The VSU Graduate School is committed to expanding our reach far beyond South Georgia.  If you are not from the United States, if you attended college/university outside the US, or if you would need a visa to attend graduate school at VSU, please feel free to contact our office for one-on-one guidance in the application process. 

There are important differences in the application process for international students. 

  • International applicants must submit a Certificate of Finances form.  This document is necessary to issue an I-20 visa.

  • Official TOEFL scores are required.  If you are from a country whose primary language is English, or if you have received a Bachelor’s degree in the United States, you need not submit this test.  Please contact our office to see if your country qualifies for this exemption.

  • Official transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an educational credentials evaluation service (such as J. Silny, ECE, or another similar firm).  A course-by-course evaluation is required. Fees for this service are to be paid by the applicant. For applicants who wish to teach in Georgia public schools, a list of approved evaluators for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

  • International students cannot be accepted under Irregular or non-degree status

  • Programs that are mostly online do not qualify for issuance of an I-20 visa.  If you must come to campus, you may come on a tourist visa, but you must secure the tourist visa yourself.  VSU cannot assist in its issuance.

  • Please bear in mind that the admissions and visa processes both take considerable amounts of time!  Get started on your application and submit your documents as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to make arrangements in time to begin your studies!

Both the Graduate School and the Office of International Programs are here to assist you throughout the application process. For more information on International Student admission, please check International Programs' prospective student website or email our office at gradschool@valdosta.edu.