Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pharmaceutical Sciences a STEM program?
Yes, Pharmaceutical Sciences is categorized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Education and Homeland Security.
Am I qualified for this degree program?
Our program follows the minimum academic requirements as outlined by the OSU Graduate School. Strong applicants are typically those with research experience and strong letters of recommendation. We also take into consideration an applicant's specific education and career goals, among other factors.
Do I need to contact a faculty member prior to submitting an application?
Applicants applying to our on-campus program do not need to contact a faculty member prior to submitting an application. The application will include a list of faculty who are accepting students and a field in which to select a faculty advisor.
Applicants admitted to our Ecampus M.S. degree program will be assigned an advisor upon admission. There is no need to contact a faculty member prior to submitting an application.
Can my transcripts or resume be evaluated before I apply?
We are unable to review transcripts or other materials outside of the official application process.
Is an application fee waiver available?
Our program is unable to provide application fee waivers.
Application fee waivers are available for domestic students through the Graduate School only in limited circumstances. More information can be found here.
International applicants can check with their local EducationUSA advising office to see if there are educational opportunity programs or local recommendations to fund study in the United States.
Is the GRE required?
No, our program does not require the GRE for our on-campus or Ecampus degree.
Are international applicants required to take the TOEFL or other English language proficiency exam?
For both on-campus and Ecampus MS degree programs, we follow the English language proficiency requirements set by the OSU Graduate School. International applicants must meet a minimum English language proficiency requirement for regular admission or qualify for a waiver from English language testing as outlined below. The OSU Graduate School accepts scores from TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo.
- TOEFL PBT - 550
- TOEFL iBT - 80 (Minimum score of 18 on each sub-section.)
- IETLS - 6.5
- Duolingo - 110 (Must include sub-scores.)
Waived from English Language Testing:
The English language proficiency exam requirement is waived for applicants who hold either citizenship or a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a recognized or accredited institution in any of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Overseas Territories, British Virgin Islands, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Montserrat, Namibia, Nigeria, New Zealand, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
I'm from a country not included on the list above. Can the English language proficiency exam requirement be waived if my program of study was conducted in English?
Waivers for applicants from other countries are considered on a case-by-case basis if the medium of instruction was English. If you are admitted to our on-campus or Ecampus degree program, we have the ability to submit a petition with the Graduate School for a waiver of the English language test score. We may choose not to request a waiver, and any waiver submitted to the Graduate School is not guaranteed to be approved.
If we choose not to request a waiver, or a submitted waiver is denied, an official English language proficiency exam score that meets the minimum requirement for regular admission must be provided before being fully admitted to the university.
How do you decide which applicants to accept?
Acceptance to our on-campus Master's program is on a competitive basis and limited by the number faculty who can accept students in the upcoming academic year. We take into consideration GPA, letters of recommendation, research experience, and the applicant's career and education goals.
Acceptance to our Ecampus program is based on the same criteria as our on-campus program without being limited by faculty and lab availability.
What is the deadline for submitting an application?
Applications for our on-campus M.S. degree are accepted mid-September through February 1, 2025 for the Fall 2025 start term.
Applications for our Ecampus non-thesis M.S. degree are open mid-September through July 1, 2025 for the Fall 2025 start term.
New cohorts begin each Fall term. We do not typically offer admission outside of Fall term.
When will I receive an update on the status of my application?
Review of applications and admission decisions for the on-campus M.S. degree program takes place February through March with the majority of decisions made by April 1. We strive to update each applicant with the status of their application as soon as information is available.
Review of applications and admission decisions for the Ecampus degree program will take place throughout the application cycle and applicants will be updated with their status as soon as possible. Decisions will typically be communicated within 3-6 weeks from receipt of application.
Is funding available for Master’s students?
Our M.S. program does not offer funding in the way of graduate assistantships. If admitted, students should plan to be fully self-supported. A limited number of scholarships and awards are available on a competitive basis through the OSU Graduate School but should not be relied upon as the primary funding source. Most of the scholarships offered through the Graduate School are for current students (not newly admitted) and require a nomination from the student’s program. More information about scholarships and awards can be found here.
Are there any scholarships or financial aid available for international students?
Newly-admitted and continuing OSU students are eligible to apply for scholarships through ScholarsDollars. Students must be admitted to OSU and have an active ONID account to be able to log into the system and submit an application. Merit-based, need-based, and activity-based OSU scholarships are available, and OSU ScholarDollars also offers personalized suggestions of external scholarships for which you may be eligible.
What is the tuition rate for graduate school?
On-campus graduate tuition and fee rates are available at Graduate Tuition and Graduate Fees. More information can be found at the OSU Tuition and Fees website.
Domestic students may find the OSU tuition calculator helpful.
The on-campus resident tuition rate is $508 per credit.
The on-campus non-resident tuition rate is $1,143 per credit.
Mandatory term fees vary depending on the number of enrolled credits per term but will range from $805.92 to $829.92 each term.
The tuition and fee rate for our Ecampus degree program is $571 per credit. The Ecampus tuition and fee rate is the same for resident and non-resident students.
What are my health insurance options?
All on-campus international graduate students (and their dependents, if applicable) are required to maintain healthcare coverage and will be automatically enrolled in the student healthcare plan provided through PacificSource.
On-campus domestic graduate students are strongly encouraged to maintain healthcare coverage and can enroll in the student health insurance plan offered through PacificSource.
Ecampus students are not required to maintain university health insurance coverage but are welcome to participate in the student health insurance plan offered through PacificSource.