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Welcome from the Graduate School

Hi [First Name],

Welcome to Oregon State University! We want to take a minute to introduce ourselves and give you the information you need to become part of Beaver Nation.

In addition to this email, please take the time to read our New Graduate Student webpage.

OSU operations during COVID

Oregon State University is continuing the essential activities of teaching and research while continuing to engage in global efforts to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19.

Please familiarize yourself with OSU's COVID policies. Visit the OSU COVID website to learn more. Find the OSU vaccination requirement information here.

We continue to monitor the pandemic situation closely and provide information on the university and Graduate School websites.

What is the Graduate School?

The Graduate School plays a vital role in your academic career. We act as an umbrella organization overseeing graduate programs at Oregon State. We track your degree progress and ensure you meet all requirements before graduating.

In addition to our administrative functions, we offer various types of support services and events in collaboration with our partners, including:
  • Grad Welcome Week and orientation
  • Grad Inspire
  • Grad Appreciation Week
  • GRAD courses
  • The Graduate Certificate in College and University Teaching
  • The Graduate Writing Center
  • Graduate School financial awards like the Professional Development Award, Financial Impact Hardship Award, Scholarly Presentation Award, and others.
  • Find links to all of these resources and even more opportunities on our website
If you ever need help during your graduate career, please reach out to our office by calling us at 1-541-737-4881 or emailing graduate.school@oregonstate.edu.

OSU Grad Advantage

OSU Grad Advantage is a curated set of opportunities to augment your degree by gaining additional vital skills. It’s part of OSU’s continued commitment to innovating to support graduate students. In this initial phase, we gathered existing opportunities for you to gain or enhance skills in five core competencies:
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Mentoring, Facilitation and Teaching
  • Writing and Communication
  • Leadership, Management and Professional Development
  • Interpretation and Use of Research
The opportunities range from video tutorials to for-credit courses. Many of the resources are available online. A self-assessment tool will help you identify and prioritize the areas on which to focus. These skills may set you apart from other candidates for your next job.

Register for Classes

Talk to your program about which classes to take and when to register. Registration stays open even after the term starts in case you are waiting for official transcripts. You'll need an ONID account to register. Visit the Registrar's website to learn how to register.

All students taking in-person classes must comply with university COVID vaccination regulations. Ecampus students will have a registration hold placed on their accounts if they sign up for any in-person classes and will need to comply with university immunization regulations in order to have the hold removed. All others must demonstrate compliance prior to registering for classes. Please visit the Student Health website to learn how.

Graduate School Orientation

The Graduate School hosts Grad Welcome Week for all students a week before school starts in fall term. Students starting in other terms are invited to participate, and you can attend many of the sessions online. Grad Welcome Week includes orientation, library day and GTA training. Your program might also have orientation events around this time. Check our video page for recordings from orientation.

Required paperwork

Immunizations

Oregon State has immunization requirements for domestic and international students. Please review the immunizations you are required to have. Find the OSU COVID-19 vaccine requirement information here.

Student Health Services training

As a graduate student, you are required to take the Voices for Change: Consent and Creating Inclusive Communities trainings. You will receive an email invitation with links to the trainings. Visit the SHS required online programs webpage for more information.

Health insurance and other services

If you’ve secured an assistantship and/or you are an international student, you will need to contact human resources to discuss which health insurance option is best for you. All graduate assistants are required to have some form of health insurance, and international students are required to have OSU insurance. Learn more about insurance: If you have a documented need/accommodation that should be recognized by the university, visit Disability Access Services (DAS).

Active duty service members and veterans should connect with Military and Veteran Resources to learn about any benefits.

International student arrival paperwork

All original documents specified in the letter of admission must be submitted prior to the first term of registration, without exception. If you are in doubt about document requirements, please write to graduate.admissions@oregonstate.edu before you leave home. International students also have special arrival paperwork to complete. Be sure to check with the Office of International Services (OIS) for international student arrival information.


Get all this information and more from our new student guide and admitted student checklist.

   Visit the Guide   

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OSU ID Center

The ID card is the identification card for students, faculty, and staff. It functions as a meal card, library card, access card, and more.
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OSU In Your Pocket

Check your grades, find places to eat and get bus schedules with the OSU Mobile app. Available for iOS and Android.
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Finding a place to live

The Graduate School does not endorse any specific housing resources, but here are some places to check:
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Staying safe on campus

Sign up to get OSU alerts on your phone. Learn how to report emergencies and find other safety resources.
Public Safety
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Paying for your degree

The most popular types of graduate funding are graduate assistantships, fellowships and scholarships. Other ways include student employment and financial aid. Talk to your graduate program to learn your options.
Funding
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Students with families

The Family Resource Center advocates for and provides quality programming and services to all OSU families with dependent care needs to support the academic, professional and personal growth and success of the whole person.
Family Resources