Visiting Graduate Students

Visiting Graduate students who wish to study at Columbia during the academic year should contact Craig Knobles (212-854-2889) in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to determine if their home institution is part of the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium. Members of the Consortium enroll through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Visiting Graduate students whose home institution is not part of the Consortium should apply as Visiting Graduate students in the School of Continuing Education.

The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium does not facilitate summer studies. Visiting Graduate students should apply to the Summer Term.

Individuals who are currently enrolled in a master's degree program at another university and are in good academic and disciplinary standing may apply as nonresidential Visiting Graduate students

Students who are graduates students at other universities who wish to take courses at Columbia only in the summer should apply directly to the Summer Term.

Limitations: Admission as a Graduate Visiting student is permitted for two terms of study, with continuation into the second term contingent on successful completion of the first. It is not normally possible to remain as a Graduate Visiting student beyond two terms.

Application Deadlines

Applicants are urged to submit application materials well in advance of the deadline.

The Office of Admissions begins reviewing applications for the fall term in early June, for the spring term in mid-October, and for the summer in late February. Students who wait until the deadline to submit an application must come in person to the Office of Admissions to receive a decision.

International applicants must submit applications at last 12 weeks before the term begins.

Note: Applicants for whom English is not a first language will be required to demonstrate English proficiency before being considered for the program, regardless of whether or not they have studied at colleges or universities where the instruction is in English.

Application Materials

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online and to submit supporting materials online (except transcripts and test scores, which must be submitted in sealed envelopes). Online applications can be processed more efficiently.

1. Completed Online Application form.

   Applicants who are unable to apply online may download a copy of the application, complete it, and mail it, together with all supporting documents, to the address below.

2. $50.00 nonrefundable application fee (U.S. currency). Applicants not applying online may pay in the form of a check or money order made out to Columbia University.  Do not send cash. Checks must be in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank.  If you would like to pay by credit card you must apply online.

3. Statement of purpose (300-400 words). The statement should address the applicant's academic goals, previous training and education experience, current situation and interests, and purpose in applying to Columbia University as an Visiting Graduate student.

4. Official transcripts in envelopes sealed by the issuing institutions. Copies, opened or unsealed envelopes, unofficial printouts, or facsimiles will not be accepted. Many schools take a number of weeks to fulfill transcript requests; please plan accordingly.

5. International students must fulfill additional application requirements.

Submitting the Application

1. Applicants who apply online are encouraged to submit all remaining supporting application materials in a single packet. Applicants who apply by mail should submit their application and all supporting materials in a single packet. While the Office of Admissions will accept materials submitted piecemeal, such submissions substantially delay the admissions process.

2. All submitted materials should clearly bear the applicant's name, Social Security number, and the name of the program to which he or she is applying.

3. Because of the large volume of applications we receive, the Office of Admissions cannot accept application materials (e.g., transcripts) submitted in advance of applications themselves.

4. Applications are not considered complete until all required materials (including the application fee, and ALP scores if necessary) have been received. Only complete applications are reviewed.

Mailing Address and Contact Information

Office of Admissions
School of Continuing Education
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119
New York, NY 10027-6902
212-854-9666
ce-info@columbia.edu
Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Notification of Admissions Decision

Students are notified of admissions decisions via e-mail. As soon as the review process has begun, it usually takes two to three weeks to receive a decision once all application materials have been received.

Students who complete their applications fewer than 10 days prior to registration must come in person, during registration, to receive an admissions decision.