Transparent alumina ceramics with oriented grains were successfully prepared by slip casting under an assisted magnetic field and sintering at 1850 °C for 5 h in vacuum. In-line transmittance of the alumina ceramic shaped under 12 T reaches as high as 70.3% at 600 nm. Detailed crystal plane evolution of grain oriented alumina ceramics with the assistance of different magnitude magnetic field was studied by XRD characterization. The results indicate that complete textured structure could only be realized with a magnetic field strength above 12 T. Furthermore, the grain microstructure was observed by optical microscope in different directions. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.