Admission to the Linguistics Graduate Program

On-line application for admission to the Linguistics Graduate Program is required. Please visit the web pages of the Admissions Office.

Admissions criteria

The general criteria for admission to graduate programs are set by the Graduate School; those should be consulted by applicants, but briefly, these are: at least an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited university (or the foreign equivalent) with at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA (on a 4.00-point scale) in the last degree of study. An undergraduate major in linguistics is not required to enter the linguistics graduate program at Ohio State, although a record of undergraduate courses in linguistics (and related subjects such as psychology, philosophy and foreign languages) is obviously an advantage in a competitive admissions review.

Applicants from countries where the first language is not English must have a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, 86 on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), or 8.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement can be waived if the applicant has (or will have, before matriculating) earned a BA or higher degree in an English-speaking country.

Components of the application packet

  1. the application
  2. copies of all undergraduate and previous graduate transcripts
  3. three letters of recommendation
  4. a personal statement or statement of purpose (1-2 pages)
  5. a brief CV or resume (around two pages)
  6. a writing sample
  7. English-proficiency scores (only for some international applicants)
  8. a non-refundable application fee

All of these items except the English-proficiency test scores may be submitted online with your application.

Applicants may want to use our Checklist for Applicants for more explanation of these items and to make sure their applications are complete.

Note on the GRE

The Linguistics Graduate Program has discontinued the use of the GRE. Please do not send or self-report scores as they will not be considered.

Timetable and deadlines

The review procedure for applications involves all departmental faculty and takes place only once a year: applicants are reviewed in December January for admission commencing the following Autumn (or Summer) semester. The deadline for all applicants is December 1.

Applicants are typically notified of the decision on their admission in late January, although in special cases the decision cannot be made until later. See also the information on Financial Aid. Applicants who are not admitted are notified automatically via email from Graduate Admissions.

For any remaining questions about the graduate program and admission procedure not answered on this site, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator (Dr. Julia Papke) at papke.5@osu.edu or write c/o Department of Linguistics, The Ohio State University, 1712 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210.