Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline for prospective students?

The priority admissions deadline for the Ph.D. program for the Fall semester beginning in August is Feb. 1. All applications received after Feb. 1 will be considered on a rolling admissions basis through April 30.

Is there anything I need to know about applying as an international student?

With increased processing and paperwork times, prospective international students need to apply early enough to allow sufficient time to allow processing of the I-20 forms by the Georgia Institute of Technology, and subsequent visa processing in the home country takes a fair amount of time. In order to ensure that all documents are processed in time, we highly recommend that international students complete the application process no later than March prior to the August start date. Students who apply earlier will receive decisions sooner — though there is not a different or separate application date for international students, and students who apply earlier are well-positioned to have all immigration documents in hand by the time classes begin.

Please refer to the Office of International Education at Georgia Tech for more information. 

Do I need an M.S. or M.A. prior to pursuing the Ph.D.?

A master’s degree is not required, only a Bachelor's Degree (or U.S. equivalent).

What classes can I take to strengthen my preparation for the Ph.D. Program?

The program requires a strong background in math and statistics. Students should be very familiar with optimization techniques, multivariate calculus, and linear algebra.

Can the GRE and GMAT be substituted for each other?

No. Only the GRE will be accepted.

Do I need to take the TOEFL exam?

The School of Economics requires the TOEFL exam for non-native speakers of English. Hence, if you come from a country where English is the native language, you do not need to take the TOEFL.

How important are the exam scores in the application screening process?

The School of Economics faculty who review applications use the test scores as one component in the overall evaluation of an applicant's file. For the more technical areas, a high quantitative score sends a positive signal about the applicant's ability to handle math. In other areas, this may be less important. More generally, because of the relatively small size of the School’s Ph.D. program, we recruit students very carefully, looking at how well prepared they are for the course of study they have chosen, how well their research interests match with those of our faculty, and how well recommended they are by the people chosen as references. In this process, essays, transcripts of work done in college or previous graduate school, references, and exams all play a role in assisting the decision.

How will I know if Georgia Tech has received my application materials?

It is the responsibility of each applicant to check the status of his/her own application using the online application system. Once a student has submitted a completed electronic application, he or she will have the capability of checking its status by signing into the site. Students will see instantly if letters of evaluation, transcripts, and test scores have been received.

How will I be notified if I have been accepted into the doctoral program?

Accepted applicants will be notified in writing.

What is the cost of living at Georgia Tech or the Atlanta area?

Visit the Housing website to see rates for graduate housing.

What are the tuition costs at Georgia Tech?

Georgia Institute of Technology is a unit of the University System of Georgia. As such, its tuition and fee structure are reviewed annually and are adjusted by the Board of Regents in conjunction with the budgetary constraints of the state budget. For this reason, tuition and fees are subject to change. This usually happens once each fiscal year and is effective with the fall semester. Please visit the Office of the Bursar to see the estimated cost of attendance.

Do you offer fellowships or other financial aid?

Our program is small and we anticipate that we will be able to provide financial support for several students.  An attempt will be made to provide scholarships for a period of four years. The continuation of a student's scholarship beyond the first year will depend on whether or not the student is in good academic standing, which is defined as A or B grades in all courses.

For additional sources of financial aid, students should visit Graduate Studies.