International Employee Guides

Kennesaw State is a comprehensive university located on two suburban campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, northwest of metro Atlanta. We are making an impact across the region, the nation and around the world. As of August 2022, we are the third largest university in Georgia with nearly 43,000 students enrolled in over 180 undergraduate, master’s, doctoral degree and certificate programs.

KSU has two beautiful campuses, the Kennesaw Campus and the Marietta campus. Click the links to learn more about your college.

• The Kennesaw Campus is home to the College of the Arts, the Michael J. Coles College of Business, the Leland and Clarice Bagwell College of Education, the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, the KSU Journey Honors College,  and the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
• The Marietta Campus is home to the College of Architecture and Construction Management, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.
• For maps and a virtual tour of the campuses, click here. 

The area around KSU provides a variety of housing options, including apartments to rent or single family houses, condominiums, or townhomes to rent or purchase. 

• Housing to Purchase: When looking for a home to purchase, most people use a realtor who can show them the options and assist with the purchasing process. Be sure to read reviews of realtors and check that they are licensed. Also be sure to check with the banks regarding their requirements for obtaining a mortgage, if needed.
• Apartments: Sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Housing Search provides detailed information about rental properties and helps people find housing to best fit their needs. 
• Utilities such as trash service, water, electricity and/or gas, and internet are an additional cost. A listing of utility companies for Kennesaw and Marietta here and here, respectively.

• Big Owl Bus (BOB): KSU offers a free university bus system called the Big Owl Bus (BOB), which goes around the campus and nearby student housing and stores. Click here to find information about the routes and hours of service in case you need transportation and do not have personal transportation.
• Driving in the U.S.: If a non-US citizen establishes residency in Georgia, he or she must obtain a Georgia driver's license within thirty (30) days. You can find more information on the Georgia Department of Driver Services website. This site shows the different locations in which you can get your driver license and the state of Georgia ID, and please check this website to learn about the documentation you will need to get your drivers license.  If you wish to purchase a car, be sure to do research about the car's comparative value, and also review its history by looking up the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Ensure that you receive a title for the car to demonstrate ownership. Once you have purchased a car, you will also need to register the car at your County Tag Office and receive your new car license plate.
• Public Transportation: The Cobb County government operates a bus line called CobbLinc. Two buses stop at the Kennesaw campus, with other routes stopping nearby. Several other buses stop near the Marietta campus. Tickets are approximately $2.50 per ride, or $5 for the express bus. Click here for full details including schedules and routes. The MARTA also provides transportation closer to Atlanta via bus and train. The city of Atlanta also provides a list of resources for the Atlanta area here.  
• Additional Options: A list of clean commuting options including biking, carpooling, rideshares, and more can be found here.

There are two basic types of bank accounts in the U.S.:

• Checking Accounts: With a checking account you can deposit your money in the account and access those funds using your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card or by writing personal checks. Most likely you will pay your rent and bills with your checks, but most stores do not accept personal checks for purchases anymore. The bank will provide you with a checkbook and checks (there may be a fee depending on how you want to personalize your order). The ATM card is provided for free, but there are often fees for using your ATM card at banks other than the one where you hold an account. Additionally, most checking accounts have a minimum balance requirement. If you go below the minimum, you will be charged a fee.
• Saving Accounts: If you have money that you do not need to use immediately, you may want to open a savings account. The advantage of a savings account is that money in the account earns interest. You can usually deposit and withdraw money from a savings account as you wish. As with checking accounts, there is normally a minimum account balance requirement.

When you go to open your account, take your passport and immigration documents along with any and all U.S. identification that you possess and proof of address. It is very helpful to get your bank account set up soon after you arrive so you can have your paychecks directly deposited into your accounts. 

The United States offers a variety of childcare and school options for children.  The Georgia Department of Education provides information about school options for elementary, middle, and high school-aged children that you can find here. We have also included a general summary below. Be sure to research the options well before making a choice.

• Day Care: Usually for young children, day care is a childcare option for working parents or parents who need to complete activities without their children. Day cares are privately run and offer childcare from approximately 7am to 6pm. Parents can often choose how many days or hours they would like for their children to be in day care. In the U.S., day cares can be expensive.
• Preschool: Preschool is usually for children ages 3-5. Preschool is generally more structured than day care, but is available for fewer hours per day than day care.
• Public School: Public schools are available to all families, but students are assigned a school according to the area their family lives in. If you would like to place your child(ren) in a public school, be sure to research the school district and assigned schools for a particular area before choosing your accommodations. While public school is "free," there are some costs, which can include lunch, school supplies, and other miscellaneous fees and expenses.
• Private School: There are a variety of private schools. The schools can be secular or religion-based. Private school tuition can vary from a few thousand dollars to over $20,000 per year. Private schools generally have admission standards.