Welcome, Yellow Jackets!
We are thrilled that you have decided to join the Tech community. To ensure a smooth transition to Tech, please complete the checklist items below by their completion dates.
New Student Checklist Summary
Accept Offer of Admission
Accept the offer of admission to gain access to your personalized Admitted Student Portal.
Complete Items in the Admitted Student Portal
In the Admitted Student Portal, work through the checklist items and complete by their listed deadlines.
Research Life in Atlanta
Research housing options, neighborhoods, and learn more about all that Atlanta has to offer.
Learn about Transportation and Parking
Purchase a parking pass from Georgia Tech or learn more about public transportation and other ways of commuting around Atlanta.
Mark Your Calendar
Check the Academic Calendar to confirm registration dates and the Bursar’s Calendar to confirm payment deadlines.
Review the Grad Guide
The Grad Guide is the official source on policies, requirements, and resources for graduate students.
Access Your Student Email
A few weeks before classes start, you will receive access to your GaTech student email.
Submit Health Requirements
Check Stamps Health Services to confirm the deadline to submit your immunization records and learn about the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for graduate students.
Checklist for Spring 2023 Admitted Graduate Students
*TBD dates will be updated as they become available.
As Soon As Possible
| Recommended Completion Date | Checklist Item |
|---|---|
| Now | Check your status. Visit Application Status Portal to see if you have any outstanding required documentation and to let us know you are accepting your offer of admission. |
| Now | Get connected. Join the official Georgia Tech Graduate Student Facebook group. Feel free to ask questions in the group about campus, Atlanta, travel, life in the United States, etc. |
(for international students) Upon receipt of e-form link from Office of International Education (OIE) | Complete your I-20 request. Once you have been officially admitted to Tech by your department and verification by the Office of Graduate Education is complete, the graduate coordinator in your academic department will initiate the I-20 or DS-2019 form request in iStart on your behalf.
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As Soon As Possible | Verify Lawful Presence. In accordance with the University System of Georgia policy, all students must verify their lawful presence in the United States prior to enrollment. |
| As Soon As Possible | Activate your Georgia Tech account. Visit passport.gatech.edu to start the process. |
As Soon As Possible but no later than the 3rd Monday of the semester | Complete Two-Factor Authentication enrollment. Tech requires all students to enroll in Two-Factor Authentication to enhance the security of student accounts and online access to sensitive information. You can self-enroll through Passport. |
Before Arriving to Campus
| Recommended Completion Date | Checklist Item |
|---|---|
| December 1 | Register for the Graduate Institute Orientation. Graduate Education hosts several Graduate Institute Orientation sessions for new students that provide an overview of resources available to you at Tech. Registration will open December 1. |
December 9 | Submit health and immunization information. All students attending classes on campus are required to meet immunization and health requirements specified by the Board of Regents. Visit the Health Services website to complete and upload the required forms. (You won’t be able to register for classes until this is finished.) |
| December 16 | Upload your BuzzCard Photo. Your BuzzCard student ID is your campus passport, library card, facilities access key, and can even be loaded with money to use at restaurants/dining halls across campus. Visit the BuzzCard website to start the process. |
| 2-4 Weeks Prior to Arrival on Campus | Access your Georgia Tech email. Do not attempt access more than a month prior to arriving on campus. If it is two weeks prior to your arrival and you are till experiencing access issues, please request help via Office of Information Technology (OIT). |
| Before Arriving to Campus | Learn about the RCR training requirement. Some master’s and all doctoral students will need to complete online and/or in-person Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. Visit rcr.gatech.edu to learn more. |
| Before Arriving to Campus | Read over the Grad Guide. The Graduate Student Guidebook (PDF) informs you of the policies and resources you need to know about as a new graduate student at Tech. |
| Before Arriving to Campus | Review student life resources. We've compiled a list of Student Life resources that are available to you ranging from information about child care to health and wellness. |
| Before Arriving to Campus | Review graduate sections of the catalog. This contains useful information about Tech, degree programs, and graduate policies and procedures. For more information, visit the Georgia Tech Catalog. |
| Before Arriving to Campus (if applicable) | Purchase your parking permit. If you plan to park a car on campus, you’ll need a parking permit. For more information, visit the Parking and Transportation website. |
(for international students) Before Arriving to Campus | Start international student check-in process. Complete the first part of the International Student Check-In process online. |
Upon Arrival to Campus
| Recommended Completion Date | Checklist Item |
|---|---|
(for international students) Upon Arrival to Campus | Complete international student check-in process. To have your OIE registration hold removed, complete the second part of the International Student Check-in after you arrive. If you experience any delays with your visa process or arrive late, make sure to inform your department and submit the information in the check-in e-forms in iStart. An OIE advisor will follow-up with you as needed. |
| Upon Arrival to Campus | Get your BuzzCard. The BuzzCard office is located on the second floor of Barnes and Noble at the corner of Spring Street and Fifth Street in Technology Square. |
Virtual: December 21 at 2 p.m. In-Person: January 10 at 11 a.m. | Attend orientation sessions. Upon arriving to campus, you should attend the Graduate Institute Orientation (GradIO) session for which you are registered. You may sign up beginning on December 1. Your program may also hold an orientation that you should plan to attend. |
| January 5-13 | Register for classes. New graduate students will be able to register for classes during the Phase II registration window according to the Registrar's academic calendar.
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January 9 | Complete Part 1 of Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students (opens on December 12). Completion of this one-hour training is required for Atlanta campus students in order to register for classes in your second semester. To fulfill this training requirement, access the course via the portal and use your Georgia Tech email address to sign in (e.g., student@gatech.edu). Email onlinehealthprogram@gatech.edu with questions or concerns. ***Graduate students in online degree programs are not required to complete this course. |
| TBD | Complete your GRA or GTA HR hiring process. If you are offered a graduate research assistantship (GRA) or graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) by your academic program, you’ll need to complete the hiring onboarding process through Human Resources (HR) before you start working. Visit the Tech HR student onboarding page to learn next steps. |
| January 17 at 4 p.m. Eastern | Pay all fees and tuition. This needs to be done after you register for classes. You will receive information about the status of your account from the Office of the Bursar via your Tech email account. The payment deadlines are provided on the Bursar website. |