Exchange to GT-Atlanta for MS ENVE Program

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering students who matriculate through GT-Shenzhen must spend the first two semesters at GT-Shenzhen. Afterward, they have the possibility of studying at GT-Shenzhen, GT-Europe, or GT-Atlanta and completing their degree program. Students who complete the entire Georgia Tech degree program in Shenzhen may participate in the graduation ceremony in Atlanta if they secure a proper U.S. visa (such as a tourist visa).

Students applying for the exchange to the GT-Atlanta MS ENVE program must be in good academic standing (minimum Georgia Tech GPA of 2.7 out of 4.0) and good disciplinary standing. Exchange students come to Atlanta on F-1 student visa and are expected to pay the standard out-of-state tuition and fees for the Atlanta semester. If the student is sponsored by the foreign government or institution, however, he/she can only come to the US on J-1 visa. See the GT Office of International Education (OIE) for more details.

GT-Shenzhen only offers the non-thesis option for the MS ENVE degree. If a student wishes to pursue the thesis option, he/she needs to come to Atlanta for two semesters in the fall & spring or spring & fall. Whether the student chooses the thesis or non-thesis option, the MS diploma is the same. The student must declare the exchange track before coming to Atlanta and the I-20 form will reflect the intended duration of stay in Atlanta and the financial resources that are required.

GT-Shenzhen MS ENVE students are offered the following degree programming tracks and are expected to make a choice during the second semester. MS ENVE exchange students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of CEE coursework in Shenzhen.

Track 1: Complete the entire MS degree program in Shenzhen on the non-thesis option.

Track 2: Complete the first 18-24 credit hours in Shenzhen and study in Atlanta during the following fall or spring semester. F-1 visa holders must maintain full-time student registration of 12 credit hours during the academic semester in Atlanta. This track pertains to the non-thesis option. On-campus dormitory is generally not available to exchange students during the fall or spring semester.

Track 3: Complete the first 12-24 credit hours in Shenzhen and study in Atlanta during the following fall & spring or spring & fall semesters. F-1 visa holders must maintain full-time student registration of 12 credit hours during the academic semesters in Atlanta. This track pertains to the thesis option.

Track 4: Complete the first 15 credit hours in Shenzhen and study in Atlanta during the following fall & spring or spring & fall semesters. F-1 visa holders must maintain full-time student registration of 12 credit hours during the academic semesters in Atlanta. This track pertains to the non-thesis option.

Note:

  • In the above, the number of completed credit hours refers to those credit hours that can count towards your GT MS ENVE degree requirements. Please refer to the  CEE Graduate Handbook for details regarding the degree requirements.
  • At the time of the exchange request, the earned credit hours and the GPA as shown on the transcript must meet the exchange requirements.

To apply for the exchange, the student should email gtshenzhen@nullce.gatech.edu the following information: Name, GTID, track choice, and which semester(s) the student wishes to study in Atlanta. See deadlines below.

Fall Exchange

May 15

Spring Exchange

September 1

Note that while GT-Shenzhen students are given the opportunity to exchange to GT-Atlanta, the decision to grant the US visa or not resides with the visa officer.

Whether the exchange student comes to Atlanta for one or two semesters, F-1 students are allowed to arrive in the US for up to 30 days prior to the start of the semester to settle in and are allowed to remain in the US for up to 60 days for travel and leisure following the completion of the degree program.