Exchange to GT-Atlanta
A GT-Shanghai student has the option of spending 1-2 semesters at GT-Atlanta, subject to obtaining the appropriate visa. Such a student must (i) have a GPA of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) for the GT coursework; (ii) have completed at least 18 credit hours of GT coursework at GT-Shanghai; (iii) ECE program students must have passed the GT ECE PhD preliminary exam, a four-hour written exam offered simultaneously in Atlanta and in Shanghai, twice annually. For Dual-MS degree program students, the SJTU research advisor must approve of the visit/exchange plan.
Option 1: As a Visiting Researcher
Visiting researchers will not take any courses in Atlanta and thus will not pay tuition or fees during the exchange semester. They incur travel and living expenses however. The student is responsible for finding a host laboratory; the host laboratory is not obliged to providing financial support for the visiting student.
A visiting researcher must provide original certification of availability of funds (for example, bank statement showing current balance) before visa application documents can be issued by Georgia Tech. For the 2007-2008 academic year, the minimum financial guarantee needed under Option 1 is $1,250 per month multiplied by the months of visit. Actual living costs vary depending on the student's lifestyle.
Use this option if you want to experience GT-Atlanta at a minimal cost. It is best if you select a GT professor’s laboratory that closely matches your SJTU advisor’s interests so you may gain research experience that is relevant to your SJTU MS thesis. The opportunities to interact with GT professors will also prove to be extremely valuable as they may lead to a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) for the PhD program. Example program plans: Plan A, Plan B, Plan C.
Option 2: As an Exchange Student
An exchange student must register as a full-time student (12 credit hours per semester, some of which can be graduate research hours) during the Atlanta Fall or Spring semester. The student must pay out-of-state tuition (currently at $925 per credit hour) and fees (currently at $573 per semester), plus any applicable health insurance fees.
Exchange students must provide original certification of availability of funds (for example, bank statement showing current balance) before visa application documents can be issued by Georgia Tech. For the Spring’2008 semester, the estimated costs (tuition, fees, living cost) under Option 2 total approximately $17,369.
Academic training (i.e., internship) is possible with the Exchange Student option. The academic training should be after a period of study. Generally, the period of academic training equals the period of study. The program does not arrange academic training for students – it is the students’ responsibility to apply for academic training if so desired.
Utilization of academic training example 1: You complete at least 18 hours of GT coursework at GT-Shanghai and complete SJTU MS thesis defense by December. You then enroll at GT-Atlanta as a full-time student in the Spring semester taking a combination of lecture courses, seminars, and graduate research. Your have petitioned to graduate with the GT MS degree at the end of the Spring term. You have an internship offer on hand and submit an academic training request to OIE before the month of May. You can engage in up to 4 months of academic training starting immediately after graduation in May.
Utilization of academic training example 2: You complete at least 18 hours of GT coursework at GT-Shanghai and complete SJTU MS thesis defense by December. You then enroll at GT-Atlanta as a full-time student in the Spring semester taking a combination of lecture courses, seminars, and graduate research. You take the summer off as vacation. In the fall semester, you return to GT-Atlanta as a full-time student taking a combination of lecture courses, seminars, and graduate research. Your have petitioned to graduate with the GT MS degree at the end of the Fall term. You have an internship offer on hand and submit an academic training request to OIE before the month of December. You can engage in up to 8 months of academic training starting immediately after graduation in December.
When desirable, exchange students may sign up on ECE 8900 “Special Problems” (variable credit hours) under a particular professor – prior arrangement with the professor regarding the research topic must be made before the student can register for ECE 8900 under that professor. ECE seminar courses that exchange students may take include ECE 6792, ECE 8001, ECE 8002, or ECE 8010 - all 1 credit hour courses. Exchange students may also consider taking ECE 8020 “Professional Communication Skills” (3 credit hours). Please refer to the ECE Graduate Handbook regarding how these courses may be used towards the degree requirements.
Exchange students are responsible for finding their own lodging, if on-campus housing is not available.
Interested students must notify GT-Shanghai the intention to exchange to Atlanta at least 4 months prior to the planned start date.
Last revised on February 19, 2008.