Application Information

Graduate Applications:

https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions

https://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/admissions/process

Applications are due by the December 15, for the academic year they wish to be admitted, starting in fall.

This allows the application committee more time to review applications and nominate students for tuition awards, fellowships, and any teaching or research assistantships that may be available.

  • Most of our students are financially supported by the faculty of the program through externally funded grants and contracts.
    • The match between your background and interests and these opportunities is central to obtaining such support.
    • We encourage you to contact faculty to explore areas of common interest and opportunity.
  • Please note that even students who are granted support may be responsible for paying some student fees each term.

Other terms:

While we do offer a year round application process and some applicants may periodically be accepted after this date, most non-fall applicants will miss many funding opportunities and chances of acceptance are greatly decreased.  For these terms (winter, spring, summer), we follow the Graduate School's admission deadlines.

If you wish to start in a term other than fall, you are highly encouraged to confirm with faculty that they are able to serve as your advisor *before* applying. 

To apply to the Water Resources Graduate Program, you should first complete the Graduate School's    online application form

In addition to submitting the application form and paying the application fee to the Graduate School, we need we need to receive the following:

  1. Prerequisites. can be found on each program's Student Handbook or on each program's webpage. While faculty will review all applications, it is in the applicant's best interest to have these complete at the time of applying. 
  2. Academic transcripts from each institution you attended - These can be submitted as unofficial copies using the uploading portion of the online application, unofficial copies emailed to the department, or official copies sent from the institution to the department or the Graduate School. Unofficial copies are acceptable for evaluation purposes, but official copies will be requested by the Graduate School if you are offered admission.
  3. GRE. We no longer require the GRE.
  4. Three letters of recommendation.  These are submitted using the online application system. The application system will request the email addresses of 3 people to serve as references. OSU will then send each person a request for a recommendation. Their responses will then be returned directly to OSU and added to your application.
  5. Statement of Objectives. While we have no rules or requirements format, this is typically 1-2 pages in length. Information on your career goals and why you are applying to this program is encouraged and desired.
  6. Full Resume

On the application, you will also be asked four questions that will help the review committee in processing your application.  Each answer should be no more than 250 words.

  • Experience conducting research and research interests in WRGP.
  • Experience in leadership and lessons learned in that role.
  • Characteristics (learning style, personal strengths, etc.) and ability to persevere in challenging circumstances.
  • WRGP is an interdisciplinary program that works with a wide variety of researchers from around the globe.  We hope that our students have an understanding of and commitment to diversity, social justice, and equity, and inclusion. We would like to know about your personal experiences, as well as your vision of collaborating with a diverse group of individuals in the program, on campus, and beyond graduation.

*Additional items may be sent directly to the Graduate School office.

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