The College of Public Health annually awards scholarships to its students of all backgrounds and interests. Every public health student is encouraged to apply. These funds are here for you — created and sustained by generous alumni and friends who give back to ensure our current and future students have access to the world-class education our college offers.
The college has more than 20 funds for scholarships and travel awards available for current public health graduate and undergraduate students. Students only need to complete one application to be considered for multiple scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on a number of criteria including merit, financial need, research interests, first-generation status and minority population status.
Eligibility
Academic scholarships
You must be an undergraduate or graduate student in a College of Public Health degree program during the 2022-23 academic year to apply for a scholarship. Students who have their education fully funded are not eligible. Public Health pre-majors are not eligible.
Travel awards
Available to College of Public Health undergraduate and graduate students participating in international study, applied practice experiences, research or other health activities abroad that will have a meaningful impact on their education. Additional requirements include:
- Complete the equivalent of at least one full-time year of study prior to the date of travel.
- Travel must be directly aligned with degree program academics, research, and/or service.
- Priority for projects aligned with Ohio State’s Global Gateways, currently in China, India, and Brazil; and emerging regions in Africa.
- Students are only eligible to receive a travel award once.
Apply for travel awards
Travel awards are available each semester. Deadline for spring travel is October 1.
Scholarship and travel award deadlines
Academic scholarships
- Application opens: January 10
- Deadline to apply: March 1
Travel awards
- Summer term travel: March 1
- Autumn semester travel: June 1
- Spring semester travel: October 1
Scholarship details
Students must submit the appropriate application and all required documentation online by stated deadlines.
Scholarship application details
For academic scholarship/award applications, students are asked biodemographical questions, and provide answers to the following questions:
- Please write a brief statement describing your career interests and goals, including ways in which this scholarship will help you in meeting them and how would a scholarship award from the College Public Health help you? (350 word limit)
- Please write a few sentences describing a) ways in which you advance diversity and inclusive excellence in the College of Public Health and The Ohio State University and b) challenges or barriers that you have had to overcome in pursuing your academic studies. (350 word limit)
In addition, students are required to upload an advising report.
For travel scholarship/award applications, students are asked biodemographical questions, and provide answers to the following questions:
- Please write a brief statement describing the travel experience and how this travel award will help you meet your career goals. (350 word limit)
- What are your estimated total out of pocket costs for the travel experience? What other funding do you have for the experience? (350 word limit)
In addition, you are required to upload an advising report.
Applications
The following responsibilities apply to all CPH academic and travel award recipients:
- Recipients will be informed via their Ohio State email account if they have received an award. In the email notification, recipients will be given award acceptance instructions and a deadline to accept the award. The process involves accepting the award online and submitting a photograph.
- If recipients do not formally accept their awards by the deadline specified in their offer letters, the funds may be reallocated to other applicants.
- Recipients also may be asked to attend a scholarship event honoring them and the relevant donors.
Additionally, for CPH international travel award recipients:
- All CPH students traveling internationally are responsible for checking with the Office of International Affairs to ensure that the destination is approved by The Ohio State University. More information can be found at https://oia.osu.edu/units/education-abroad/application-and-policies/travel-to-risk-designated-countries/.
- Ohio State students traveling to international locations for the purpose of education abroad, undergraduate or graduate/dissertation research, internships or independent study are required to enroll in the university’s supplemental international insurance plan, which is $1.50 per day and is provided through GeoBlue. The insurance includes coverage for medical, evacuation, repatriation, emergency assistance, and political security and natural disaster.
- Question Will applications be reviewed by Divisions or Programs before reaching the Student Scholarship and Awards Commitee?
- Answer
No. The Student Scholarship and Awards Committee will review and decide on all applications. The only exceptions are any scholarships that are specific to a division (e.g., Mary Plummer, Bruce Casto), which will be awarded within that division.
- Question What happens if students apply for other funding for travel after they have been awarded by CPH?
- Answer
If a student secures additional funds from another source after receiving an award from the College of Public Health, the committee has the ability to reduce a student’s CPH travel award so as not to exceed the total cost of travel.
- Question What does the committee consider when selecting scholarship or travel award recipients?
- Answer
The committee considers each applicant’s academic record; personal background information; public health experiences, community service, and leadership; description of current financial assistance and how award will help the applicant achieve academic goals; and overall presentation and writing skills.
- Question How are the funds disbursed?
- Answer
Scholarship funds are disbursed into the student’s Ohio State account by the Bursar at the beginning of each term covered. For travel awards, half of the funds are disbursed into the student’s account prior to travel and the other half are disbursed after travel is completed.
