The transfer of graduate programs process is available to OSU graduate students seeking to move from one degree program to another within The Ohio State University. Note: This procedure is only available for currently enrolled or formerly enrolled graduate students of The Ohio State University.

International students: often the term "transfer" is used to indicate a student's desire to move from one US university to another. At Ohio State, the term refers to an internal change of graduate programs within Ohio State. International students seeking to come to The Ohio State University from another US college or university should use the graduate program application procedure.

Use of this process

Students who have already been admitted to a graduate program at The Ohio State University and who have paid fees may use the Request for Transfer of Graduate Program form A) to change their graduate program of study or B) to return to graduate studies in order to complete another graduate degree.

An example of the former could be a Mechanical Engineering Master's student who wishes to transfer to MSE or WE to earn a PhD. An example of the latter might be a former MSE or WE graduate student who has been away from OSU for ten years who wishes to earn a Master's in Mechanical Engineering.

Transfer form

The Request for Transfer of Graduate Program form serves as the student's "application" to the proposed graduate program. The Graduate Admissions office is not involved in the transfer process. This form is found on the Graduate School "Forms, Guidelines, and Publications" page.

International students should also contact the OSU Office of International Affairs regarding proposed changes of study.

Procedure

Students seeking to transfer from a graduate degree-seeking program at OSU into the MSE or WE graduate program should first contact the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator (see contact info above) to gain a clear understanding of the transfer process and deadlines.

Reactivation: If the student has not enrolled for more than one quarter, but less than eight quarters, the student must contact the Graduate School (614-292-6031) to reactivate his/her account. If more than eight quarters have passed since last enrolled s/he must be reactivated by the original department before a transfer may be processed (contact the MSE-WE Graduate Studies Coordinator for assistance).

Instructions

1. After contacting the proposed graduate program, the student completes Section 1 of the Request for Transfer of Graduate Program form, including obtaining the Graduate Studies Committee Chair or Department Chair signature of the current enrollment graduate program. Once Section 1 is complete, the original form should be given to the Graduate School (247 University Hall).
2. The student is to have a photocopy or scan of his/her application packet sent from the original graduate program to the MSE-WE Grad Coordinator. New materials may be required; the determination will be made by the MSE-WE department on a case by case basis.
3. The Graduate School reviews the request, completes Section 2, attaches the student's advising report, creates the request in the Admissions database, and forwards the request to the proposed enrollment graduate program.
4. The Graduate Studies Committee of the proposed graduate program reviews the request and indicates its action in Section 3. If the transfer is approved, the Graduate Studies Committee determines the appropriate classification, new expected degree information, which courses may count toward its program, and the student's advisor. Regardless of the transfer decision, the original form must be returned to the Graduate School.
5. The Graduate School will post the decision in the Admissions database, send a decision letter to the student, file the original form in the student's Graduate School file, and distribute copies of the Request for Transfer of Graduate Program form and the decision letter to the previous and new graduate programs.

Misc.

Graduate School Fellowships and some Graduate Associate positions do not automatically transfer with students who are approved to transfer to a different graduate program. It is the student's responsibility to understand the ramifications of a transfer upon any financial support.

Questions?

Please contact Mark Cooper, Graduate Studies Coordinator, should you have questions about the graduate program in MSE or WE. Mark may be reached at:

• (614) 292-7280
• E-mail
• Office: 477 Watts Hall