Graduate Application Process

Application Deadlines for Autumn 2024 are closed.  Applications for Autumn 2025 will open in late August

All application materials must be submitted by the dates/times listed above. 

  • PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY
  • ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR PROCESSING YOUR UNIVERSITY APPLICATION
  • ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE SLIDEROOM LINK
  • ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THE SUBMISSION OF ALL REQUIRED MATERIALS. 
  • Please note: Allow up to 7 business days for Graduate and Professional Admissions to process your application.

    Processing of applications does not occur on weekends or holidays.  Sending SlideRoom links will not occur on weekends or holidays

Late or incomplete applications are not considered. 


Two-Step Application Process: 

Applying for the Department of Art MFA program requires two steps.  Complete all steps by the application deadline listed above to be considered for admission to our program. 

Step 1.  Application for Graduate Admission to The Ohio State University 

Step 2.  SlideRoom Application: a supplemental application for the Department of Art.

 

Complete these steps in order—step 2 initiates after you complete Step 1 and pay your application fee. 

After Graduate Admissions notifies you, via email, of your processed application, you will receive an email with SlideRoom application access in 1 - 2 business days. 

Please note: Allow up to 7 business days for Graduate and Professional Admissions to process your application.

Processing of applications does not occur on weekends or holidays.  Sending SlideRoom links will not occur on weekends or holidays


2023 University holidays: 

Veteran's Day - Fri., Nov. 10

Thanksgiving Break - Thurs. - Fri., Nov. 23-24

Christmas Day observed - Mon. Dec. 25

President's Day observed - Tues. Dec. 26

New Year's Day observed - Mon. Jan. 1


Step 1 of 2:

Apply to The Ohio State University Graduate School through the Graduate Admissions online application process. 

The application to Ohio State requires completing an online application form, uploading required documents, and paying application fees.  All materials are to be submitted electronically. 

Upload the following documents:

  1. Transcripts  Please note: all official transcripts from any university attended must be received by OSU by December 31, 2023, for consideration for fellowship funding.  Failure to provide official transcripts for all institutions of higher learning you have attended will delay the application process and make you ineligible for fellowship funding.  Graduate and Professional Admissions will notify you if they find evidence of non-reporting college coursework.
  2. Proof of English proficiency if you are applying as an international student.

Do not use the letter of reference forms provided on the Graduate Admissions website, as letters of reference must be submitted via the Art Department's online application system, SlideRoom (Step 2)

If you have questions about Step 1 of the application process, please contact Graduate and Professional Admissions

Step 2 of 2:

Complete supplemental application for the Department of Art via SlideRoom. 

SUBMIT ALL SlideRoom application materials by December 31, 2023 (11:59 pm EST).  This SlideRoom/Step 2 deadline applies to both International and Domestic applicants.  International applicants must complete Step 1 by the university's International Graduate Application deadline of November 30. 

Allow approximately two business days for your online application to process with Graduate Admissions.  Someone will notify you via email of the URL and login process for the Department of Art's online application system, SlideRoom.  Your portfolio, statement of intent, CV or resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation must be submitted using SlideRoom. 

The Department of Art online application system requires the following information:

  • Portfolio (details below)
  • Statement of Intent (details below)
  • Full Curriculum Vitæ (CV) or Résumé, including recent academic/professional experience, honors, awards, and other accomplishments.  Please be thorough.  Upload a PDF format of the document to Slideroom.
  • Three online references.  You will submit the email contact information for three individuals in SlideRoom. Recommenders will receive a prompt to submit their letters.  The applicant must follow up with all recommenders to upload their letters by December 31, 2023. 
  • Scanned copies of transcripts from all universities and colleges attended.  Upload a scanned copy of each official or unofficial transcript to the online application.  (Transcripts you submit for the OSU application in Step 1 must be official.  The SlideRoom transcripts in this step can be official or unofficial.)
  • Pay the SlideRoom Application fee of $10 US.

Submit ALL SlideRoom application materials by December 31, 2023 (11:59 pm EST)

Portfolio Requirement in SlideRoom

All applicants are required to upload a digital portfolio of art projects.  Submit no more than 20 examples of previously completed works that demonstrate your preparation for advanced study in art; include the title and a brief description of each piece submitted.  You may describe the research and art process that informed your work when appropriate.  Accepted media are images, video, audio, PDF, 3D models, and embedded media.  

If you plan to submit video work, please note videos may be the final work, or they may be documentation of processes or installations.  Do not upload high-resolution (HD) videos.  Use compression such as mp4 so that uploads take less time and size.

Statement of Intent in SlideRoom

In less than 4500 characters (approximately one and one-half pages), your written statement should address each of the following:

  • What best describes the development of your current artistic practice?
  • Why have you applied to the MFA program in the Department of Art at OSU?
  • What are your professional goals as an artist?

Upload a PDF format of the document to SlideRoom.


If you have any questions about the Department of Art MFA SlideRoom application process, please email art@osu.edu.