Prospective Student FAQ

Who is considered a transient student?

A transient student is one who is currently working toward a graduate degree at another university and seeking temporary admission status to earn graduate credit at Ohio University for transfer to his/her home university.

Do I have to submit a Financial Support Form with my application? (International Students only)

It is not required, but it is recommended. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services require that Ohio University establish that students have sufficient funds for the first year of study before a Form I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued.

Having a complete Financial Support Form on file at the point you are admitted will speed up processing of your Certificate of Eligibility.

How much is the application fee and how can I pay it?

The application fee information can be found on our Application and Admission webpage.

If you apply electronically, you can pay by credit card or electronic check (U.S. Bank Only). Please be aware that an electronic check takes 6 business days to be processed and you should receive an email confirmation of the transaction. If you wish to pay by conventional check or money order rather than online, you must fill out a paper application. See Application and Admission for details.

We cannot waive the application fee.

How does the admission process work at Ohio University?

Your application, transcripts, and test scores are all processed through the Graduate College, and then are forwarded to the academic department. The department evaluates your application materials as part of the program admission process. The program admission process may include interviews or auditions.The program faculty also makes decisions regarding graduate assistantship assignments. Once the program faculty have made a decision, that decision is relayed back to the Graduate College, and an official admission decision is sent to you.

How can I schedule a tour of campus?

The Graduate College does not conduct campus tours. As a graduate student, you may want to contact the program to which you applied in order to arrange a visit with them. Find your department contact information from our programs listing page.

What minimum test scores are needed for admission?

Please be aware that not all academic departments require standardized tests. This requirement along with the minimum score requirement (if applicable) can be found on the Degree Programs webpage. If you are an international student, minimum scores for the TOEFL and IELTS are also on our English Proficiency webpage. The institution code for Ohio University is 1593. Please be aware that for the general GRE no department code is needed, but for a subject GRE please contact the department.

When will I be informed of my admission decision?

The Graduate College does not make admission decisions. The academic department makes all decisions and you need to contact the specific program to which you applied. A list of programs with links to their websites can be found on our programs listing page.

What are the admission requirements, and what is the application deadline?

Each academic department determines admission requirements and deadlines. This information can be found on our Degree Programs page for each program.

Can you tell me if I am qualified for admission?

As you are probably aware, graduate admission is competitive. The chances of any application being successful depend on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) academic background, work experience, test scores, letters of recommendation, and the overall strength of the applicant pool in any given year. We encourage you to review the departmental information available online, contact the department directly to determine whether or not it seems like a place you believe you could be successful. If you find it so, then please fill out an application.

How will I be informed of my admission decision?

Most departments will notify students that they have been recommended for admission, by mail or email. This notice is then followed a week or two later by the official admission letter from the Graduate College. The Graduate College sends all admission decisions by email.

How do I check on my letters of recommendation?

Return to the OHIO Graduate Online Application and follow the instructions in the "Returning Users" section. Within the Application Status Portal, you can review the Checklist and see which letters have been received.

To re-send notification emails to your recommenders, re-visit the recommendations page, click "Edit", and then click "Send Reminder."

What kind of financial aid is available?

A brief explanation of the types of financial assistance for graduate students can be found on our Financial Assistance page.

You can find more information on our Graduate Appointments page.

How can I change something on the application that I submitted online?

Once your application is submitted it cannot be changed. If you need to update information such as your current mailing address or email address, please contact the Graduate College at graduate@ohio.edu. Please include your PID number in all correspondence.