General Information

Admission to our graduate program is highly competitive. Approximately 100 students are currently enrolled in various stages of study. About 20 funded students, recruited from a large applicant pool, enter each year. The average combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores of admitted students typically is 82%. The average for the writing component is 76%.  In addition, most admitted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.73. Admission decisions are based, however, on a student's whole record and special consideration is given to students with unique talents and backgrounds. Students whose native language is not English (and who have not received a degree from an American university) must provide TOEFL scores. The average test score for admitted applicants is 112 (Internet-based) or 273 (computer-based).

Applications for admission with financial aid must be received by the deadline. The admission deadline for international students is November 30th, and the deadline for domestic students is December 15th. All applicants must supply college transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, resume, and GRE scores.

Admission decisions are made throughout the fall and winter. Each applicant is judged individually on the basis of grades, test scores, recommendations, and the applicant's personal statement. The department cannot evaluate applications until all required materials, including GRE scores and recommendations, are received. A personal interview is not required, though applicants who have been offered admission are encouraged to visit the department, so that they can speak with faculty members and current students.

The graduate program is designed for full-time study and part-time study is strongly discouraged. Students enter the program in the autumn quarter in all but exceptional cases.

For an application, contact:
Admissions Office
The Ohio State University
Third Floor Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210-1200

Or apply on-line at http://www-afa.adm.ohio-state.edu/apps/grad-dom/dg-dwnld.html.

Financial Aid

Virtually all incoming Ph.D. students receive financial aid. Some students receive graduate assistantships; others receive university fellowships. Fellowships generally provide twelve months of support for at least one year. Departmental assistantships entail working 20 hours per week assisting faculty with research and teaching. As they progress through the program, some students also obtain support from the Mershon Center, the Political Research Laboratory, and Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships. Most advanced students have an opportunity to teach their own courses.

Financial aid generally includes a waiver of tuition and a stipend for living expenses, which increases at each stage in the program. For students making normal progress, departmental funding typically continues for five years. Support may be extended beyond five years through awards and fellowships granted outside the university. It is expected that most students will finish Ph.D. requirements within about five years, though students doing fieldwork may require additional study and may petition the department to gain eligibility for more than five years of funding.

All financial aid is distributed for autumn quarter admission. To be considered for university fellowships and departmental assistantships, all application materials must be received by December 15. Students who do not receive financial aid in their first year may compete for departmental support in later years and often receive it. The university's Financial Aid Office also offers low-cost, long-term loans, which are payable in installments after completion of the degree or withdrawal from the university.

A Commitment to Affirmative Action and Diversity

The Department of Political Science is strongly committed to recruiting students from under-represented ethnic groups. We are a charter institution in the American Political Science Association (APSA) Minority Identification Project, and we are active in the recruitment of students who have attended the Ralph Bunche Institute or who have been designated APSA Minority Fellows. University-wide financial aid is also available for qualified African Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and Native Americans. (Over the years, many of our minority enrollees have won Graduate Enrichment Fellowships.) Currently, over 30% of our graduate students are female and over 15% are members of minority groups.  The university also takes part in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Minorities Fellowship Program.

CIC application forms are available from:

CIC Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Program
Indiana University
803 East Eighth Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 800-457-4420
Fax: 812-855-8741