Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to the geography MA or Ph.D graduate programs, you must complete the on-line application form, found on the University of Cincinnati Graduate School website:
To complete the online application, follow the instructions at: http://grad.uc.edu/admissions.html
Click here for the Application Tutorial on how to apply to Geography programs.
The application requires the following documents:
1) Official transcripts of your academic record, including all undergraduate and graduate studies.
2) Three letters of recommendation.
3) Official GRE scores (verbal ability, quantitative ability, and analytic ability).
4) Either TOEFL or IELTS scores, which are required for international applicants who do not hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country. International applicants whose native language is not English must provide official copies of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. This requirement may be waived for a foreign student who has completed an academic program of two or more years at an accredited American college or university.
5) A short essay (no longer than 2 pages in length) that briefly and cogently describes your educational background, past research experience, and anticipated research project and topic. It should also explain your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in geography at the University of Cincinnati. Your statement of purpose should name up to three faculty members with whom you have already been in contact and with whom you share research interests.
6) Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume.
7) Academic/professional writing samples, which are strongly encouraged but not mandatory.
Official, paper-copy transcripts of the applicant’s academic record of all undergraduate and graduate studies must be submitted to:
Vesna Kocani
207 McMicken Hall
513-556-6329
vesna.kocani@uc.edu
Please be noted that it will only be necessary to submit official transcripts after an applicant has accepted an offer of admission. Do NOT send official transcripts as part of your application if they are not required.
Unofficial copies of their transcripts need to be uploaded during the online application process. More information about the new application policy.
International students who do not hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country must provide TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. This requirement may be waived for a foreign student who has completed an academic program of two or more years at an accredited American college or university.
You must request ETS to electronically transmit your official TOEFL scores to University of Cincinnati at ETS code 1833.Unofficial TOEFL or IELTS scores may also be input during the online application process (see Step 10: Test Scores of Application Tutorial).
GRE scores are required for all applicants. You must request ETS to electronically transmit your official GRE scores to University of Cincinnati at ETS code 1833.You may also input your GRE scores during the online application process (see Step 14: Test Scores of Application Tutorial).
Submission of academic/professional writing samples (published work or unpublished term papers) is strongly encouraged, particularly for those who are applying for financial support. However, it is not mandatory. You may upload PDF files of your writing samples during the online application process (see Step 11: Requirements of Application Tutorial).
Both the statement of purpose and CV are required for all applicants. The statement of purpose will be a short essay (no longer than 2 pages in length) that briefly and cogently describes your educational background, past research experience, and anticipated research project and topic. It also explains your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in geography at the University of Cincinnati. Your statement of purpose should also name up to three faculty members with whom you have already been in contact and with whom you share research interests. You may upload PDF files of your CV and the Purpose of Statement during the online application (see Step 11: Requirements of Application Tutorial).
Three letters of recommendation are required for applying to our graduate program. Recommendation letters, commenting upon the applicant’s aptitude and potential for graduate studies and research, are an integral part of your submission. During the online application, you will provide the contact information of your recommenders (See Step 13: Recommendations of Application Tutorial). After you submit your on-line application, the recommenders will receive an email notification requesting a recommendation letter be sent on your behalf.
The access code e-mailed to the recommender is valid for 180 days from the date you submit your application. It is your responsibility to remind recommenders to complete on-line submission of recommendation letters in a timely manner. If a recommender did not receive email notification, please contact our Program Coordinator. Your application will not be considered complete until three letters of recommendation are received.
A short tutorial for potential recommenders is also available on our website detailing how to complete the on-line submission of recommendation letter.
You are encouraged to communicate with relevant faculty members and to discuss your research interests and research plan with them. Please see the research interests of our faculty members in our department website (http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/geography/faculty-staff.html). Please stay in touch with them after you submit your application, as they will serve as your primary advocate(s) during the admission and selection process.
To be fully considered for financial support, applications should be submitted by January 15. The application deadline for admission is April 15. The departmental graduate council will begin reviewing applications for financial support and admission shortly after the above application deadlines.
The minimum admission criteria include:
1) Applicants must have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or foreign equivalent;
2) GRE: the Department of Geography requires minimum score of 300 (verbal + quantitative) or 1080 as regarding to prior scale.
3) For international applicants who do not hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country, the Department of Geography requires a minimum score of 88 for internet-based TOEFL test (230 for computer-based test, 570 for paper-based test) for admission.
4) Applicants have contacted at least one faculty member who has agreed to serve as the potential adviser.
Our department offers many financial aid options to graduate students through several sources:
The University of Cincinnati provides merit-based graduate awards in the form of:
-Tuition scholarships known as University Graduate Scholarships (UGS); graduate assistantships (GA), including Teaching Assistantship (TA) and Research Assistantships (RA), and program-specific scholarships and fellowships.
-Scholarship and fellowship support is also available from a diverse collection of external sponsors at the local, state, national, and international levels.
-Need-based support for U.S. students may be obtained from federal and state sources.
All financial support is competitive, and the funding decision will be made on the basis of the overall assessment of applicants' GPA of previous studies, GRE scores, recommendation letters, potential for working as TAs and RAs, and potential for academic success. Financial awards are normally given for the academic year, and the renewal of the awards is based on the funding availability and the review of student’s academic performance.
The application fee is $65. There is a $5 surcharge for international applications. You may use a credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) or electronic checking/savings account to pay the application fee. The application fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. Applications and application fees are valid for one academic year (Autumn Semester through Summer Semester).
Application fee waivers can be granted by the Graduate School for McNair Scholars, State of Ohio STARS Scholars, and GEM Scholars.
After the online application is submitted, you must do the following things to complete your application:
1) Request paper copies of official transcripts from all colleges that you have attended to:
Ms. Colleen O’Connell
University of Cincinnati
The Graduate School
P.O. Box 210627
110 Van Wormer
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0627
USA
2) Request ETS to electronically transmit official GRE scores to University of Cincinnati at ETS code 1833.
3) International students who do not hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country must provide TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. This requirement may be waived for foreign students who have completed an academic program of two or more years at an accredited American college or university. Request ETS to electronically transmit official TOEFL scores to University of Cincinnati at ETS code 1833.
4) Remind recommenders to complete on-line submission of recommendation letters.
After submitting the online application, you will receive an automated email to acknowledge that we have received your application for the University of Cincinnati Graduate School.
After initial review of your application, the program coordinator on behalf of graduate program director will write a letter to the applicant, inform the applicants as to what application documents have been received and what documents are missing, and acknowledge that his/her application is under consideration. In the letter, the applicant will be encouraged to continue communications with relevant faculty/potential mentors, to submit writing samples (manuscripts or published papers), and to visit the UC campus to meet our faculty and graduate students if possible.
For prospective students, if you're interested in a campus visit, contact the Grad Program Director: Dr. CJ Kim. We are happy to assist you in making the arrangements to meet with relevant faculty and existing graduate students, to answer any questions that you may have, and to give you departmental and campus tours. Each spring, once admissions and funding decisions are made, the department will make special arrangements for admitted applicants' visit to UC campus.
You can check your application status online by using Check My Status. You can direct inquiries and questions regarding your application status to the Graduate Program Director: Dr. CJ Kim.
If admitted, you will receive an official admission letter both via email and a paper copy in the mail. If you are granted financial support, you will also receive a financial offer letter.