At Tech, 52 percent of students have an international experience before they graduate. The Office of International Education (OIE) assists students in obtaining international internships, participating in faculty-led study abroad programs, and applying to exchange programs with partner universities.    

While pursuing an international experience might seem intimidating at first, there are many resources available to students who are interested. Here are a few tips to consider when starting the study abroad process:   

Choosing a Program

With more than 120 study abroad programs, it can be a tough to decide where to go for a semester overseas. The first step is to choose between a Tech faculty-led program and an exchange program. These programs have different things to offer, so it’s important to focus on what you’re looking for in a study abroad experience. Are you set on a specific country? Need a specific class? Do you want to take classes in English or a foreign language? These are all things to consider before picking a program. Students can browse the programs online and narrow down the program options using a variety of filters.

Many programs fill up a semester or two in advance, so if you know you are applying for a popular program (such as Georgia Tech-Lorraine, Oxford, or Pacific), be sure to apply early. 

Applying for Scholarships 

After finding a study abroad program, apply for scholarships. Even if you can’t decide between two programs, go ahead and apply for scholarships. The OIE Administered Scholarships Application has three cycles per year, with applications due October 15, January 15, and April 1. It is important to apply early for scholarships — summer applicants are expected to apply for scholarships by the January 15 cycle.

Currently, OIE is about 500 students away from sending the 20,000th Tech student abroad. To celebrate, OIE is offering the lucky 20,000th student a free airfare voucher up to $2,000 to apply to their study abroad. #GT20kAWAY 

Aside from OIE Administered Scholarships, there are external scholarships students can apply for. OIE has listed them here. 

Celebrating International Education Week

In addition to sending Georgia Tech students abroad, OIE also serves as a resource to welcome international students to campus.

Georgia Tech hosts a large population of full-time international students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Georgia Tech also invites exchange students from partner universities to come experience life at Tech through semester-long exchange programs.

This is International Education Week (IEW), and in celebration of Georgia Tech’s international community, OIE will host several events over the next few days. All students are welcome to attend IEW events.

International Education Week Events: 

Monday, November 16

• 9 a.m. to 11a.m., Free Hot Chocolate: Come out to Tech Walkway, where you can pick up a passport for IEW events and grab a hot chocolate with Buzz. 
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Put Yourself on the MAP: Stop by Clough Atrium and put stickers on a world map to show where you’re from, where you’ve been, and where you’re going.
• 6 to 8 p.m., International Coffee Hour: Join OIE at Tech Rec to enjoy coffee and meet new friends. 

Tuesday, November 17

• 9:30 a.m. ACIREMA:  Participate in a simulation activity in the Student Center Peachtree Room to learn what it’s like for an international student entering the U.S.

Wednesday, November 18

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Passport Fair, Student Center Peachtree Room: Come process your passport application. Representatives from the Atlanta Passport Agency will be on hand to help with the application steps.

Thursday November 19

• 2 p.m., OIE Photo Contest Reception, Clough Commons, 3rd Floor: Help celebrate the winners of the 2015 OIE photo contest with cake!

Friday, November 20

• 11 a.m., Education Abroad Send-Off, Student Center Peachtree Room: Students who are about to study abroad will get the chance to talk with students who have just returned from study abroad. Light refreshments will be served. 

For a complete list of International Education Week events, visit www.oie.gatech.edu/iew.