The Department of French and Italian offers direct-admit PhD programs in French and Francophone Studies and Italian Studies.
We seek intellectually curious students
with advanced proficiency in French or Italian
who are driven to investigate their own answers to critical questions
who aspire to share the knowledge they accrue with others
who want to work in a cooperative and inclusive environment with collegial faculty and peers
who are excited by the prospect of living in a fast-growing, multicultural city at once vast in scope and small-town in feel
who are attracted to a fantastic library system and a wide range of interdisciplinary programs and centers at one of North America’s top research universities
whose interests link up with one or more of the unique clusters of research topics and directions to which we can provide the strongest support with our exciting departmental and university-wide resources, and an extensive web of affiliated faculty
Screen and Performance Studies
Popular and Material Cultures Across Times and Spaces
Migration Studies—Historic and Current
Boundary Crossings in Medieval & Renaissance FranceProvence—Italy
French in the Americas
French & Francophone Writing Now
Second Language Acquisition
Sexuality and Gender
Learn More: Research Clusters
We provide Exceptional Teaching Training and Job Experience in foreign language education, with exciting opportunities to teach language and culture throughout the curriculum
Intensive orientation that prepares you to teach and connects you with other new student-teachers
Training in encouraging intercultural competency and global citizenship
Seminar on the best second-language teaching practices and theories
The opportunity to teach throughout the language curriculum
Ongoing support from advanced peers and faculty (you won’t be on your own!)
Teaching Apprenticeships in your subject specialty under a faculty mentor in whose course you will observe, give guest lectures, and then develop syllabi for your own future courses
Advanced opportunities to teach in OSU’s Individual Instruction Center and in more advanced courses as you gain experience
Opportunities to participate in exchange programs in Rennes, France, or teach in Bologna, Italy and Dakar, Senegal
How will I pay for my PhD Studies?
All admitted students will be offered teaching contracts for 4-5 years of funding, and an additional year of funding is awarded on a competitive basis
The department frequently nominates prospective students for fellowships for a first or dissertation year, which though competitive have regularly been received
Ohio State offers competitive stipends and excellent benefits
The Department and the College offer Support for graduate student research and conference travel
Columbus is a far more affordable city than many
Learn More: Financial Support for Graduate Students
Requirements
Entry Requirements
The minimum requirement for admission to an Ohio State graduate program is 16 years of study. This is usually 12 years of secondary school plus four years of post-secondary study at a college or university. If you only have three years of post-secondary study, you must complete one of the following:
A master's degree (or higher)
An approved post-graduate diploma
An additional year of university-level coursework
This work must be completed at an accredited university. Please note that we cannot give absolute assurance that your academic documentation will qualify you for graduate study until we have reviewed your documents. When you apply, you must provide transcripts and degree statements for all post-secondary course work at a college or university.
English Program Requirements
Success at Ohio State depends upon your ability to converse in, write and understand English. The university requires official TOEFL or IELTS scores from applicants:
whose native language is not English,
who have been educated primarily outside of the U.S., or
who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for less than one year from the first term of enrollment.
Fee Information
Tuition Fee
TRY38,376
How to Apply
Success at Ohio State depends upon your ability to converse in, write and understand English. The university requires official TOEFL or IELTS Academic test scores from applicants:
whose native language is not English,
who have been educated primarily outside of the U.S., or
who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for less than one year from the first term of enrollment.
To be official, score results must be received directly from the testing agency (ETS or IELTS) by your application deadline.
Minimum test scores
Note: Many graduate programs require a score above these minimums.
TOEFL
19 on each section of the paper-based TOEFL
79 on the internet-based TOEFL or TOEFL Special Home Edition
IELTS
7.0 on the IELTS Academic test or IELTS Indicator (6.5 for Moritz College of Law applicants)
Duolingo
105 or higher
Note: The Duolingo test cannot be used to exempt an admitted student from the English placement exam or the Oral Proficiency Assessment for Graduate Teaching Associates.
Exemptions
Applicants who are citizens of, or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher from, one of the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States and Wales.
If you are admitted
With few exceptions, international students (including those who were exempted from English proficiency requirements) are required to sit for an ESL Composition Placement Test upon arrival. In addition, if you are awarded a Graduate Teaching Associateship and English is not your first language, you will be required to certify your oral proficiency in English before assuming your associateship duties.
Read more about requirements after you are admitted.
One of Ohio State's graduate admission criteria is the completion of an American four-year bachelor's degree or the equivalent. Three-year degrees are not generally recognized to be equivalent.
How to become eligible to apply to graduate school
The minimum requirement for admission to an Ohio State graduate program is 16 years of study. This is usually 12 years of secondary school plus four years of post-secondary study at a college or university. If you only have three years of post-secondary study, you must complete one of the following:
A master's degree (or higher)
An approved post-graduate diploma
An additional year of university-level coursework
This work must be completed at an accredited university. Please note that we cannot give absolute assurance that your academic documentation will qualify you for graduate study until we have reviewed your documents. When you apply, you must provide transcripts and degree statements for all post-secondary course work at a college or university.
Additional notes for specific countries
The following degrees are recognized by Ohio State.
Select country
Australia
Bangladesh
Canada
France
Germany
India
Pakistan
South Africa
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom (England)
Australia
Bachelor's degree, Honours Completion of four to six years of post-secondary study beyond the Year 12 Secondary Certificate.
Bachelor's degree Completion of a program of post-secondary study lasting four years in Education or Engineering; five years in Veterinary Science, Dentistry or Architecture; or seven years in Medicine and Surgery.
Master's degree (Pass) Completion of one to two years of full-time postgraduate study beyond a three-year bachelor's degree.
Postgraduate diploma Completion of one to two years of postgraduate study beyond a bachelor's degree in a particular subject.
Bangladesh
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc.Engg), Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc.Ag.) Completion of four years of post-secondary study beyond the Higher Secondary Certificate.
Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master's of Commerce (M.Com.) Completion of one year of post-secondary study beyond a three-year bachelor's (honours) degree or completion of two years of post-secondary study beyond a two-year bachelor's (pass) degree.
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) Completion of five years of post-secondary study beyond the Higher Secondary Certificate.
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science (M.B.B.S.) Completion of five years of study beyond the Higher Secondary Certificate, plus one year of internship.
Canada
Bachelor's degree Completion of four or five years of post-secondary work. Sometimes designated as "Honours," "Four-year" or "Advanced."
Bachelor of Education Completion of one year of additional study beyond a three- or four-year bachelor's degree.
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B./B.Laws) First professional degree in law. Completion of two to three years of study beyond a bachelor's degree.
France
Maîtrise Completion of four years of post-secondary study (one year beyond the License, two years beyond the DEUG).
Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de l'Enseignment Secondaire (CAPES) or Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de l'Enseignment Technique (CAPET) Completion of four years of post-secondary study (one year beyond the License, two years beyond the DEUG), plus typically one year of practical teaching.
Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Commerciales, Administratives et Financiéres (DESCAF) or Diplôme des Grandes Ecoles (Diploma from a Grande Ecole) Completion of three years of post-secondary study following one year of classe préparatoire with concours (preparatory year with a competitive exam). Represents four years total of post-secondary study.
Diplôme d'Ingenieur (Diploma of Engineer) Completion of five years of post-secondary study (three years beyond the DEUG/DUT).
Diplôme d'Architecte (Diploma of Architecture) Completion of four to six years of post-secondary study. First professional degree in Architecture.
Germany
Diplom Degree awarded in science, psychology and social sciences after three to four years of post-secondary study following the Abitur. The Vordiplom (intermediate examination) is awarded after four semesters of basic studies (Grundstudium) and grants the student access to two to four semesters of advanced studies (Hauptstudium) leading to the Diplom degree.
Magister Artium Degree awarded in humanities after three to four years of post-secondary study following the Abitur. The Zwischenprufung (intermediate examination) is awarded after four semesters of basic studies (Grundstudium) and grants the student access to two to four semesters of advanced studies (Hauptstudium) leading to the Magister Artium degree.
Staatsexamen Degree awarded in medicine, pharmacology, law and teaching after three to four years of post-secondary study following the Abitur. The Zwischenprufung (intermediate examination) is awarded after four semesters of basic studies (Grundstudium) and grants the student access to two to four semesters of advanced studies (Hauptstudium) leading to the Staatsexamen degree.
India
Three-year bachelor's degree plus a two-year master's degree or a one- to two-year (depending on attendance) post-graduate diploma.
Three-year BComm degree plus Associate Membership from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
or the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
Pakistan
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Architecture Completion of a four-year program of post-secondary study beyond the Higher Secondary Certificate.
Master's of Arts, Science, Commerce, Business Administration, Computer Science, Public Administration, Education or Social Work Completion of two years of post-secondary study beyond a two-year bachelor's degree (pass) in the same field or completion of one year of post-secondary study beyond a three-year bachelor's degree (honours) in the same field.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Completion of a five-year program of post-secondary study beyond the Higher Secondary Certificate.
South Africa
Bachelor's degree (Honours) in Humanities, Commerce and Science Completion of one year of further study beyond a three-year bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy or Education Completion of four years of post-secondary study.
Bachelor Degree of Technology (B.Tech.) Completion of four years of post-secondary study at a Technikon, including one year of experiential training.
Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine or Architecture Completion of five years of post-secondary study.
Bachelor's degree in Dentistry Completion of five and a half years of post-secondary study.
Bachelor's degree in Medicine or Theology Completion of six years of post-secondary study.
Sri Lanka
Bachelor's degree (Special) Awarded after four years of post-secondary study. Students specialize in the study of one subject.
Postgraduate diploma Generally require one year of study following upon the bachelor's degree.
M.B.B.S. Awarded after five years of study with an additional year of internship, which is compulsory.
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) Conferred after six years, with one year's internship prior to certification.
United Kingdom (England)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) [Ordinary and Honours] First degree, completion of three years of post-secondary study following GCE "A" levels.
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) [Ordinary and Honours] First degree, completion of four years of post-secondary study beyond GCE "A" levels.
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) First degree, completion of four years of post-secondary study beyond GCE "A" levels (three years at the B.Eng. (Hons) level plus one additional year).
Postgraduate diploma Completion of one to two years post-graduate study beyond a bachelor's degree (Ordinary).
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