to Atlanta in your third semester.
The specialization I have chosen is not offered at Georgia Tech-Europe. Won't you reconsider me for the Atlanta campus in this case?
No. We will not reconsider you for the Atlanta campus. The decision is final and valid for one year. See the answer to the question above. With careful planning, you can pursue your specialization once you arrive on the Atlanta campus in your third semester.
Getting a job in the U.S. or Europe after graduating
Can I find a job in the U.S. after I graduate?
The F-1 student visa does not facilitate finding long-term U.S. employment. Students studying in the U.S. who have qualified for OPT (see above) will have 60 days to secure employment under OPT with the F-1 visa. They are not permitted to work during this 60-day grace period. Students will need to research on their own the process for obtaining an H1B visa, which requires sponsorship by an employer. Although students are not guaranteed to find a job in the U.S., many do find companies that are willing to sponsor a work visa.
Students have asked if completing their degree on the Europe campus will hinder their chances of finding a job in the U.S. The answer is, no. Whether students complete their degree on the Europe or the Atlanta campus, the degree is the same U.S. degree granted by the Georgia Institute of Technology.
While studying on the Atlanta campus, students will have the opportunity to participate in career fairs with a wide variety of companies recruiting. Many companies prefer candidates who already have the right to work in the U.S., but it may be possible to find a company willing to sponsor your work visa.
While on the Europe campus, students will be invited to participate in smaller job fairs attended by global companies. Many international students opt to do a 6 month European internship, and they are often offered jobs by these companies when they finish their degree.
For more information related to living and working in the U.S., please visit Georgia Tech’s Office of International Education (OIE) International Students and Scholars Services webpage.
Can I find a job in Europe after I graduate?
Finding a job in Europe post-graduation is possible. Even without a promise of work or a work contract from an employer, non-EU students holding a Master’s degree may request a temporary resident permit (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) valid for 12 months while they are seeking employment. We have a staff member at Georgia Tech-Europe who can help to put you on the right track with your job search.
Tuition & Fees
What is the tuition rate for the two semesters at Georgia Tech-Europe? And what about the semester in Atlanta?
All masters students at Georgia Tech-Europe pay Georgia Tech's in-state/resident tuition for each of the two semesters they spend at Georgia Tech-Europe. For the semester(s) in Atlanta, students will pay the higher out-of-state/non-resident tuition. Studying on the Europe campus is approximately half the cost of studying on the Atlanta campus. For more details on costs, please visit the Costs page on our website. The Board of Regents of the State of Georgia posts tuition by the end of April for the academic year beginning in the fall semester.
How and when do I pay tuition for my semester at Georgia Tech-Europe?
Students will receive an invoice for tuition and fees for each semester within the first 10 days of the semester. Tuition is paid via wire transfer in U.S. dollars or Euros.
Funding
Is funding available for master’s students?
No. Master's students are admitted without funding to Georgia Tech-Europe. Some students arrange GRAs or GTAs for the semester(s) in Atlanta, but this is not guaranteed.
Can I obtain a research assistantship (GRA) during my master’s studies?
There are limited opportunities for those students on the master’s thesis track, but the majority of funding is reserved for PhD students. There is no way to secure any funding ahead of time, as faculty recruit their students directly.
Can I apply to be a teaching assistant (GTA)?
You will be eligible to apply for a teaching assistantship to help with undergraduate labs once you arrive at Georgia Tech-Europe. If selected for the TA position, you will be refunded 1,800 Euros at the end of the semester. You will still need to pay the full tuition up front.
Do you offer scholarships or fellowships?
There are no scholarships or fellowships available to students while studying on the Europe campus. We offer limited opportunities for students who opt to spend one semester on the Atlanta campus, to offset the higher cost of attendance. Please visit our Fellowships page for more information on applying.
I see on Campus France that there are many scholarships offered to students from my home country who are studying in France. Do I qualify for these scholarships?
No. In order to qualify for these scholarships, which are offered through the French government, you must be studying at a French institution of higher education. Georgia Tech is a U.S. institution; Georgia Tech-Europe is our French campus. We are not a French institution of higher education, so you will not qualify for any scholarship or grant that requires students to be studying at a French institution of higher education. Please read the eligibility criteria carefully before applying for any scholarship or grant.
Graduate Student Housing
What is the situation for housing for graduate students at Georgia Tech-Europe?
We offer graduate student housing in a student residence operated by one of our partner schools. This residence is called "Résidence Edouard Branly". It is quite nice - students will have their own studio with an ensuite bathroom and a kitchenette.
To clarify, you will have your own room. For more information on the graduate student housing and information on life in Metz, France, please review the "Live" section on our webpage.
We do not offer married student housing (except in the case where both partners are studying at Georgia Tech-Europe), or housing for families. If you will be arriving with a spouse/partner/children, please reach out to us as soon as possible at Info@europe.gatech.edu to learn about housing options.
Visas
What type of visa do I need to study at Georgia Tech-Europe and what is the process to obtain one?
Once you have officially accepted the offer to attend Georgia Tech-Europe, staff from the Atlanta office will contact you to assist you with the visa process. Please do not begin this process on your own. Students will apply for a long-stay visa through Campus France and VFS. Again, wait until receiving direction from us before beginning this process.
What type of visa do I need if I decide to study at Georgia Tech-Shenzhen after two semesters on the Europe campus?
Should you decide to study at the Shenzhen campus for your third semester, you will need to contact a staff member in the GT-Europe administrative office in Metz, France for assistance. They will assist you in obtaining the proper visa. (You will need to be in good academic standing in order to switch campuses.)
What type of visa do I need to study at Georgia Tech in Atlanta should I decide to study at the Atlanta campus after two semesters on the Lorraine campus?
Should you decide to study at the Atlanta campus for your third semester, you will need to contact a staff member in the GT-Europe administrative office in Metz, France for assistance. They will assist you in obtaining an F-1 visa. (You will need to be in good academic standing in order to switch campuses.)