Graduate Student Funding
We are committed to providing the necessary resources to support our future scholars and professionals. In addition to graduate associateships and fellowships, there are several grant programs to support student research, travel and professional development.
Your program’s home department provides the primary graduate student information and resources; however, there are supplemental resources listed below that are available to graduate students enrolled in one of the divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences — Arts and Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
Be sure to also review the list of grants available through the Graduate School, which compiles a list of financial support opportunities throughout the university.
Arts and Humanities
This area include the following departments: African American and African Studies, Art, Arts Administration, Education and Policy, Classics, Comparative Studies, Dance, Design, East Asian Languages and Literatures, English, French and Italian, Germanic Languages and Literatures, History, History of Art, Linguistics, Music, Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Slavic and Eastern European Languages and Cultures, Spanish and Portuguese, Theatre, Film and Media Arts, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Program Description
The Graduate Research Small Grants Program is designed to enhance opportunities for graduate students in arts and humanities to conduct research by offering supplemental financial support on a competitive basis. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis during the autumn and spring semesters (application is closed in the summer). To allow sufficient time for approvals, we recommend applications be submitted eight weeks before the date when the funds are to be used, but this is not a hard deadline.
This funding is not a substitute for other forms of funding that currently exist. Rather, it is designed to support research activities in instances where other sources (e.g., departmental sources, the Council of Graduate Students) are inadequate or unavailable in order to help fill gaps not met by current opportunities. For information on funding opportunities within your degree program, contact the Graduate Studies Director of your home department or school. Explore the Graduate School’s site for details on other university and external awards and programs.
Eligibility
Grants are restricted to students currently enrolled in a graduate program in the Arts and Humanities within the College of Arts and Sciences. Applications are considered from individual students only. Eligible students can apply for one award every academic year (beginning the first day of classes in the fall semester), but preference will be given to students who have not received funding from this program in preceding years.
Funding Categories and Grant Amounts
Students may apply for grants to fund any of the following and should mark on the DocuSign application which category their request falls under:
Categories 1 & 2 are eligible for up to $700:
- Travel to conduct research (fieldwork, research collections, residency programs) in the United States or abroad.*
- Travel for invited research presentations, performances or exhibitions at significant professional meetings or events both here in the United States and abroad.*
Categories 3 – 6 are eligible for up to $500:
- Remote or virtual opportunities related to categories 1 & 2.
- Payment to human subjects related to your research project.
- The purchase of research-related materials, such as videos or microfilms. NOTE: Any equipment purchased with grant money remains the property of The Ohio State University.
- Expenses related to the translation or transcription of primary research or research materials.
TRAVEL GUIDELINES: Students must follow travel guidance from the Office of Business and Finance. Fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30. Please work with your department if you’re planning domestic or international travel.
We recommend applicants request funds at least eight weeks before the travel or other expense will take place to allow for approvals. All funding is contingent on availability. Retroactive applications under this program will not be considered.
Application Process
ATTENTION! If you are experiencing issues with DocuSign, please use the OCIO chat support for 24-hour assistance!
Applications may be submitted during the autumn and spring semesters, so long as funds are available. We recommend applying in the spring semester if funds are needed during the summer.
All applications must be complete and must use the DocuSign application form. This form will be used to both submit your proposal and route it for approval. As a result, when you initiate proposal submission in DocuSign, you will first be asked to include your name and Ohio State email address, as well as those of your graduate advisor, graduate studies director, department head and departmental fiscal officer. Please check these addresses carefully for accuracy as this will ensure timely review and processing of your application.
After entering name and email contact information, you then be able to submit your proposal, which must include the following:
- A letter of 1-2 pages in which the applicant describes the project, its purpose, significance history, its relevance to the field, etc. In the case of a performance or presentation, applicants will need to explain the relevance of the venue to the particular field. Describe how this experience will enhance your degree program and your development as an artist, performer or scholar.
- A detailed budget. Applicants should indicate whether they have obtained matching funds or are currently applying for such funds.
- In the case of a presentation or performance, provide a letter of invitation or other indication of acceptance from the sponsoring organization or institution.
The application is now closed for the 2025-26 academic year. The application will reopen by the first day of classes in August 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year.
Review Process
Once you submit the application using DocuSign, your graduate advisor will receive an email requesting a letter of support, which he or she will upload directly into DocuSign on your behalf. This letter should affirm the worthiness of the project and, in the case of conference papers, affirm the quality of the paper being delivered and the prestige of the conference in the student's field.
Once your graduate advisor uploads the letter of support and signs, your graduate studies director will receive an email from DocuSign requesting approval and confirmation of matching funds. Following this approval, DocuSign will send an email to your department chair for approval. At that point, you will receive an email from DocuSign indicating whether your grant was approved. This information will also be sent to your departmental fiscal officer.
Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted.
For questions, please contact Assistant Dean, Brian Orefice at orefice.1@osu.edu.
The annual income for the G. Micheal Riley International Academic Fund shall be used to support international activities in the humanities, including travel abroad by graduate students enrolled in degree programs offered by academic units in the college, to engage in research, attend professional conferences, and/or participate in exchange programs offered by the college.
Typical award is up to $1,200. Awards are made every three years. Applications will open again in spring 2027.
Supports graduate students conducting thesis or dissertation research in environmental toxicology by providing stipends, supplies, equipment, or travel. Deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.
Fellowships for graduate students to attend Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. Open to all NMS graduate students. The Lee Fellowship deadline is Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.
Graduate students may request funds to participate in methodological training workshops during the summer, such as those offered by the ICPSR, especially if the method is crucial to the successful completion of the student’s dissertation. Requests should be submitted by faculty on behalf of the student. Most awards will be less than $1,000, although additional amounts to cover registration costs and travel are possible.
Application process (Note: requests are reviewed on a rolling basis):
- Students should consult with their advisor. The advisor will submit on behalf of the student.
- Submit a 1-2 page description of the training or workshop. Submit this document to Divisional Dean Ryan King (king.2065@osu.edu) and copy the department chair. The document should include a clear description of the training in relation to the dissertation. Include a budget justification.
The number of funded projects will be determined by the availability of funds. Applicants must be graduate students in good standing in one of the SBS units.