New Student Checklist

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.

Checklist for Fall 2024 Admitted Graduate Students

*TBD dates will be updated as they become available.

As Soon As Possible

Connect with us!

• 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.
• Follow us on Instagram @gtgradpostdocs
• Connect with us via LinkedIn
• Like our Facebook page

Investigate housing options. Once your admission is verified and finalized by the Office of Graduate Education, you may apply for on-campus housing in our Graduate and Family Housing community.

Note: on-campus housing is not required and not guaranteed for any student. On-campus housing fills up quickly however you may join the waitlist. For those seeking off-campus housing, check out the Off-Campus Housing site. In addition, here is information from the Office of International Education on Housing on Campus and Around GT.

(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 the Office of Graduate Education has completed your verification, the graduate coordinator in your academic department will initiate the I-20 or DS-2019 form request in iStart on your behalf.

• After your academic department submits this request, you will receive an e-form link from info@oie.gatech.edu to submit necessary information and documents.
• For more information about how to request your I-20 or DS-2019 form, please review OIE’s New Student Arrival Guide.

Last names beginning with A - H: June 10

Last names beginning with I - P: June 24

Last names beginning with Q- Z: July 8

Upload your BuzzCard Photo (On-Campus Students, optional for online students). 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.

Online students are not required to get a BuzzCard. U.S. and Canada online students can order one for $30.

Once you arrive on campus you can pick up your BuzzCard. The BuzzCard office is located at the Pavilion, 460 4th St NW, Building #216, Atlanta, GA 30332.

Before the First Day of Class

(for international students)

Before arriving to campus

August Deadlines

(for international students)

Upon Arrival to Campus

Virtual:

August 6 at 9 a.m.

August 8 at 2 p.m.

August 9 at 10 a.m.

August 13 at 11 a.m.

In-Person:

August 15 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.

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.

• You will have an assigned registration “time ticket” indicating the specific date and time your access to the registration system will begin.
• You will be able to continue to register and make schedule changes through 4 p.m. on the Friday of the first week of the semester.
• To access online registration, go to the BuzzPort student tab. This tab will appear before the start of the semester for new students.
• If there is something called a “hold,” you will not be allowed to register until you have submitted the missing information. Types of holds include:
  • Graduate Education or Lawful Presence (contact Graduate Education for information)
  • Health (contact Health Services for information)
  • SEVIS (contact the Office of International Education for more information)
  • Departmental (contact your home department)

  Complete Part 1 of Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students. Completion of this one-hour training, which will open on July 15, 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 healthy@gatech.edu with questions or concerns.

  Graduate students in online degree programs are not required to complete this course.