University in United States
Athens, GA, United States
University profile
The University of Georgia (UGA) is the state of Georgia's oldest, most comprehensive and most diversified institution of higher education. Founded in 1785, it describes itself as the birthplace of public higher education in America, and its motto is "to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things". It is a land-grant and sea-grant university and a research university of the University System of Georgia, with statewide commitments in teaching, research, public service and cooperative extension.
The main campus in Athens covers 762 acres with 465 buildings and borders historic downtown Athens. UGA also teaches at Griffin, Tifton, Gwinnett (Lawrenceville), Atlanta-Buckhead and the Health Sciences Campus in Athens, runs study-abroad centres in Cortona (Italy), Oxford (England) and Washington, D.C., and offers online degrees and certificates.
Academic work is organised in 20 schools and colleges: the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Environment and Design, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Mary Frances Early College of Education, Jere W. Morehead Honors College, Odum School of Ecology (the first school devoted solely to ecology), School of Law, School of Medicine (being established in Athens), School of Public and International Affairs, School of Social Work, Terry College of Business, Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. UGA grants bachelor's degrees in more than 142 fields, master's degrees in 135 fields and professional degrees in law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine; the student-faculty ratio is 17:1.
Student life includes more than 800 registered student organisations, NCAA Division I athletics in the Southeastern Conference, and more than 130 study-abroad and exchange programmes. All first-year students are required to live on campus. UGA offers experiential learning to every student and an accelerated pathway (Double Dawgs) to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years.
International students apply through a dedicated international route (F-1 visa applicants and other non-immigrant visa holders). Immigration services and international student life are supported through the Office of Global Engagement. Undergraduates are predominantly Georgia residents, while the graduate and professional population is a large minority of the student body. Official transcripts are evaluated by UGA, and non-U.S. institutions' credits are assessed through approved course-by-course evaluation services.
Admitted first-year students are automatically evaluated for academic scholarships (finalised by early April) on GPA, test scores, course rigor and activities. Awards renew for up to eight semesters of full-time enrolment with a minimum UGA GPA (3.00 for most). Awards open to international applicants include: the Classic Scholarship (waiver of half the difference between in-state and out-of-state/international tuition), Classic City Scholars (waiver of the full tuition difference), the One UGA Scholarship ($1,500 stipend plus the tuition-difference waiver for out-of-state/international students), the Presidential Leadership Scholarship ($3,000 stipend plus the tuition-difference waiver) and the Dr. Henry King Stanford Scholarship ($5,000 stipend plus the waiver, for Honors College admits who applied for the Foundation Fellowship). Amounts are those for 2026-2027.
UGA's top academic scholarship, run by the Jere W. Morehead Honors College. International students receive an annual $30,000 stipend plus a Presidential waiver (worth $21,740 per year), three funded spring travel-study programs, a funded Oxford summer program and individual travel and research grants. The application deadline is November 1. Foundation Fellowship.
International students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid or State of Georgia financial aid (including HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships). Need-based UGA programmes such as the Georgia Access Scholarship require Georgia residency and a FAFSA. Details: Undergraduate scholarships and Costs. Graduate funding such as assistantships is arranged through departments and the Graduate School.
UGA Academic Scholarships for Out-of-State and International First-Year Students →
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View scholarships for University of Georgia →There are no fixed minimum grade or score cut-offs, and admission is competitive. Academics come first: a GPA is recalculated from core academic courses (English, mathematics, science, social science, foreign language) on a 4.0 scale, with one letter grade added for each AP or IB course; no weight is added for honors or dual-enrollment courses. Course rigor is compared with what the applicant's school offers. Secondary factors include intellectual pursuits, creative endeavors, public service, co-curricular activities, community involvement, leadership and personal integrity. Demonstrated interest and legacy status are not considered.
All first-year applicants must complete the University System of Georgia Required High School Curriculum of 17 units: English (4), mathematics (4), science (4), social science (3) and foreign language (2). A secondary school report from the counsellor is required.
Testing: official SAT or ACT scores are required; there is no test-optional pathway. Board of Regents minimums are 480 SAT EBRW and 440 SAT Math, or 17 ACT English or Reading and 17 ACT Math. UGA superscores both tests.
College credit: credit and placement are awarded for qualifying AP, IB and AICE scores and for dual enrollment; CLEP is not accepted.
Applications are submitted through the Common App or UGA's institutional application. The application fee is $70 for U.S. citizens and $85 for international students.
Athens campus: at least one year of college completed and high school graduation at least 12 months before enrolment, with either 30-59 transferable hours and a 3.30 or higher transfer GPA, or 60 or more hours and a 3.00 or higher GPA. Griffin and Tifton campuses require 60 or more hours and a 3.00 GPA plus program coordinator authorisation. Required materials are the transfer application with statement of purpose, the $70 fee for U.S. citizens ($85 for international students) and official transcripts from every college attended. Deadlines: Summer/Fall, application and materials by March 1; Spring, by July 15 (Athens).
Applicants who need an F-1 visa, or who hold another temporary visa, apply as international students. Final English-translated transcripts from each school are submitted and UGA calculates a new GPA; grades are not self-reported. First-year applicants normally show English proficiency through SAT or ACT scores, or may submit IELTS or TOEFL. International transfer students from non-U.S. institutions that are not regionally accredited must submit a course-by-course evaluation from an approved service (for example WES, ECE, IERF). Transfer English proficiency can also be shown by IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80 (or 550 paper), or an official U.S. transcript with first-year composition at a 2.5 combined GPA. Scores must be no more than five years old. UGA's TOEFL and SAT code is 5813. International students are not eligible for an application fee waiver.
Graduate admission is by department recommendation and final approval of the Graduate School dean. GRE scores are required for most graduate degrees; GMAT is required for the MBA and Master of Accountancy, and some programmes accept either. Requirements vary by department. The application fee is $75 for the first application and $25 for each additional one. Graduate School deadlines: domestic applicants, Fall July 1, Spring November 15, Summer May 1; international applicants, Fall April 15, Spring October 15, Summer February 15; departments may set earlier dates.
International graduate applicants show English proficiency with TOEFL iBT (overall 80 with at least 20 in speaking and writing for tests before January 21, 2026) or IELTS (overall 6.5, no band below 6.0), or by completing Level 6 of the UGA Intensive English Program. Duolingo is not accepted. Applicants recommended for admission must show proof of finances to the Office of Global Engagement to obtain visa documents.
University Housing runs the residence halls; first-year students must live on campus.
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