FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I start an application?
Apply online at http://gradappl.osu.edu with the nonrefundable application fee:$40.00 for domestic applicants;$50.00 for international applicants
2. What does a complete graduate application include?
A complete application requires the following items to be sent to Graduate Admissions Office, The Ohio State University, 1800 Cannon Drive. Columbus, OH 43210-1270:- an official transcript or record of marks for each college – or university – level school attended (Include English translation of each of any foreign document)
- official GRE scores
- official TOEFL scores for international applicants
In addition to copies of these items, the following also need to be sent to the Nuclear Engineering Graduate Studies Office, 201 West 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142
- Admission application
- Student’s autobiography
- Student’s resume
- An official transcript or record of marks for each college – or university – level school attended (Include English translation of each of any foreign document)
- Three letters of recommendation on official letterhead accompanied by completed Ohio State reference forms (http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/download_materials.htm)
- Summary of past research project and/or abstract of the master’s thesis if applying to the PhD program
3. What are the admission deadlines? Nuclear Engineering Program does admit student all four academic quarters, but those interested in financial aid are generally admitted during Autumn quarter. The deadlines for admission are the following:
| Autumn Quarter | - | July 1 |
| Winter Quarter | - | November 1 |
| Spring Quarter | - | February 1 |
| Summer Quarter | - | May 1 |
4. To whom do I address general admission questions regarding processing the application fee, I-20/visa, Ohio resident requirements, evaluation of official transcripts,and/or financial documents?
Contact the counselors and specialists at Ohio State’s Graduate Admission Office website: http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/E-mail: international.grad@osu.edu or domestic.grad@osu.edu
5. To whom should my letters of reference be addressed?
You may address all admissions correspondence to the Graduate Studies Chair, Dr. Tunc Aldemir, Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program, 201 West 19th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1142
6. What are GRE and TOEFL requirements?
All non-OSU applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam. OSU students eligible for fellowships must also take the Graduate Record Exam. The Graduate Studies Committee considers the entire application, we have no GRE minimum. The fellowship requirement for GRE scores is 75% + 4.0 on Analytical Writing. To schedule an exam, please go to www.gre.org. GRE Scores are considered valid for five years.
A TOEFL score of at least 213 for the computer–based exam is required of international students. The minimum score on the Internet-based TOEFL is 79. This requirement applies only to an applicant from a country where the first language is not English.
The Institution and Department codes for GRE are 1592 and 1609, respectively.
The Institution code for TOEFL is 1592.
7. How can I check the status of my graduate application? What if the status has not changed in awhile?
Please check the status of your file at http://appstatus.osu.edu. When your file is complete, it will be discussed at the next Nuclear Engineering Graduate Studies Committee Meeting. Files are sometime not acted on immediately as the faculty would like to find a spot for a well qualified student.
8. Who applies to the Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program?
Most of our students come with bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Nuclear Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related fields such as Physics or Mathematics. Plus a grade point average of 3.0/4.0 or better in all previous undergraduate work and a 3.3/4.0 in graduate work.
9. Any other information on admissions?
The admission of students to the Graduate School is the dual responsibility of the NE Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School. However, the Graduate School has the final authority for making admission decisions. The Admissions Office receives application material, determines when the application is complete for referral to the Graduate Studies Committee, and notifies the applicant of the admission decision.
10. How do I apply for financial aid consideration?
Check the appropriate box on the admission application. Please be aware that the Fellowships and Associateships are highly competitive.
11. What kind of financial aid is available? How does it work?
Fellowships, Research Assistantships, and teaching assistantships are available. Previous academic performance, GRE scores, and work experience are considered when selecting students. Fellowships are available through OSU, the Department of Energy, the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the National Science Foundation. Research assistantships are available on projects with faculty members as well as through cooperative agreements between the Nuclear Engineering Program and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. Stipends for all positions start at $1,450 per month; in addition, tuition and fees, which range from $9,700 to over $24,000 per year, are waived. The deadline for fellowship applications is November 28 for international students and January 1 for US students.
12. Are there any opportunities for undergraduates in the Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program?
Undergraduate with an interest in Nuclear Engineering may pursue the Undergraduate Minor, which can be viewed at: http://rclsgi.eng.ohio-state.edu/nuclear/degreeprograms/neundergradminor.html
13. What classes should I have for Nuclear Engineering?
- Mathematics: Course work up to and including differential equations and vector analysis
- Physics: Course work up to and including modern physics (with introductory nuclear physics)
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Engineering: Course work to include thermodynamics, fluid flow and heat transfer
14. What does it cost to attend Graduate School?
Tuition costs for the current year may be viewed at: http://www.ureg.ohio-state.edu/ then click on tuition and fees.
15. How long does a Master’s degree take?
The MSc in Nuclear Engineering can be completed in as few as 5 quarters.
16. I have been in the Nuclear Navy. Can I transfer my credit?
Credit for Navy courses do not typically transfer to Ohio State University. However we have found that Navy Nukes are usually very disciplined, motivated students, and are quite successful in our engineering programs.
17. We often respond to high school student survey questions and have answered some of them here.
17.1. What classes do I need to take to be a Nuclear Engineer?
Nuclear Engineering is currently a Graduate Program only at The Ohio State University and most of our students come to us from Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Engineering Physics, or related fields such as Physics or Mathematics. We would suggest that you take as much science and math courses as you can to prepare you for your undergraduate study. If you are able to get physics and calculus courses that would be very helpful to you.
17.2. What is the pay range of a nuclear engineer?
17.3. How do nuclear engineers use science in the workplace?
17.4. What are the pros and cons of Nuclear Engineering? For the above three questions, we suggest that you go to one of the following websites: www.ans.org or www.nei.org
Summary of Requirements for Admission to the Graduate Program in Nuclear Engineering
· Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Nuclear Engineering, Engineering Physics, or related fields such as Physics or Mathematics
· A grade point average of 3.3/4.0 or better in all previous undergraduate work and 3.3/4.0 or better in all previous graduate work.
· All non-OSU applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam
· A TOEFL score of at least 213 for the computer–based exam is required of international students
Summary of Requirements for the Master of Science Degree
· At least 45 hours of graduate level courses beyond the Bachelors degree including at least 6 hours of mathematics, statistics, and/or engineering analysis and no more than 12 hours of credit for thesis research
· A thesis and a final oral exam which emphasizes an exposition and defense of the thesis investigation or
· An acceptable task report or submission of a journal article for publication, and final written comprehensive examination (In this case, the student must complete a minimum of 50 hours of course work.)
Summary of Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
· Passing a qualifying examination before 70 hours of graded graduate credit have been completed
· At least 135 quarter hours of graduate level courses beyond the Bachelors degree (MSc degree in an acceptable field, counting as 45 quarter hours, may be transferred from another institution.)
· Successful completion of a Candidacy Examination, taken after a majority of course work is completed
· A dissertation and a final oral examination which emphasizes an exposition and defense of the dissertation investigation