How can international students study in the USA for free?

International graduate students can study in the USA for free through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), and institutional fellowships. These awards provide a 100% full tuition waiver plus an annual living stipend ranging from $22,000 to $38,000 USD.

Do graduate assistantships cover health insurance and living expenses?

Yes, standard GTA/GRA appointments (typically 20 hours/week) at major US universities (such as Purdue, UIUC, Georgia Tech, and UC Berkeley) include comprehensive university health insurance coverage and bi-weekly living stipends.

Do I need a GRE score to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA?

Many US universities have made GRE scores optional or waived them entirely for Fall 2026 admissions. Check our Fall 2026 Fee Waiver and GRE Exemption directory for specific departmental policies.

Verified Institutional Funding Guide (2026)

Georgia Institute of Technology Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $26,000 - $36,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Public Engineering Institution in the Southeast

Average Stipend

$26,000 - $36,000 / year

International Cohort

44% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

Masters & PhD

College of Engineering & Computing GTA / GRA Appointments

Annual Value

$2,200 - $3,000 / month ($26,400 - $36,000/year)

Coverage: Full Out-of-State Tuition Waiver + Monthly Stipend

Application Deadline: January 1 - January 15

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Computing, Engineering, or Quantitative Sciences
GPA 3.3+ on 4.0 scale
TOEFL iBT 90+ (minimum 19 in each sub-score) or IELTS 7.0+

Visit Department Admissions

Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

13 - 20 hours/week (1/3 to 1/2 time)

Federally funded research in robotics, machine learning, cybersecurity, clean energy, and aerospace.

Statutory Benefits: Reduces tuition from $16,000+/semester down to $25 mandatory fee + stipend.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $85 for International Applicants

Departmental waivers granted for eligible research preview event participants and GEM fellowship applicants.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (Georgia Tech)

How much tuition do I pay at Georgia Tech if I have a GRA or GTA?

With a 1/3-time or 1/2-time GRA/GTA appointment, your tuition is reduced to exactly $25 per semester. You only pay standard student mandatory fees.

Local Living Cost Summary

Atlanta offers dynamic metropolitan living at a significantly lower cost than Boston, New York, or San Francisco. Average student housing near campus (Midtown Atlanta) is $900 - $1,300/month.

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at Georgia Tech are calibrated to cover housing, health insurance, and local living costs without personal loans.

Check Your Acceptance & Assistantship Odds

Use our free statutory predictor to evaluate your GPA, GRE, publications, and funding eligibility.

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Other Fully Funded Universities

Purdue University

$24,000 - $34,000 / year • West Lafayette, Indiana

Stanford University

$45,000 - $52,000 / year • Stanford, California

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

$42,000 - $48,000 / year • Cambridge, Massachusetts

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$25,000 - $35,000 / year • Urbana-Champaign, Illinois