Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions

Browse the questions below and click the plus sign or the question to see the answer.

Do I need to take TOEFL?

Example: I had my education in Singapore, and English was my first language in my education in Singapore. Do I need to take TOEFL exam?

Answer to the question: With Singapore, English is not THE language, but only ONE language (Chinese, Tamil, and Malaya being the others).However, our policy is that we only exempt students from the TOEFL requirement if they come from a country where English is THE official language, not just one of the official languages. Singapore does not fit that criterion.

The key here is "one of the official languages". What we look for is the "Native Language" and English is not the native language in Singapore.

Why do I need extra funds if I am applying for financial assistance?

The reason why we ask for availability of funds is for visa purposes. If you are admitted to the program with Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), the stipend that we offer the students will not be enough funds to meet your expenses at Georgia Tech. The certification of availability of funds for approximately $4,000 is for visa purposes. You can apply for financial assistance by answering "Yes" to the question "Do you wish to be considered for financial assistance?" on the application. You will be considered for assistance for

For more information, contact : phd@coa.gatech.edu