Frequently Asked Questions | Neuroscience Graduate Program

Application Questions:

What is the application deadline?

What degrees do you offer?

Is this the same thing as the Master's in Applied Neuroscience, or the Graduate Certificate?

No, those are different programs, and are administered by the Department of Neuroscience - not us!

Wait, aren't you the Department of Neuroscience?

Nope! The Neuroscience Graduate Program is an interdisciplinary program that is not housed in any one specific department - we have faculty and students in dozens of departments (Neuroscience, but also Neurology, Psychology, Psychiatry, etc.) across multiple colleges (College of Medicine, Arts & Sciences, Dentistry, etc.).

Is there a minimum GRE test score required for admission?

Is there a minimum GPA required for admission?

The Ohio State University Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

Will I be a competitive applicant to the NGP?

The NGP evaluates applicants using a 20 point scale - exactly what we look for in a candidate and an average successful candidate's qualifications are explained in detail on our admissions page.

Do I need to reach out to faculty and secure an advisor before I apply?

Applicants are not required to finalize an advisor before I applying.
Applicants, are, however, strongly encouraged to reach out to faculty whose research interests them, and begin making connections before they apply. Having a sense of what faculty you might be interested in working with and if they have space in their lab for another student will greatly improve your application.

Do you accept international student applications?

Do international students have to have a faculty endorsement to apply?

No, the NGP no longer requires international students to recruit directly into a specific lab - international students are eligible for general admission just as domestic students are. As with domestic students, though, a faculty endorsement does carry a good deal of weight during consideration of your application.

Is there an on-campus interview before admissions decisions are made?

Yes, Applicants who currently reside in the United States are brought to Columbus for interviews, usually in early January. Applicants who reside outside of the United States are interviewed virtually.
Expenses related to this travel are covered by the program.

Do you offer fee waivers?

Fee waivers are available for domestic students who meet specific criteria - email NGP@osu.edu for more information.

Do you offer fee waivers for international students?

Unfortunately, the NGP does not offer fee waivers to international students at this time.

Will I get paid, or do I have to pay tuition?

This program is fully funded! Most students in our program are funded through Graduate Research Associate (GRA) appointments. This means you'll spend part of your time working on your research and part supporting lab projects. In return, your tuition and most fees (including health insurance) are covered, and you receive a stipend to support your living expenses.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the NGP Stipend will be $40,008 per year.

Do I have to teach, or work as a TA while in the NGP?

The NGP does have a teaching experience requirement, but this is not a full TA appointment. Instead, we ask students to spend one semester helping out with a class of their choice, anytime before they graduate. Our goal is for our students to have some experience with teaching, but this is not how we expect you to earn your stipend.
Some faculty mentors can and do require their students to take on TA appointments, but this is not particularly common.

Will I be able to rotate before choosing a lab? Are rotations required?

All regular-admission students are required to complete at least one rotation before choosing a lab.
Students who are recruited directly into a lab (usually students who have already been working with a particular faculty member) can forego their rotations, but direct admissions require a separate process.

Will I also get a Master's degree during my time in the NGP?

Students in the NGP do earn a Master's of Neuroscience when they pass their candidacy examination (usually in their third year), but this is not a stand-alone degree; the NGP does not accept students who are seeking only a Master's degree. If you are seeking only a Master's degree, the Department of Neuroscience has a program that might interest you!