Ohio State nav bar

Application Tips

Tips for Completing the Online Application

All applications for graduate study at The Ohio State University (OSU) must be submitted online.

Preferred Browsers: For best results, please use Internet Explorer as your browser. Chrome 24 or higher, Firefox 17, Safari 7, 6,  and 5 for Mac, and Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10, and 11 can also be used. Other browsers are not compatible when trying to complete the application and uploading supporting documents. Additionally, close out all other browsers, clear your browser's cache, then complete your application using the above mentioned browsers.

The online application portal  contains information that is designed to help you complete the online application form.

  1. The first screen of the online application asks you to choose the program to which you are applying. Choose "All Other Graduate Programs" (at the bottom).
  2. You will be asked to create an OSU account. Once you have done this, you will be routed back to the main menu, where you can click on "Graduate Application" to start your application. (We recommend that you read the instructions first, however.)
  3. In the Enrollment Information section, choose "Columbus."
  4.  In the Program/Plan Choice section, choose "Slavic and East European Studies – MA”. The Slavic and East European studies MA is an interdisciplinary program leading to a terminal MA in area studies. It is primarily aimed at people whose ultimate goal is to work in intelligence/security for the U.S. government, for non-governmental organizations, the U.S. foreign service, journalism, etc. Learn more about the CSEES MA Program.
    1. Note: Do NOT select "Slavic & East European Languages and Cultures -- MA."  This is a separate program on campus, run by the OSU Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures. The Slavic and East European Languages and cultures MA is the program leading to an MA in either a literature or linguistics specialization. It is primarily aimed at people whose ultimate goal is to work in academia.
      1. Information on the Slavic literature, film, and cultural studies concentration
      2. Information on the Slavic linguistics concentration
      3. Information on the Second Language Acquisition concentration
  5. In the Subplan choice section, you may select "Mid-Career Professional Track" if you wish to be considered for this option.
  6. If you are completing the MA application, you will be asked in the Additional Program/Plan Information section to specify your ultimate OSU degree objective. This is the opportunity for you to indicate whether you intend to go on to a PhD after completion of the MA. Note that the Slavic Department normally accepts only students who plan to pursue a PhD, while the Slavic Center’s MA program is terminal.
  7.  In the Combined Degree Programs section, click "No" to the question of whether you are applying to a combined degree program.
    1. Note that a combined degree program is different than a dual degree program. Students pursuing an MA degree in Slavic studies may choose to simultaneously pursue an MA degree in another department on campus. However, dual degree programs are not part of the admissions process. Once a student has been admitted to and begun graduate study in one department, she or he may then begin the process of being admitted to a second program on campus as a dual degree student. Find out more about our dual degrees.
  8. In the Funding Opportunities section, check "Graduate School Fellowship”. Applicants who are admitted to the graduate program are considered for the University Fellowship their first year. A separate application may be submitted by eligible students for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. These are the only two types of funding available for graduate students through the Center for Slavic and East European Studies (CSEES). Requesting funding does not affect the applicant's chance of admission. Visit the Funding Section for more information on funding opportunities.
    1. PLEASE NOTE that CSEES does not offer graduate administrative, research, or teaching associateships. Selecting this option on the application does not mean that you will be considered for them across campus. Contact CSEES directly to see if this option is available, by phone at (614)292-8770, or email the assistant director, Eileen Kunkler, at kunkler.10@osu.edu.
  9. In the Document Upload section, upload ALL of the documents that are required for a complete application, except letters of recommendation.
  10.  In accordance with Graduate School policy, applicants may NOT upload letters of recommendation themselves. Letters of recommendation must be received directly from the letter writer. The letter writer can either upload his/her letter to the online application system directly, or can send it by mail. In the Letters of Recommendation section, you are asked to list your letter writers and to specify how the letter writer will provide the letter. Please confirm in advance that your references have agreed to submit the reference letter electronically. We recommend using online letter submission because there is less chance of the letter being lost. Letters of recommendation should be written in English. If they are originally written in Russian or any other language, translations (if any) must be submitted by the recommenders themselves, along with the letter in the original language; translations provided by applicants cannot be considered.
  11. If you select to have the letters of recommendation sent by mail, they must be sent directly to: Grad and Prof. Admissions, Attn: Imaging, SAS Bldg., 281 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210.
  12. If you select online letter submission, you will need to input the email addresses of your recommenders. An automated email will then be sent to them notifying them of the request to submit a letter of recommendation.