Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

Admissions and Funding

All students admitted to the MA and PhD programs are fully funded for the duration of their graduate studies: 

  • 2 years for students seeking an MA
  • 6 years for MA/PhD students entering with a BA
  • 4 years for PhD students entering with an MA

Funding comes in two forms:

  • competitive first-year and dissertation-year fellowships
  • Graduate Teaching Associateships

All funding packages include:

  • a full tuition and instructional fee waiver
  • stipend (living costs)
  • a health insurance subsidy of 100%

In addition, we offer financial support for graduate students to earn the official TestDAF certification of German proficiency.

All fellowships include summer funding, and the department is able to offer many students the opportunity to teach over the summer, either in Columbus or one of our study abroad programs in Germany (Berlin or Dresden). 

Students can also apply to various funding sources for summer research and internships:

The Ohio State Office of International Affairs (OIA) also provides scholarships and grants for graduate students. Read about these on the OIA site.

Our graduate students are also specially eligible for additional funding just for Ohio State students, including study abroad fellowships, University Fellowships, Max Kade Foundation fellowships, and Presidential dissertation fellowships. Plus, our students regularly compete for national and international fellowships, including Fulbright and DAAD awards to secure additional years of funding. 

Learn more about how graduate student funding works at Ohio State on the Graduate School site.

We provide additional financial support for our graduate students to present at conferences and conduct research.

Our generous package, combined with the low cost of living in Columbus, makes our graduate students among the best-funded in the United States.

For more information, email our Academic Program Services Senior Specialist.