International Students
If you are a prospective student from a country other than the United States, this page provides information you will find helpful as you consider applying to our graduate programs. On this page, you will find general information about the application process, financial considerations related to study at Emory, Emory's English as a Second Language program, immigration requirements and documents, and housing. On the Admissions Requirements and the Health Insurance web pages (see the left sidebar), you will find details about requirements for admission to our PhD programs and Emory’s policy on student health insurance coverage.
If you have questions about the information here, scroll down or click here for a list of frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact us at 404-727-6028 or gradschool-l@listserv.cc.emory.edu.
Application
International applicants need to submit the standard application plus some addtional items.
All international applicants whose native language is other than English must show evidence of command of the English language. Each program specifies its own requirement, but generally they require satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or evaluation of a writing sample. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies in the program of your interest regarding their specific requirements.
Transcripts which are not in English must be translated and notarized. Please submit both the original and the translated versions.
International applicants are required to submit the supplemental form called the Financial Certificate. The Financial Certificate will be included in the online application packet.
If you have concerns about completing the Financial Certificate, you should complete the application to the best of your ability. This information is required by the university for statistical purposes only and is not a factor in determining financial awards.
Transfer Students
If you are an international student studying at another university in the U.S. and wish to transfer to Emory, you will need to follow a special set of procedures and use a special form. You'll find instructions on this website.
International Student Budget
The Financial Certificate is also important for visa purposes.
Before the university will issue documents in support of visas, international students must demonstrate their ability to cover the full cost of educational and living expenses, either from personal resources or from a combination of personal resources and financial awards. Whether a student can do this is determined by adding (1) the amounts listed in the Sources of Support part of the Financial Certificate, and (2) the merit awards offered by Emory Graduate School.
The full cost of educational and living expenses is determined by the following budget. What you see below are costs for the 2008-09 academic year; a budget based on the costs for the 2009-10 academic year will be posted as soon as it is available.
Costs are estimated based on either a 9 month academic year or a 12 month academic year. Below the budget, you will find a list that shows which programs provide stipends for 9 months and 12 months. If you apply to a 9-month program, you need to cover your expenses for 9 months; if you apply to a 12-month program, you need to cover your expenses for 12 months.
|
Expense
|
9 months
|
12 months
|
|
Tuition and fees
|
$33,216
|
$35,734
|
|
Room (average rent at
University Apts.)
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$7,290
|
$9,720
|
|
Board (food)
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$3,780
|
$5,040
|
|
Insurance Premiums*
|
$2,000
|
$2,000
|
|
Other living expenses**
|
$2,500
|
$2,500
|
|
Textbooks and supplies
|
$1,500
|
$1,500
|
|
Initial costs***
|
$1,250
|
$1,250
|
|
Total
|
$51,536
|
$57,744
|
**Does not include travel from home country, or fees for on-campus parking.
***Costs incurred in paying utility and housing deposits and setting up housekeeping.
Number of Monthly Stipend Payments by Program
|
9 months
|
12 months | |
|
Art History
Comparative Literature
Economics
English
Epidemiology
French
History
Institute of Liberal Arts
Jewish Studies
Mathematics & Computer Science
Music
Nursing
Philosophy
Political Science
Religion
Sociology
Spanish
Women's Studies
|
Anthropology
Business
GDBBS
Biostatistics
Chemistry
Physics
Psychology
|
I-20 Forms and Visas
The Graduate School office handles I-20 forms for international students attending graduate and professional school.
Students should contact the U.S. consulate in their country for details on the visa application process. The I-20 is used to obtain an F-1 visa (student visa). The DSO2019 is used to obtain a J-1 visa. Most international graduate students enter under F-1 visas, but sometimes the J-1 visa is appropriate. In some cases, the J-1 visa carries a two-year home residency requirement (in other words, the J-1 visa recipient must agree to return home for at least two years after completing the degree).
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
Emory Graduate School has a well developed ESL program that provides extensive support. Find out more about it on our ESL pages (link to the right).
All admitted students whose first language is not English must participate in a an assessment administered by the ESL program.
Office of International Student and Scholar Programs (ISSP)
The ISSP office (link to the right) provides assistance in maintaining immigration status, certification of enrollment, developmental counseling, and advising student groups.
The International Student and Scholar Programs office conduc ts orientation for new students. Sessions begin in mid-August and continue up to a day or two before registration. Many sessions are repeated, allowing students to attend a variety of presentations. In addition, all new international students must attend the Graduate School Orientation, traditionally held on the Wednesday before registration.
During the month of August, the ISSP has housing assistant available to help international students locate housing in the Emory University area. For additional information about housing opportunities, please visit the graduate housing webpage.
Employment of International Students
Students on J-1 and F-1 visas must have written authorization for employment even if it is required as a part of a scholarship or fellowship award. Direct questions to the Office of International Student and Scholar Programs (ISSP) at 404-727-3300.
SEVIS
In the 2002-2003 academic year, the federal government implemented enhanced reporting requirements for international students called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). International students must inform themselves of the rules and procedures related to SEVIS. Detailed information regarding SEVIS is located at the Office of International Student and Scholar Programs (ISSP).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for International Students
The following questions are commonly asked by international students applying to or interested in programs at Emory. You may also want to visit the general FAQs page here.
1. If I have limited resources, must I complete the financial certificate form?
3. May I send the financial certificate at a later date?
4. Do I have to send a copy of my passport?
5. Do I have to send copies of my dependents' passports?
6. Do I have to submit a TOEFL score?
8. Can I take an English as a Second Language class at Emory if I am not a student?
FAQs Answers
1. If I have limited resources, must I complete the financial certificate form?
Yes. Indicate what resources you have, even if they total zero.
2. If I don’t list any funding on the financial certificate will that lessen my chances of being accepted?
No. We use the form to initiate visa processing through our University Admissions Office. We do not use it as part of the admissions review process.
3. May I send the financial certificate at a later date?
No. Your application will not be considered complete without the financial certificate and you will not be considered for admission unless you complete the form.
4. Do I have to send a copy of my passport?
Yes. We verify names and birthdates for accuracy when processing I-20 visas/documents. If there is no passport, please submit a copy of a government-issued ID or a national ID card.
5. Do I have to send copies of my dependents' passports?
Yes. Copies of passports are used to verify names and birthdates for dependents.
6. Do I have to submit a TOEFL score?
TOEFL requirements vary by department. Contact the program about requirements for the TOEFL. Graduate programs will not accept scores that were administered more than two years before the date of application at Emory.
7. If English is not my first language, will I have to take an Emory-specific English Language Placement Test if admitted to Emory?
Yes. All admitted students whose first language is not English are assessed for oral and written communication skills during Orientation. Based on your scores, you will either be exempt from ESL courses, or be required to take a sequence of speaking and/or writing classes during your first academic year. These classes are required for participating in TATTO and for graduation. Please check the ESL webpage for more information.
8. Can someone who is not a student take an English as a Second Language class at Emory?
The Graduate School’s ESL Program is reserved for degree-seeking students and for Emory employees enrolled as students in special standing. Please check the ESL webpage for more information.
Graduate School Contacts
Paper Forms
MS Word form: save to your computer, fill out, and then print.
International transfer student instuctions and form
Resources
Office of International Student and Scholar Programs (ISSP)