Office of International Initiatives
OII leads international initiatives at Georgia State by creating a campus culture that builds interdisciplinary synergies and expands global opportunities where faculty, staff, students and our Atlanta-area colleagues can collaborate, innovate and form engaged partnerships with far-reaching impact.
The university offers a variety of global summer programs for international students interested in taking courses in their major, exploring Atlanta and making American friends. And it sponsors approximately 70 study abroad programs in over 30 countries around the world for Georgia State students who are interested in cultural, academic and professional opportunities across the globe.
International Student Initiatives
The Global Ambassador Program is a leadership program that trains student ambassadors, known as GAPs, to serve as cultural liaisons for the international students participating in the university’s global summer programs.
GAPs participate in cultural events, attend local excursions and facilitate small group outings with the international students. The GAPs are paired with international students from countries like
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STUDY ABROAD INITIATIVES
Georgia State offers tons of short-term study abroad program options, from one-week spring break programs to five-week summer language programs, and everything in between. These types of programs are led by professors who focus on a particular topic or theme.
Ranging from 10-20 participants, short-term faculty-led programs are a great way to get to know professors and classmates while earning academic credit abroad. Students participate in lectures, site visits, excursions and cultural tours as part of the program.
Georgia State has more than 45 exchange partnerships with universities around the world. Exchange study abroad students are Georgia State students who travel to a host university overseas, and enroll in courses at one of our partner universities. In exchange, a student from our partner university comes to Georgia State to enroll in courses.
Exchange programs tend to be semester or academic year long endeavors. There are a limited number of summer exchange program opportunities with some of our overseas partner universities. Students participating in exchange programs enroll at a foreign university, and take classes in either the host language or English.
Exchange programs are among the most cost-effective study abroad options because students pay Georgia State tuition and fees instead of a program fee. Students who do exchange programs have a more student-driven experience since they choose and arrange their classes, housing, travel and student visa. And they have the freedom to engage in extracurricular activities (i.e. travel excursions) when they go to their host university.
Students may develop an independent study or directed reading course with a Georgia State faculty member to be completed abroad. Students who are interested in pursuing an international internship are also eligible to receive academic credit and use scholarships/financial aid.
As a Georgia State student, you are eligible to participate in any accredited university’s study abroad program, such as the University System of Georgia programs, provider programs, and other options. In addition, Georgia State partners with several affiliate programs who offer credit-bearing study abroad options all over the world.