Third-Party Contract Courses

Third-Party Contract Courses

Ohio State Online provides services in contract with businesses, industry, civic organizations, government agencies, associations, health care providers, and other external parties to the university.

Our services for academic departments include:

  • Coordination of fee suppression

  • Registration services (for campus-based and online courses/programs)

  • Student guidance for the admissions application process

  • Personal involvement with the students throughout the entire enrollment process

  • Coordination of the program through a point of contact within the academic department

  • Providing a fee waiver option for admission application fees on behalf of 
the academic department

For questions regarding Third-Party Contract Courses, call Extended Ed 614-292-8860 or email extendeded@osu.edu.

Enrolling Students in Contract Courses

Complete the Enrollment Information Form for Contract Course Students to begin the contractual outreach course registration process​.

This form determines the steps the registrant needs to take to enroll at The Ohio State University. 

Following a review of the information provided, the required next steps will be emailed to the registrant. Once the admission process has been completed, we will enroll the student in the course(s) requested using the information provided on the registration form.

Enrollment Process

The enrollment process differs based on whether the student has attended Ohio State. Once this is determined and in what capacity, we contact them to let them know what next steps they must take to enroll.

Former undergraduate transient/visitor students (UVSTR) must complete the Undergraduate Admissions Application in addition to the Contractual Outreach Course registration form; however, the $60 application fee is waived.

Former Undergraduate Degree-Seeking Ohio State students, including alumni, will be transferred from their department of enrollment to Extended Education as an Undergraduate Non-Degree student or to the Graduate School if the course is for graduate credit.

Students returning after an absence of one or more quarters or semesters must request reactivation to enroll in courses. If a student has not been enrolled for two or more years, permission and signature of the graduate studies committee chair are required. If a student has graduated and is interested in completing post-degree work, the graduate studies committee chair's permission and signature are also required. Reactivation is required whether or not the student graduated or withdrew from the program.

Requests are made by completing and submitting the Permission to Reactivate Enrollment Eligibility form to the Graduate School.

Please contact the Ohio State Graduate School at gradadmissions@osu.edu or 614-292-6031 for information and/or assistance.

New Ohio State students must complete an application for admission in addition to the course registration form. Application information is provided separately.

Undergraduate credit-earning students that have never attended Ohio State must submit the Undergraduate Non-Degree Application unless they are in the process of applying to a degree program. 

Students enrolling for graduate credit for the first time at Ohio State (no previous enrollment in the Ohio State Graduate School) must be admitted to the Ohio State Graduate School. New students will be enrolled in Graduate Non-Degree status unless they have applied and been accepted for admission to a graduate degree program. Please note that proof of the highest degree received (minimum bachelor's degree) is required for the application process. Graduate non-degree students are not eligible to pursue a master's or doctoral degree at Ohio State unless they apply and are admitted as a degree-seeking graduate student. Graduate School rules allow for a maximum of 10 hours of graduate non-degree coursework to apply toward the requirement for a graduate degree if a student is later admitted. Within this limit, approval to count graduate non-degree coursework rests with the Graduate Studies Committee of the student's program.

Third-Party Contract Courses General Enrollment Information

All contractual outreach students should be familiar with the general enrollment information below. 

All Ohio State students should activate their Ohio State username (lastname.#) and email account. Activation is usually available 48 hours after you have been admitted. Students can activate their accounts at my.osu.edu. Please note that your lastname.# is needed to activate your account. Your lastname.# is provided in an email when you receive your admission notices. You can also obtain your lastname.# by contacting your enrollment unit and/or the Contractual Outreach registration coordinator.

While at the website, you can optionally forward your Ohio State email to your favorite personal email account or use your default account, BuckeyeMail. If you forward your email, note that this process may take an hour. 

  • Your Microsoft 365 username should be your full BuckeyeMail address: 
  • Microsoft 365 username: lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu 
  • Password: (your Ohio State password, which you chose while activating your account at my.osu.edu, also used by CarmenCanvas and other online services). 

Additional information about Ohio State account management is available at my.osu.edu.

Please call the Service Desk 614-688-4357 (HELP) if you need assistance. 

A day or two before classes begin, all students should verify that they are correctly enrolled and that no incorrect fees appear on their fee accounts. Students should check their registration under My Student Center, which can be accessed through BuckeyeLink at buckeyelink.osu.edu. Students must activate their Ohio State username (lastname.#) for My Student Center access. 

Per a student's designation, the university may or may not release certain information about each student to the public or through "Find People" on Ohio State's website. Refer to the Privacy and Release of Student Records Policy for more information. After your enrollment registration has been processed, you may request the "no release" option: 

  1. Go to Buckeye Link, buckeyelink.osu.edu.
  2. Click My Student Center

  3. After signing in, scroll down to the Personal Information section and choose Student Information Release

  4. On the next page, click on the tab at the top titled Withhold Directory Information

  5. Click or unclick the box at the bottom, then hit Save. Please review and understand the restrictions of the "no release" option before requesting the designation. 

Fees for contract courses are processed as a group and are not posted to student fee accounts in the same manner as regular course enrollment but will appear as PAID status on the student database.

If your name has changed since your last enrollment at Ohio State, and you want your current name listed on your student record, you must complete the Request for Change of Record form. Fax it and the required documentation to the Registrar’s Office at 614-292-7199, or email it to registrar@osu.edu

It is important that you have coverage for unexpected medical care during the time you are enrolled in your contract course. International registrants must have at least $50,000 of medical benefits per accident or illness or be fully sponsored by their government. Please contact the Student Health Insurance Office at 614-688-7979 for information about short-term health insurance coverage in Columbus.

Note that enrollment in contract courses makes you exempt from Ohio State Student Health Insurance coverage. 

Your registration will be canceled unless you submit all applicable materials and information, including the registration form, separate application when required, and any other materials. 

If you wish to cancel your registration for this course, please notify the Office of Online Learning's Extended Education team

Your registration will be canceled if you were previously enrolled at Ohio State and there is a Hold on your student record; you still need to clear the Hold before enrollment processing. Please refer to My Student Center in Buckeye Link for the department to contact regarding your Hold. 

Financial Responsibility Statement

While this step is not required, as you are not paying tuition to the university for your course, it helps facilitate the registration process and must be done to request an Official Transcript after the completion of the course. 

  • For more information on the Financial Responsible Statement (FRS)

    Your registration will be canceled if you were previously enrolled at Ohio State and there is a Hold on your student record; you still need to clear the Hold before enrollment processing. Please refer to My Student Center in Buckeye Link for the department to contact regarding your Hold. 

    Financial Responsibility Statement

    While this step is not required, as you are not paying tuition to the university for your course, it helps facilitate the registration process and must be done to request an Official Transcript after the completion of the course. 

  • Your registration will be canceled if you were previously enrolled at Ohio State and there is a Hold on your student record; you still need to clear the Hold before enrollment processing. Please refer to My Student Center in Buckeye Link for the department to contact regarding your Hold. 

    Financial Responsibility Statement

    While this step is not required, as you are not paying tuition to the university for your course, it helps facilitate the registration process and must be done to request an Official Transcript after the completion of the course. 

  • Please review the FAQ's for more information on the Financial Responsible Statement (FRS).
  • For more information on the text of the financial responsibility statement, visit go.osu.edu/frsinfo.
  • Finally, to complete your FRS,  go to buckeyelink.osu.edu, scroll down to Accounts and Financial Aid and select Financial Responsibility Statement

Ohio State uses CarmenCanvas as its learning management system (LMS). You can access your courses at carmen.osu.edu. An Ohio State username (lastname.#) is required to access Carmen. Please note that courses are usually not posted or available in Carmen until classes begin or 1-2 days before the first day. 

Former students should wait at least 48 hours after their enrollment has been updated before attempting to re-activate their account. 

All students are responsible for knowing The Ohio State University course withdrawal deadlines, academic standards requirements, and any specific procedures for their course/program. For information on drop or withdrawal deadlines, please refer to Important Dates.

If you wish to cancel your registration for this course, please notify the Office of Online Learning.

Official/final grades are usually available after the designated semester of enrollment has ended. Ohio State does not mail grades to students. Grades can be viewed online through Buckeye Link.

Information for ordering transcripts is available on the University Registrar's website at registrar.osu.edu or by calling the Student Services Center, 614-292-0300 or 1-800-678-6440. 

As a student of The Ohio State University, it is important to familiarize yourself with the Code of Student Conduct. Additional information may be found on the Office of Academic Affairs' Committee on Academic Misconduct webpage.