Study in Atlanta, The United States

About Atlanta

Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia, is a large city in the southeastern United States and a hub for business, health care, research and technology. It is also known for its history of civil rights and social justice. For students it offers a large, varied university scene, many internship options and a mild climate.

The city is greener than many expect: according to Emory University, 48% of Atlanta is covered by trees and green spaces, Piedmont Park in Midtown covers 189 acres, and the Beltline, a 22-mile path for walking and cycling, links many neighbourhoods.

Studying in Atlanta

Our directory lists six schools in Atlanta: three universities and colleges, two English language schools and one school. The universities differ a lot in size and character:

• Emory University was founded in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia, and chartered in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighbourhood in 1915. It is a private research university with 15,175 students, 7,407 of them undergraduates, according to the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator.
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), founded in 1885, is a public research university in Midtown with seven colleges in business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, lifetime learning and the sciences. It states that more than 56,000 students from over 146 countries study there.
• Spelman College was founded in 1881 as Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary and is a historically Black college for women. It has 3,417 undergraduate students and offers 36 majors.

For English, the Atlanta English Institute (AEI) has taught English as a second language since 1993. It offers intensive English in eight levels, evening and weekend classes and preparation for TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and other exams, and helps students find a homestay. Georgia State University, a public university with 34,944 students in downtown Atlanta, runs the Intensive English Program at Georgia State University. EducationUSA notes that some U.S. universities also offer bridge or pathway programmes that combine English study with academic credit. At school level, The Westminster Schools is an independent Christian day school founded in 1951.

Student visa

An F student visa covers both degree study and full-time English courses at an English language institute. After admission, the school's international student office sends you a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes) to present at a U.S. embassy or consulate. University students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year with permission from the international student office.

Cost of living for students

Costs vary widely between public and private institutions. For a first-year undergraduate in 2024-25, College Navigator gives these figures:

• Georgia Tech (out-of-state rate, which international students pay): $34,484 tuition and fees, $13,608 food and housing on campus
• Emory University: $64,280 tuition and fees, $20,220 food and housing on campus
• Spelman College: $31,556 tuition and fees

Public transport is affordable. On MARTA, the regional trains and buses, a single fare costs $2.50 with up to four free transfers within three hours, and a 30-day pass costs $95. The Atlanta Streetcar costs $1.00.

Getting around and daily life

MARTA runs trains and buses across the city, and one fare covers transfers between them. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the city's airport. Summers are hot and humid, winters short and mild. At the airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 44.8 °F (about 7 °C) in January and 80.9 °F (about 27 °C) in July, with average daily highs of 90.1 °F (about 32 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Is Atlanta a good place to learn English?

Atlanta has several options: our directory lists the Atlanta English Institute, which teaches intensive English in eight levels and exam preparation, and the Intensive English Program at Georgia State University. Both can be taken on an F student visa.

Which universities are in Atlanta?

Our directory includes Emory University, Georgia Tech and Spelman College. The city also has Georgia State University, which runs an Intensive English Program.

How much does public transport cost in Atlanta?

A single MARTA fare costs $2.50, including up to four transfers within three hours, and a 30-day pass costs $95.

What is the weather like in Atlanta?

Winters are mild, with an average of 44.8 °F (about 7 °C) in January, and summers are hot, averaging 80.9 °F (about 27 °C) in July, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals.