Graduate admissions FAQs

The College of Public Health only admits students for one term each year. All students apply to begin study the following autumn semester.

In August, the SOPHAS application and HAMPCAS application open. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application 3-4 weeks prior to the posted deadline to allow for processing time. Applications received after the deadlines will be considered only if space remains available. Applicants applying to meet the College of Public Health Graduate School fellowship MUST have ALL materials submitted to SOPHAS or HAMPCAS by the priority deadline.

Aug. 13 - SOPHAS application open to applicants
Aug. 21 - HAMPCAS application open to applicants
Nov. 14 - Priority deadline and Graduate School fellowship deadline (View fellowship qualifications)
Feb. 2 - Deadline for the MHA and PhD programs
May 15 - Deadline for ALL MPH and MS programs (please be aware that some programs may reach capacity before the May 15 deadline, so we encourage all applicants to be proactive with application submissions)

All applicants are required to apply and submit application materials through the centralized application service, SOPHAS, except:

Applicants to the Master of Health Administration program may apply through SOPHAS or HAMPCAS.

Applicants to the interdisciplinary PhD program in Biostatistics or the interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences Graduate Program with a specialization in Environmental Public Health apply through The Ohio State University Graduate School.

SOPHAS will only allow applicants to apply for one program/specialization. Students interested in pursuing a dual degree may explore this option after admission is offered for their primary choice.

Grades from previous college/universities attended, strong letters of recommendation, a quality statement of intent, and relevant volunteer/work experience are all considered.

The MHA program invites selected applicants to participate in an interview with program faculty prior to making a final admissions decision. The VPH program also conducts interviews with potential candidates.

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Decisions usually take up to 2-4 weeks once all your application materials are received. For MHA and VPH students, the timeline for admissions may be a bit longer to accommodate for interviews. Students will be notified of their status at any given point in the process.

You will receive notification that you were recommended for admission by the College of Public Health via email. The Ohio State Graduate School will email your official admission letter once the decision is finalized.

The Ohio State Office of International Affairs provides some scholarships and grants for graduate students. Additional grant and scholarship opportunities are available from the East Asian Studies Center. Students are also encouraged to check with their country of citizenship to see if any funding is available.

There are a number of different types of funding opportunities available to College of Public Health students. Potential students should apply by the posted fellowship deadlines to be considered for the most aid:

Graduate fellowships
There are competitive university fellowships that students may receive if they meet certain criteria. Students do not apply for fellowship support, they are nominated for consideration during the application process if they complete applications prior to the posted deadlines.

CPH Graduate Assistantships
The College of Public Health offers a limited number of graduate student positions, most of which go to PhD students.

MHA-specific scholarships and jobs
Opportunities that are available only to Ohio State MHA students.

There also are funding opportunities offered that are available to College of Public Health students:

Ohio State graduate assistantships
Students also secure funding outside the College in other departments or programs at Ohio State. Some of our students have held Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA's) in the Department of Chemistry, or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA's) in the Student Wellness Center.

General funding opportunities
Applicants are encouraged to visit The Graduate School's funding website for information about general funding opportunities available at Ohio State.

April 15 is the priority date to accept your admission for a guaranteed position in the class.

You accept your admission by logging into your BuckeyeLink account and officially making your enrollment decision. Once you have accepted, you will receive further information about your next steps as a student.

MHA students are required to pay a $350 deposit to accept and hold their spot. At this time, no other program in the College of Public Health requires a deposit.

Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary by program. Refer to our recommended preparation fact sheet for more information.