The Graduate School Handbook contains the rules, policies, and guidelines applicable to the graduate community at The Ohio State University.
The Graduate School Handbook contains the rules, policies and guidelines applicable to the graduate community at The Ohio State University.
These rules, policies and guidelines are reviewed by the Graduate Council and approved by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School. It is regularly updated throughout the year as the Graduate Council makes or revises rules and guidelines.
All deadlines provided in this handbook are given in reference to the autumn and spring semesters calendar. For corresponding deadlines for May session, summer session and seven week sessions please refer to Appendix A, Academic Deadlines and to the website of the University Registrar.
When using the Graduate School Handbook, the Graduate School suggests that you use the web-based version by default as the handbook is updated periodically. The option to print is at the bottom of this page and will provide you with the entire current handbook. Each section also has a print version which will provide users with that section only. If you are unable to find specific information, you can use the search button at the top right of every page to search the Graduate School website.
If you have questions please reach out to us through specific channels listed on our contact page.
Graduate education and its governance are shared responsibilities. The most visible activity of graduate education is the intellectual interaction of faculty and students involved in learning and advancing knowledge. Supporting these endeavors are academic leaders in departments, colleges, and central university positions who are committed to providing an atmosphere in which graduate education and research can flourish. Faculty, students, and administrators working together, dedicated to the ideals of scholarship and high standards that characterize graduate education, share the responsibility for ensuring the quality of graduate programs and research.
The Graduate School at The Ohio State University is comprised of university faculty (the Graduate Faculty) authorized to give graduate instruction, a representative advisory body (Graduate Council), and the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School, and administrative staff.
The Graduate School maintains a handbook that provides specific details for policies and procedures applicable to all graduate programs at The Ohio State University. In addition, each graduate program maintains a program-specific handbook that includes additional requirements for that program of study.
The chief officer of the Graduate School is the dean, who has responsibility for leadership in the activities of the Graduate School (University Rules 3335-3-29 and 3335-3-31). The dean has responsibility for appointing graduate school committees and for conferring with departments or schools in all matters concerning graduate work. The dean is to be consulted by college deans concerning appointment and promotion of faculty members offering graduate courses or advising graduate students. The administration of the Graduate School also includes associate and assistant deans and other staff members who carry out the various programs and services of the Graduate School.
University Rules, starting at Section 14 of the Graduate School Handbook, summarize the membership and responsibilities of the Graduate Council, which is the principal advisory body of the Graduate School and which participates in the development of rules, policies, and standards pertaining to graduate education and graduate programs.
Local Graduate Studies Committees are charged with the responsibility for conducting specific graduate programs within the context of the policies and rules established by the Graduate School. The Graduate School’s rules and policies are the minimum standards within which local Graduate Studies Committees formulate, publish, and enforce their own graduate program policies, rules, and procedures. Graduate Studies Committees serve as the primary liaison between the Graduate Faculty and the Graduate School. Section 13 of the Graduate School Handbook summarizes the responsibilities of Graduate Studies Committees and Graduate Studies Committee Chairs.
University Rules 3335-5-29 through 3335-5-31 cover the membership of the Graduate Faculty, powers and responsibilities, and meetings Section 12 of the Graduate School Handbook provides specific information about Graduate Faculty eligibility, responsibilities, and nomination procedures.
Graduate students are expected to follow the rules approved by the Graduate Council and presented in this handbook. A student who believes that circumstances warrant a waiver of a rule may submit a petition to the Graduate School.
Petitions about Graduate School rules must be directed to the Graduate School (grad-schoolpetitions@osu.edu), must include a written statement from the student requesting the waiver of a specific rule and describing the circumstances, and must include written statements from the student’s advisor, the course instructor (if appropriate), and the Graduate Studies Committee Chair, reacting to the student’s request and providing any additional information pertinent to the waiver request.
The admission of students to the Graduate School is the joint responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee of the local program and the Graduate School. However, the Graduate School has the final authority for making admission decisions. The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions receives and processes the application, collecting the application fee, transcripts, and test scores (if applicable). The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions is also responsible for sending the official admission decision.
Online Application. All degree and non-degree graduate applicants must use the online application available at the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website to obtain graduate program information and apply.
Application Deadlines. Domestic applicants interested in being considered for a Graduate School Fellowship must apply before deadlines posted by the graduate program of interest. International applicants interested in being considered for a Graduate School Fellowship must apply by the last working day in November. The Graduate School application process opens at the beginning of autumn semester and early applications can be considered by graduate programs as of that time. Graduate Program deadlines for receiving applications may vary but should be no later than May 15 for summer session, July 15 for autumn semester, and December 1 for spring semester. Domestic applicants who apply sixty days prior to the start of a semester or session can be considered for admission to that term. Earlier dates may apply for international applicants who require visa sponsorship. Graduate Studies Committees establish admission application deadlines and are not required to admit students every semester, session or term.
Application Fee. All Graduate School applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee. Waivers to the application fee are offered by various colleges on campus, as well as, by the Graduate School. If an applicant believes that they meet the criteria for a waiver, they should visit The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions fee waiver website for further details.
Admission Criteria. An applicant must submit documentation that demonstrates fulfillment of the following admission criteria or equivalent qualifications:
Additional Admission Recommendations. For applicants who received their last degree (relevant to the level of study) from an unaccredited college or university, the Graduate School strongly recommends that programs include other metrics of academic quality such as the GRE, GMAT, or Subject Specific test scores for their admission criteria. Alternatively, these students can enroll in the Graduate Bridge Program (GBP) and transition out of the GBP when the program is satisfied the student can be successful in their program. All applicants whose cGPA for the last degree earned relevant to the degree of acceptance, as well as any subsequently completed graduate coursework, is below 3.0 may be conditionally admitted if they meet the criteria for the program. If standardized test scores are required by the program, admission will not be considered until test scores have been received. Programs may opt into the GBP in order to recruit students with a cGPA below 3.0 that may not be candidates for conditional enrollment. The GBP is also an option for students that have a cGPA over the 3.0 minimum but have other reasons for being underprepared for Graduate School at Ohio State.
Admission Materials. An applicant must submit the following materials (see instructions accompanying The Ohio State University Graduate School admission application for further details):
Note: Each admitted international applicant will also be required to submit certain financial documentation indicating that financial resources are available to defray the cost of graduate education.
Applicants are admitted to the Graduate School in one of five classifications: regular, provisional, conditional, graduate non-degree, or the Graduate Bridge Program.
Regular. Applicants who have met all Graduate School and Graduate Studies Committee admission criteria and who have been approved by the Graduate Studies Committee to pursue a graduate degree are designated as regular students.
Provisional. Applicants who are recommended as regular admits but have one or more validating item(s) not available at the time of admission, such as an official undergraduate transcript or other items required by their graduate degree program, are designated as provisional students by the Graduate Studies Committee or by the Graduate School. Additional information may be found on the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website.
International students who are admitted to an Ohio State graduate program under an international cooperative graduate degree agreement (ICGDA) for a combined or a dual degree program are designated as provisional students by the Graduate Studies Committee or by the Graduate School until the requirements stated in the specific ICGDA are met.
Conditional. Applicants whose academic records do not meet requirements for regular admission but indicate the potential to perform satisfactorily in a graduate degree program may be admitted as conditional students by the Graduate School. This classification is assigned for one or more of the following reasons, for example: The applicant has a baccalaureate or professional degree but the college or university is unaccredited, less than an overall 3.0 cGPA in last degree earned with evidence of improvement in latter terms and/or in coursework relevant to the graduate program, and/or subject matter deficiencies as specified by the Graduate Studies Committee. Applicants whose last degree earned was from an institution that does not utilize a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA can be calculated (e.g., narrative evaluation, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, etc.) may also be considered for conditional admission.
It is recommended that conditional students not enroll for more than nine credit hours per autumn or spring semester and not hold graduate associate (GA) appointments requiring them to give instruction in the area of subject matter deficiency. If the conditional designation results from a low entering cGPA, the candidate is ineligible to hold an appointment as a GA. Conditional students are ineligible for Graduate School fellowships.
Students admitted to the Graduate School on a conditional basis must maintain a 3.0 cGPA during the first 10 hours of graded graduate credit. Programs petitioning for a student’s conditional admission may also be asked to provide a mentorship plan for Graduate School consideration.
Conditional Admission for International Students. The Graduate School’s policy on conditional admission based on English proficiency is intended to facilitate admission of academically qualified, degree-seeking international students who have not satisfied the minimum English language requirement, yet are being considered for admission by a graduate program. To be considered for conditional admission, international applicants must meet the following criteria: an IBT TOEFL score of 61 or higher, but lower than the required 79; or an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher, but lower than 7.0; and formal recommendation of the conditional admission from the graduate program. Students who are conditionally admitted under these criteria will attend and successfully complete the American Language Program (ALP) for one autumn semester, spring semester, or summer term and obtain a minimum score of 550 (in the old) or 19 (on each section of the new) paper-based (TOEFL) institutional testing program (TOEFL-ITP). Students are not permitted to hold graduate associate (GA) appointments while attending ALP.
Graduate Bridge Program (GBP). The GBP is a bridge to Graduate School that allows potential students who are not regularly or conditionally admitted, for up to one full academic year, to receive mentoring and complete graduate-level coursework before fully transitioning to regular student status within an academic program. The GBP is geared toward prospective graduate students who do not meet the criteria for regular admission and do not have strong enough academic records for conditional admission. Examples of candidates for GBP are those who desire to explore graduate school or enter a graduate discipline very different from their undergraduate discipline, life-long learners returning to the university after a significant lapse of time, and individuals with weak undergraduate records but through relevant life experiences are now better prepared to meet the academic challenges of graduate school. Please see Appendix G for additional information regarding the GBP.
Graduate Non-Degree. U.S. applicants who do not intend to pursue a graduate degree at this university may register in the graduate non-degree classification. Eligibility is extended to those who are enrolled in a graduate program at another U.S. university who wish to study for one term as a transient student at Ohio State and transfer course credit back to their home institution and to those enrolled in established exchange programs or special university-sponsored workshops. International applicants with an F or J visa are restricted in their ability to be admitted as a graduate non-degree student. Such applicants will be reviewed by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.
On verification of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, graduate non-degree students may enroll in the Graduate School at large to take graduate courses open to graduate non-degree students. They are not registered in a specific graduate degree program, nor does their enrollment require the approval of a Graduate Studies Committee. Graduate non-degree students may not register for courses numbered 8998 and 8999.
If a graduate non-degree student is admitted to a graduate degree program, no more than 10 hours of graduate credit accumulated while in this non-degree classification may be counted toward a graduate degree. If a dual degree student, the credits may not be used as dual or shared credit. If a graduate non-degree student is admitted to a graduate certificate program, no more than four hours of semester graduate credit accumulated while in this non-degree classification may be counted toward the certificate. Within this limit, the number of graduate credit hours is determined by the Graduate Studies Committee of the student’s intended degree program. Regardless of the hours counted toward degree requirements, all courses taken for graduate credit in graduate non-degree status count in the total earned hours; graded courses (A-EN) count in the cumulative grade-point average. Prior to the effective semester, session or term of admission to the degree program, the Graduate Studies Committee notifies the Graduate School of which courses are to count toward that degree.
Specifying Conditions of Admission. The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for specifying the conditions of admission. The committee must state not only the requirements of conditional admission but also the means by which the requirements are to be satisfied and the time limit for completing them. Once a conditional student has been assigned an advisor, the Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for informing the advisor of the admission conditions.
Provisional to Regular. The provisional restriction is removed by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions upon receipt of the materials pending at the time of admission, or upon meeting the requirements specified in the ICGDA, when applicable Submission of official transcripts should follow the guidelines specified by the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.
Conditional to Regular. It is the dual responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School to monitor the progress of students in the conditional classification. Each semester, the Graduate School notifies the Graduate Studies Committee of students listed as conditional. On completion of the conditions of admission set by the Graduate Studies Committee, the chair asks the Graduate School to change the student’s classification to regular.
The status of a student admitted in the conditional classification should be changed to regular by the Graduate Studies Committee before the Application to Graduate is submitted. However, if the Graduate Studies Committee Chair signs the Application to Graduate for a conditional student, the Graduate School assumes that the student has fulfilled the conditions of admission and the student’s classification is changed to regular by the Graduate School. Failure to complete the conditional admission requirements within the time limit specified by the Graduate Studies Committee results in the student being denied further registration in that graduate program by the Graduate School.
Graduate Bridge Program (GBP) to Regular. It is the dual responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School to monitor the progress of students in the GBP. Students in the GBP who have achieved the 3.0 minimum GPA would be enrolled into their mentoring graduate program to which they have been accepted as a regular graduate student or apply to other graduate programs at the end of any term. Students in the GBP with a graduate GPA less than 3.0 may be conditionally accepted into the graduate program, but this is not guaranteed by the GBP commitment.
Graduate Non-Degree to Regular. Graduate non-degree students who wish to become regular students at this university must submit another application to the Graduate School through the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions.
Application Worksheet Form. Once the applicant’s application material is complete, the graduate program requests from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions a GPA calculation for those applicants the program wishes to review. The GPA calculation is reflected on the Application Worksheet form. The applications are then reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee of the program for an admission recommendation.
Admit. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends admission as a regular student and if the applicant meets minimum Graduate School admission criteria, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of admission by e-mail. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends admission as a regular student but the application requires additional consideration (e.g., the student’s last degree earned was from an institution that does not utilize a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA can be calculated, etc.), the program refers the application, via petition, to the Graduate School for a final determination.
Provisional. If a required document (e.g. an official transcript) is missing in the application material of a student who is recommended for regular admit, or for incoming international students under an approved ICGDA, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of provisional admission by e-mail.
Conditional. If the Graduate Studies Committee recommends the conditional admission of a student whose record does not meet published Graduate School admission criteria, the program refers the application, via petition, to the Graduate School for a final determination. The candidate is ineligible to hold an appointment as a GA. The Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of the final admission decision by e-mail.
Denial of Admission. If the Graduate Studies Committee or the Graduate School recommends denial of admission, the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions notifies the applicant of that decision by e-mail.
Admission Notice. Graduate School admission is valid only for the autumn or spring semester or summer term and year indicated in the letter/e-mail from the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. Admitted students wishing to defer enrollment should contact their graduate program office to see if the program can or cannot accommodate the request. All application material becomes the property of The Ohio State University and will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.
Upon arrival, students who are from a country exempted from the English proficiency requirement or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution within 24 months of their matriculation into an Ohio State graduate program are exempt from the Academic English Writing Assessment (previously known as the ESL Composition Placement Essay). Based on the essay result, students needing English writing instruction will be placed in EDUTL 5901 or 5902. The student is expected to complete EDUTL 5902 within one calendar year after beginning graduate school. The Graduate Studies Committee in the student’s graduate program may request an extension of the time limit. Such requests must be sent to the Graduate School for review. The Graduate School will monitor the student’s progress toward completing the ESL course sequence.
Exemption from sitting for the Academic English Writing Assessment may be granted to students who either have a total score of 114 on the IBT TOEFL, or a total score of 101 and a score of 28 on the writing section. Alternatively, students with a score of 9.0 on the IELTS, or an overall score of 8.0 and a score of 8.0 on the writing module are also eligible for exemption.
International or permanent resident graduate students for whom English is not the first language must certify their proficiency in spoken English before assuming any Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) instructional duties. They may become certified by scoring 28 or higher on the spoken portion of the TOEFL IBT, 8.5 on the IELTS, or by scoring at the appropriate level on the Oral Proficiency Assessment (OPA) administered by the Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP).
Current students or students who graduated from an Ohio State graduate program within the past three terms are required to notify the Graduate Studies Committee in the current program of their intent to transfer into a new graduate program. Current students may transfer from one graduate program to another by completing an Intra-Graduate Transfer (IGT) application with the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions. This application requires the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in the receiving program. Graduate Associates should speak with their current advisor and supervisor about any potential impacts to their appointment.
The Graduate School will verify student-provided information pertaining to the student’s academic performance to the Graduate Studies Committee of the proposed graduate program. The Graduate Studies Committee may require additional material from the student before review. If the Graduate Studies Committee approves the transfer, it will specify the admission classification and the courses already completed that will count toward its graduate degree program.
The Graduate Studies Committee must notify the Graduate School of the admission classification and courses to count prior to the effective autumn or spring semester or summer term of transfer. Graduate School Fellowships (Section 10) do not automatically transfer with students who are approved for transfer into a different graduate program. Doctoral candidacy status (Section 7) does not transfer to a new graduate program.
Faculty. No tenure-track faculty member, clinical/teaching/practice faculty member, or research faculty member will be permitted to pursue a degree offered by the tenure initiating unit (TIU) in which the faculty member holds an appointment. In those instances where faculty members wish to pursue degrees in other units or colleges, they are subject to the provisions of University Rule 3335-9-11.
Administrators. In those instances where senior administrative and professional appointees wish to pursue graduate degrees, they are subject to the provisions of University Rule 3335-9-11 .
Student status is determined by the number of credit hours attempted each autumn or spring semester or each summer term. Full-time status is determined according to a student’s academic status in the program, type of appointment, fees, financial aid eligibility, and visa requirements. Half-time status is defined as half the number of credit hours required for full-time status. Audited credit hours do not count for financial aid, full-time status, or minimum visa requirements.
Masters or Predoctoral Candidates. For full-time status, a student must register for the minimum number of regular credit hours as specified for the categories below. Audited credit hours do not count towards the minimum credit hours required for full-time status. However, audited credit hours can be included within the maximum number of credit hours allowed per autumn or spring semester or summer term.
Full-time status for all graduate students who are not yet doctoral candidates (pre-candidacy) is typically eight to 18 credit hours per autumn or spring semester and eight to 15 credit hours per summer term. This credit-hour requirement is applicable for their visa and/or financial aid eligibility.
Pre-Candidacy Academic Leave. Pre-candidacy students who want to withdraw from their doctoral program or who plan to take a leave of absence from enrollment for one semester or more (up to one year) are required to complete a Withdrawal from Program or Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form to declare withdrawal or leave of absence, respectively. These forms, which may be completed and submitted in GRADFORMS, require advisor and program approval. Additionally, the Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form must specify inclusive dates of leave. Students who do not complete the Withdrawal from Program or Pre-Candidacy Leave of Absence form, or do not enroll after the inclusive dates of leave, will require program and advisor approval to be reinstated in their program. In certain cases, the program may require the student to submit additional documentation for evaluation. Programs should not use a denial of reinstatement as a proxy for dismissing a student from the program due to a lack of reasonable progress, as outlined in Section 5.4 of this document.
Doctoral Candidates. Full-time status for all doctoral candidates (i.e., students who have achieved doctoral candidacy status) (Section 7) is three credit hours per autumn, spring semester or summer term.
Continuous Enrollment. All students who successfully complete the doctoral candidacy examination are required to be enrolled in every autumn and spring semester (summer term is excluded) until graduation. These students must be enrolled for at least three credits per autumn and spring semester. These registration requirements can include research hours. This policy is effective for all students. Post-candidacy doctoral students are not eligible for academic leaves. They may apply for a leave of absence due to medical or military reasons, or during periods in which the University has declared a University State of Emergency Section 7.7.
International Students. International students are required to register for a minimum of eight credit hours in autumn and spring semesters. Enrollment in the summer term is optional unless the international student is in the first or last term in their program, is participating in a Curricular Practical Training, or is on an appointment as a graduate associate.
Graduate Associates. All graduate associates (Section 9), regardless of funding, holding 50 percent or greater appointments must register for at least eight credit hours per autumn or spring semester, and at least four credit hours in summer term. This includes GRAs who receive a Matching Tuition and Fees Award. GAs holding a 25 percent appointment must register for at least four credit hours per autumn or spring semester and two credit hours in summer term. Doctoral candidates must register for at least three credit hours each autumn or spring semester or summer term an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.
Fellows and Trainees. Students holding the titles Graduate Fellow or Graduate Trainee (Section 10), regardless of the source of the funds, must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours each autumn or spring semester the appointment is held and at least six credit hours in summer term. This includes Fellows and Trainees who receive a Matching Tuition and Fees Award. Graduate Fellows and Graduate Trainees who are doctoral candidates must register for at least three credit hours per autumn or spring semester or summer term an appointment is held. These registration requirements can include research hours.
Non-Graduate Credits. Under certain circumstances non-graduate credit course work may count toward the minimum requirements for GA and fellowship eligibility. Monitoring of the appropriateness of non-graduate credit course work will be the responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Graduate Program.
Course Load Inconsistent with Full-time Status: In certain situations, graduate students may desire to enroll in more than the number of credit hours required for their full-time status, based on their status in the program (e.g., for pursuing a minor, interdisciplinary specialization, certificate or dual degree). Such students should seek prior approval from their advisor and Graduate Studies Committee and discuss how enrolling for excess credit hours may affect their progress, program of study and any financial implications. This can be especially relevant for Graduate Trainees, Graduate Fellows, or GRAs with a Matching Tuition and Fees Award who receive the graduate fee authorization (GFA) benefit (Section 11.1). The GFA benefit is typically limited to credit hours defined in full-time status.
Other. Information on course loads for students receiving other loans or work-study support is available from the university’s Office of Student Financial Aid.
Registration Process. Once registration information is received, students consult their advisor or, if an advisor has not been assigned, their Graduate Studies Committee Chair, about course selection. Students may use their Ohio State e-mail account information during the appointed window of time to use the online registration system and to view their approved schedule and Statement of Account on their Student Center (via Buckeye Link). Students may access online registration to drop courses through the fourth Friday of the semester.
New Students. Registration information is available from the Office of the University Registrar . Students admitted immediately before the autumn or spring semester or summer term begins can obtain registration information at the Graduate School.
International Students. New international students initiate registration by reporting to the Office of International Affairs before visiting the Graduate School.
Distance Learning Students. Students enrolled in online programs (i.e. those programs that are 100% distance with no scheduled in-classroom or on-site activities) should register per the guidelines specified by their program. Students enrolled in online programs should also contact their program and the Office of Distance Education and eLeaning to confirm the university resources available to them.
Continuing Students. Continuing students will be e-mailed notification of their registration prior to the intended autumn or spring semester or summer term of enrollment. Students may view the Schedule of Classes online. All continuing students must access online registration.
Former Students. Former students returning after an absence of one or more semesters can obtain registration information from the Graduate School. Students wishing to reactivate their enrollment status should discuss reactivation with their specific graduate program. Those who have been absent from their graduate program without an approved leave of absence may require Graduate Studies Committee (and other program permission, if applicable) approval. Students who have been absent for two years or more require Graduate Studies Committee (and other program permission, if applicable) approval before reactivation. Visit Section 7.7 for more information.
Early Autumn Registration. Students may participate in Early Autumn Semester Registration. Registration information for those registered in spring semester will be e-mailed to students. Those not registered in spring semester may request registration information from the Graduate School.
Course Enrollment Permission. Certain courses and certain enrollment designations (e.g., Audit and Undergraduate option) require submission of a completed Course Enrollment Permission to the Graduate School by the second Friday of the semester of registration to add a course, and by the fourth Friday of the semester of registration to elect an audit option for a course in which the student is currently enrolled. Forms are available on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.
Late Registration Penalty. Students registering after published autumn or spring semester or summer term registration deadlines will incur substantial late registration penalties with the Office of the Registrar. Deadlines are published online on the Office of the University Registrar’s website .
Fee Payment. Fees are assessed based on the number of credit hours and the types of courses in which a student enrolls. The Registrar’s website houses an updated fee table . Students may pay fees online, by mail, or in person at the Office of the University Bursar . Students with a fee authorization will receive credit for their fees on their Statement of Account. Students who do not intend to enroll may contact the Graduate School.
Late Fee Payment Penalty. Students paying fees after the fee payment deadline are assessed a late fee payment penalty by the Office of the Bursar. The university reserves the right to refuse or cancel registration if fees are not paid by the second Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term. The Office of the University Registrar’s website contains information on deadlines, penalty fee rates, and refund schedules.
Students who are enrolled at the level of at least half-time status in an in person program are required to carry health insurance as a condition of enrollment. All such students who take any classroom instruction in person, including regional campus students, are automatically enrolled in Student Health Insurance (SHI) upon registration, unless the student obtains an exemption. Late changes to a student’s course enrollment may result in an unintentional disenrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan, especially if the changes result in a student dropping below the half-time threshold or changing to an all-distance learning mode of instruction. Please contact SHI for more information.
Dependents and Domestic Partners . Students may enroll dependent children and domestic partners into the student health insurance plans. Further information about sponsored dependent benefits is available on the Office of Human Resources website.
Mental Health and Counseling Services. The Counseling and Consultation Services (CCS) at the Office of Student Life provides individual and group mental health services, psychoeducational prevention and outreach programming to currently enrolled graduate and professional students. CCS also works with spouses/partners of students who are covered by Comprehensive Student Health Insurance.
Distance Students. Students enrolled in distance learning programs and/or distance learning (online) courses exclusively are automatically excluded from SHI. Distance-learning students may petition for enrollment in SHI.
Less Than Half-Time Status. Students who enroll for less than half-time status in either classroom or distance-learning courses or a combination of both are automatically excluded from SHI. Students with less than half-time status may petition for enrollment in SHI.
Other Health Insurance Plans. All domestic students who have coverage through a non-university health insurance plan and who want to waive SHI must either list the alternative policy information at the time of registration for courses, or complete the petition to waive at the SHI website. (See Section 11 for information about health benefits for students with fellowships).
International students who are fully financially sponsored by a government sponsor, or students who are covered as a U.S.-based employee under U.S.-based insurance, or as a dependent of a U.S.-based employee must complete an International Student Health Insurance Waiver form by the published deadline. The waiver form and more information about exceptions for international students can be found on the Student Health Insurance website .
Exchange Students. Ohio State graduate students may participate in a student exchange program with an institution in another country. These programs are typically at least a semester long and involve registration for course work as well as extended stay at the host institution. The graduate tuition and fees and stipend levels for these exchange students will need to be in accordance with the guidelines of the individual exchange programs. Ohio State exchange students who are not concurrently enrolled at Ohio State (while at the host institution), need to only purchase the comprehensive supplemental medical and security insurance policy. Ohio State exchange students who enroll at Ohio State during the exchange program are required to purchase the SHI. Exchange students from another institution who enroll at Ohio State during the Exchange program are required to purchase SHI unless they are covered by government sponsorship, or by a US-based company with US-based insurance.
With advisor approval, students may make schedule changes. Academic programs may also make schedule changes on the student’s behalf if the course in question is housed within that program. However, if the change involves a course outside of the home program or cannot otherwise be processed by program staff, the change must be made at the Graduate School. For all academic deadlines, refer to Appendix A.
Course Addition. Students may add courses to their schedules online through the first Friday of the semester. After the first Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term, additions to approved schedules require the permission of the instructor and approval of the student’s advisor and may be submitted on the Course Enrollment Permission form. After the second Friday of the autumn or spring semester or summer term, any addition to approved schedules is by petition to the Graduate School via the Late Course Petition form via GRADFORMS. Petitions must be approved by the instructor, advisor, and department chair. Petitions are reviewed in the Graduate School and are not always approved. Both the Permission and the Petition forms are available online on the Graduate School website.
Due to the various enrollment options of the summer term calendar, students are advised to refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website for official deadlines for adding courses.
Course Withdrawal. Until closing on the fourth Friday of an autumn or spring semester or summer term, a student may withdraw from any or all courses that began in the same semester with no mark entered on the official permanent record.
Withdrawal from any or all courses after closing on the fourth Friday of an autumn or spring semester or summer term requires the approval of the student’s advisor and such requests must be submitted to the Graduate School. After closing on the fourth Friday of a semester and until closing on the tenth Friday of a semester, if a student withdraws from any or all courses that began in the same semester, the Office of the University Registrar enters the mark “W” on the official permanent record for those courses. A dated notation “withdrew” is entered on the official permanent record when the student withdraws from the university.
After closing on the tenth Friday of the semester, students who, because of circumstances beyond their control, find it necessary to withdraw from any or all courses, must file a petition with the Graduate School. Reasons not acceptable for withdrawal include, but are not limited to, the student’s performance in the course(s), lack of preparation for the course(s), or dissatisfaction with the subject matter offered in the course(s).
The petition form is available via GRADFORMS. Petitions must be approved by the instructor and the advisor. Petitions are reviewed in the Graduate School. If the Graduate School approves the petition, a copy is filed with the Registrar, who is then authorized to enter the mark “W” on the student’s official permanent record, and the instructor(s) of the course(s) is/are so notified. If the petition is denied by the Graduate School, the student continues to be enrolled in the course(s), and a final grade(s) must be reported by the instructor(s).
A student who stops attending a course and does not officially withdraw from it has the final grade of “EN” as reported by the instructor entered on the official permanent record. Such a grade is based on the Rules of the University Faculty.
Academic Leave or Dismissal from the university during an autumn or spring semester entails withdrawal from all courses in which a student is enrolled during that semester. A graduate student who is involuntarily called to active-duty military service should contact the Graduate School for assistance with Military Leave course withdrawal.
Please refer to the Office of the University Registrar’s website for session information as session deadlines may vary.
The student’s official permanent record contains a list of all courses taken, grades earned, degrees earned, and dates of graduation while enrolled at this university. This record is located in the Office of the University Registrar. Unofficial records for all graduate students are maintained in the Graduate School. Students may examine their unofficial record by accessing their Advising Report in Buckeye Link.