Located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia State University (GSU), is a public research university founded in 1913.

GSU gained its research status in 1995 and is the largest university in the state with a student population of 32,000 and over 250 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. More than 100 fields of study are managed by around 3,500 faculty members spread across eight academic colleges and schools, including policy studies, nursing and health, arts and sciences, education, law, public health, business, and a school that focuses on introducing students to their chosen discipline.

Largely regarded as a business capital, the city of Atlanta enables GSU students to take advantage of a wide range of employment and networking opportunities.

The university campus neighbours notable local landmarks like the CNN Centre, the global headquarters of CNN, and the Centennial Olympic Park, built to host the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic games. Collectively, the university library and the law library hold over 4.3 million books. Both also serve as a federal document depository, which means they contain government documents that can be accessed by the public for free.

Included in its 180,000 strong network of alumni is Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts and American rapper Ludacris.

WRAS, the university radio station, has been run by students since it launched in 1971.

Atlanta’s Rialto Center for the Arts is an 833-seat performing arts venue and home to the university’s School of Music. The centre also acts as a cultural resource for the wider community, hosting external events such as the annual Rialto Series, a showcase of some of the best international jazz acts, and the National Black Arts Festival.

GSU’s Student Recreation Center, funded from student fees and costing nearly $30 million to complete, spans 161,112 square feet and offers students a huge variety of sports facilities and fitness programs.