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You are considered a transient student if you enroll at Georgia Tech to take advanced coursework that will transfer back to your home institution, so that you may complete your coursework there. Transient students are classified as non-degree seeking, and are not normally eligible to continue studies at Georgia Tech with the intent of obtaining a degree from the Institute.

Once you are admitted as a transient student, you are eligible to take classes during the approved semester only. Admission does not imply or guarantee future enrollment at Georgia Tech.

To Apply as a Transient Student

To apply as a Transient/Non-Degree Student, a student must have completed a minimum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter credit hours after the date of high school graduation.

Submit the following information to apply.

1. Georgia Tech Non-Degree Application
2. Non-refundable application fee ($75)
3. Official college transcripts from all colleges attended (a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required)
4. Non-Degree Applicant Permission Form (Parts I & II) with departmental signature(s)
   • It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate academic department(s) to seek approval for any requested courses and submit the completed form with signatures.
   • Please be aware that department approval does not guarantee acceptance.

   • If you are applying as part of an OIE study abroad program, please complete and submit the study abroad permission form instead of the non-degree applicant permission form. 

   • If you are applying as part of an OIE incoming exchange program, please complete and submit the Incoming Exchange Permission form instead of the non-degree applicant permission form. 

   • Click here to view permission form contacts by academic college

International Students

If you are a student and you are not a U.S citizen, nor a U.S. Permanent Resident card holder, you may only apply to be a transient student if you are participating in an approved Georgia Tech Office of International Education study abroad or foreign exchange program.

To study abroad as a Georgia Tech transient student, you must apply through the Office of International Education.

Application Timeline

Class Registration

The transient student registration period follows the degree-seeking student registration period. A transient student must have permission to take classes at Georgia Tech as authorized by the Registrar at the home institution.

Course Schedule Guidelines

In Fall and Spring terms, transient students are ineligible to schedule core curriculum courses offered at Georgia Tech. Courses such as freshman and sophomore calculus, chemistry, physics, humanities, and social sciences are reserved for regularly enrolled students only. Space is normally unavailable in courses taught by major schools which are over-crowded, such as Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Any courses requested, depends upon availability, and transient students are given last priority for registration. For the Summer term, transient students will be able to register for any lower division course, including those that carry core curriculum attributes, in which there is an open seat. All courses, including lower division courses that are specific to some majors, are still restricted.

Financial Aid

Transient applicants should contact their home institution financial aid offices to determine if their aid can be used during transient terms.

Switching from Transient to Degree-Seeking Student Status

If you later decide to pursue a degree at Georgia Tech, you must apply as a transfer student, and follow the guidelines for admission.
There must be a one-term gap between when you finish your non-degree enrollment and when you can possibly start at Georgia Tech as a degree-seeking student. This is because a significant amount of time and energy is required by multiple offices on the Georgia Tech campus to get a new student started. There is not enough time between two consecutive semesters to receive and evaluate transcripts, make admission decisions, have transfer credits evaluated, assign registration ticket times, and take care of all auxiliary services (such as housing, parking, and immunization records) needed for new students.

Discipline Review Policy

We consider student discipline situations on an individual basis, within the framework of the values we uphold as a university. For complete details, read the Georgia Tech Discipline Review Policy.