The Art -/Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University is a Master program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the university's main campus in Columbus , United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 2 years to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 24, 2027.

About Art -/Master of Fine Arts

The Department of Art at Ohio State offers a fully funded interdisciplinary three-year MFA degree in Art with facilities and faculty in: Art and Technology, Ceramics, Film/Video, Glass, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

Our nationally ranked MFA program is recognized both domestically and internationally. We are a community of highly qualified professional fine artists, dedicated faculty, skilled staff and engaged students--all of whom are fully committed to learning, research and service. Art faculty are accomplished professionals making significant contributions to the cultural life of the university, city, state, nation and world through work and research, exhibitions and public lectures.

We are committed to providing members of our community an intellectually stimulating environment, vast campus resources, state of the art facilities, exhibition spaces and quality studio spaces. The production, examination and evaluation of the visual arts are celebrated here. This is a place where core intellectual freedom is encouraged and preserved. We take pride in the diversity of viewpoints and expertise that are essential elements of a rich environment for creative inquiry.

Studentsâ€™ experiences will be greatly enhanced by an interdisciplinary sharing of information and research through exhibitions, research, funded projects, special events and the development of meaningful and lasting relationships with faculty and peers.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Art -/Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University

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 Requirements

IELTSMin 7
TOEFLMin 79

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.

Tuition and Fee Information for Art -/Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University

How to Apply for Art -/Master of Fine Arts at The Ohio State University

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

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).