Graduate Students

Information About Graduate-Level Study

An international graduate student is an individual who holds a non-immigration visa type to the United States and is applying for advanced study at an institute of higher education. Before applying to Kent State, you must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree. More than 1,400 international students are currently enrolled at Kent State.

Graduate Programs

Graduate studies at Kent State University include programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. A comprehensive listing of graduate programs offered at Kent State is available online.

Kent State University Graduate Schools & Divisions

Graduate programs at Kent State are divided among three graduate units. For more information about your specific program of interest, please click on the appropriate unit below:
Graduate School of Education, Health and Human Services — graduate programs in education
Graduate School of Management — graduate programs in business
Division of Graduate Studies — all other graduate programs

Graduate Application Process

We are happy to consider your application for graduate admission. After we receive your completed application and required documents, the process begins with an evaluation of your academic credentials and English proficiency. Your application then moves to the academic department in which you applied for a final review. The faculty in the academic department will make an admission decision of which you will be notified in writing. After you are admitted, an advisor in the International Student and Scholar Services office will issue your immigration documents and express mail them to you.

Graduate Student Assistantships

Kent State University offers both graduate assistantships and teaching fellowships. To be considered for one of these competitive awards, you will need to include an application for a graduate appointment with your application materials. If selected, then you will receive a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend in return for up to 20 hours of work per week. A teaching or research fellowship offers a full tuition waiver and monthly stipend and allows students to focus exclusively on teaching or research rather than departmental duties.

The Graduate Student Orientation program introduces master’s and doctoral students to campus resources and select faculty, staff and administrators. Attendance during the Graduate Student Orientation program is required of all graduate students with teaching assistantships and highly recommended for all other graduate students.