Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate Admissions

The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science awards the Doctor of Engineering Science (EngScD) degree. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is administered through and awarded by theGraduate School of Arts and Sciences. Both programs have identical academic requirements with regard to courses, thesis, and examination, but differ in residence requirements and in certain administrative details.

For further information, please seeRequirements for the Degreesand the online bulletin underGraduate Programs.

Yes. However, if you are accepted, you must complete the MS at Columbia University before continuing toward the PhD. This is referred to as the MS-PhD Track Program.

On your application for admission you indicated that you wish to be considered for the MS only should your application be denied to the PhD program. Your application was denied to the PhD, reconsidered, and accepted for the MS only.

You may apply again to the PhD program as a current MS student. If you do not enroll, you may apply by reactivation of your previous application for one of the two terms following your initial application term. We encourage you to update already submitted material to enhance your application.

You should review thedepartment websitesfor the programs that interest you most to find out more about each program, including descriptions of courses, faculty, degree requirements, and much more.

In addition, you may watchvideosabout the MS programs offered at Columbia Engineering.

Domestic students may enroll part-time (fewer than 12 credits) per term if the program allows for this. Most MS on-campus programs allow part-time enrollment. However, some MS programs may require students to enroll full-time, such as the Chemical Engineering MS program.

As an alternative, if you have other obligations or require a flexible schedule you may consider applying forCVNwhich allows all students to enroll part-time. Visit thedepartment websitesfor more program details.

In this case, you would apply for admission just as any other prospective student following our usual application process.

If you are admitted, you should be aware that the on-campus MS program does not accept credits earned at another school toward the degree here. In other words, if you have taken similar courses at another school and you are accepted at Columbia, those courses would not count toward your degree here.

You may be able to replace courses you already took at another school with different courses at Columbia to make up the degree requirements. The majority of MS programs at Columbia Engineering require 30 credits to complete. This may vary slightly depending on the program and whether you have any deficiencies to make up. Upon admission, you may discuss your program coursework with an advisor. Prior to admission, prospective students should review thedepartment websitesfor details about the programs.

Students interested in the Dual MBA/Executive MS in Engineering and Applied Science should apply viathe Business School.

For information on the dual MS program between Columbia's Engineering and Journalism schools please visit theprogram webpageand apply via the Journalism School's application.

Admitted students who plan to enroll must submit official transcripts to Columbia Engineering. Certified and secure online official transcripts must be submitted directly to Columbia from your prior academic institution(s)’ Registrar's Office to[email protected]. Among these must be a transcript indicating the conferral of a Bachelor’s degree. The policy for submitting official transcripts is as follows:

1. All students who have attended a college or university in the United States must submit electronic transcripts directly from their school to[email protected].
   
   If a school does not offer electronic delivery, applicants must write to[email protected]to provide us with the link to their institution's web page concerning transcript orders. Applicants may also be asked to provide additional documentation to confirm the school cannot send transcripts electronically. After verifying that your institution does not provide an electronic option, we will then authorize a hardcopy submission mailed directly to us by the Registrar of your university in a sealed envelope.
2. All students attending Chinese institutions will be required to contact CHESICC to arrange submission of a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript” AND a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate” or "Online Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate" (for those earning a degree in China) to Columbia at[email protected].
   
   If the university cannot send transcripts electronically via a secure, password-protected system, applicants must order a Course-by-Course Evaluation and International Credential Advantage Package to be sent electronically to[email protected]fromWorld Education Services(WES).
3. All other students who have attended an international university must submit an electronic transcript (if their school offers secure online delivery) to[email protected].
   

No. We will not accept hand-delivered transcripts to our office, nor will we accept transcripts mailed by the student.

Yes, all information submitted during the application process will be verified prior to enrollment. All students must provide written consent to participate in a verification process of all academic, professional, and reference information provided during their application process. All students must sign and date an authorization and release form to conduct the verification process. The link to do so will be provided once you have formally accepted our offer of admission.

Following admission to a Columbia Engineering graduate program, all students will participate in the Verification Process. During this process, all materials submitted by the student will be reviewed for authenticity. All students must provide written consent to participate in a verification process of all academic, professional, and reference information provided during their application process. All students must sign and date an authorization and release form to conduct the verification process. The link to do so will be provided once you have formally accepted our offer of admission.

No, you cannot transfer into another program prior to the first semester. You have the option of enrolling in the program you were admitted to and applying by reactivation to the new program for the following semester. If you do not want to enroll in the program you were admitted to, you can decline the offer. Then, you can apply by reactivation to the new program for the following semester.

Reactivation allows you to use your prior application again to apply for one of the two semesters following the original semester of admission. If you do not reactivate within a year and want to apply again you will need to submit a new application altogether.

Applicants who have been accepted for admission will be required to submit a tuition deposit payment to hold their place in the new incoming class. The tuition deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Therefore, if an admitted applicant pays the deposit, but fails to enroll for the particular program and term of the admission offer, the deposit will not be returned.

After the end of the add/drop registration period tuition deposits paid will be credited to the enrolled student's account. More information will be provided upon admission in the admission notification and follow-up messages.

Yes, all newly admitted MS students are asked to submit a tuition deposit to accept the offer of admission and secure their place in the class. The tuition deposit allows academic departments to more accurately determine the expected incoming class size and plan accordingly.

The tuition deposit amount will be at least $4,000.00 and depends on the program of admission. The tuition deposit amount can be found on your admission letter.

No. If you pay the tuition deposit and ultimately do not enroll for the term you were admitted it will not be refunded. However, if you do enroll as expected the full deposit will be credited toward your student account after registration. There are no exceptions to this long-standing and standard university practice.

Your tuition deposit will appear in your student account after the add/drop period in your first semester. It will not be reflected prior to this.

There is no option to defer admission offers. However, candidates who have applied and were admitted to a Columbia Engineering graduate program, but did not attend, may reactivate their applications for one of the two terms following their original application. Candidates who do not request reactivation within the year are required to submit a new application.

Please be aware that candidates who reactivate their applications are essentially reapplying for admission. Applicants who were not previously admitted cannot use the reactivation application process to apply again.

Current Columbia Engineering graduate students who would like to be considered for a new degree program may reactivate their prior application. To begin this process, please submit theColumbia Engineering Reactivation Form. You will be prompted to log in with your original application account credentials. If applying after one year of enrollment in a graduate engineering program, then students should submit a new application for admission.Current Columbia Engineering graduate students must upload a copy of their academic record into the online application even if it is their first semester at Columbia and no grades have yet been reported. Not doing so can cause a delay in the review of the application for admission. However, students need not request an official transcript be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Applicants mustapply online. Please be sure to carefully select the correct application type.

Start Application

Ordinarily, applicants have majored in the field in which graduate study is intended. However, in certain programs, preparation in a related field of engineering or science is acceptable. You will be admitted only if your undergraduate record shows promise of productive and effective graduate work.

Unfortunately, we are unable to evaluate your candidacy prior to the submission of a complete application. There is no minimum score requirement for standardized test scores or GPA in order to apply for admission consideration. If you are interested in admission, we encourage you to submit a complete application along with the required documents.

Admission is available for the spring or fall term. Some programs only offer admission for a fall term start. See therequirements pagefor fuller information.

You should apply on or within a few weeks of ourpriority deadlinesfor the best chances of admission. You are encouraged to apply by the posted deadline. All application materials should be submitted and received within two to four weeks after the posted deadline. Columbia Engineering reserves the right to review and render decisions on applications that remain incomplete following the posted deadlines.

All application materials should be submitted and received within two to four weeks after the posted deadline. Columbia Engineering reserves the right to review and render decisions on applications that remain incomplete following the posted deadlines. References can be added to your submitted application after the priority deadline, if necessary. It is in your best interest to complete your application close to the priority deadline. The contacts you list as reference providers will be able to add their letters directly to your online application after submission.

Sometimes students miss the priority deadline for good reasons. However, this may cause chances for admission to decrease when the application is completed more than a few weeks after the priority deadline. Be advised that Columbia reserves the right to evaluate and render a decision on the application even if all the pieces of the application have not been received after the priority deadline. Once a decision is rendered the decision will be final.

As soon as you submit your online application, with all the required materials, you will receive access to your Status Portal. You can log in to yourStatus Portalat any time to view the status of your application materials.

If you have new, or additional, materials you would like to include with your application you may upload them as a "Supplemental Material." We cannot guarantee that these documents will be reviewed with your application, but you are welcome to include them. Examples of Supplemental Materials include awards, certificates, school papers, etc.

In addition, if you would like to provide updated or new test scores with your application, you will have access to the Updated Test Score form. This form should only be used if you have received new scores since submitting your application.

No. You may apply to only one program at a time. Do not apply to more than one program at Columbia Engineering for a given term or the applications you submit may be invalidated. Do not create new accounts to create additional applications.

No. You may apply to only one program at a time either on-campus or throughCVN. Students may not apply to more than one program at Columbia Engineering for a given term or applications may be invalidated.

Enter your legal name on your application for admission. If you are an international student, use the name as it appears on your passport. If your name differs in any way on your official documents from what you indicated on the application this can cause a delay or a rescinding of an admission offer. Be sure to enter any alternative name(s) on the application for admission in the space provided. Please read the application carefully and follow the instructions.

If you only have one name, please enter that name in both the first name and last name sections of the application.

Copies of your official transcripts should be uploaded to your online application for review purposes. Our office will require official transcripts sent electronically after admission. Check our FAQ section on transcripts below if you have additional questions.

After your application is submitted you may not update it. However, if you have new, or additional, materials you would like to include with your application you may upload them as a "Supplemental Material" via your Status Portal. We cannot guarantee that these documents will be reviewed with your application, but you are welcome to include them. Examples of Supplemental Materials include awards, certificates, school papers, etc.

All materials submitted in support of an applicant, whether official or unofficial, become the property of Columbia University and will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to other schools or agencies. We suggest that you keep copies of any documents you may need for your personal use.

Yes, you must submit all application requirements online. This includes uploaded copies of official transcripts and recommendations. No exceptions are made to the requirement.

A letter that addresses recollections of favorable personal interactions in a classroom or a laboratory setting is very valuable. Letters from professors in the student's department who have direct experience with the student and can clearly compare him or her to others from classes they taught are effective. If a student has professional experience that is relevant, either because of the skills developed or the type of work experience, a letter from a professional can be very useful. Also, letters from research supervisors in the student's chosen area are important. Research-oriented letters are encouraged for those applying at the Ph.D. level.

We recommend you not exceed 1,000 words. However, this is a recommendation and not a requirement. Brevity is preferred. The statement serves as both a writing sample and an opportunity for you to explain why you are applying, what makes you a good fit, and anything that may be unclear elsewhere on your application.

No, the application fee must be paid using a major credit card via the online application system.

Technical questions related to the application can be sent to[email protected].

After submission, you should monitor theStatus Portal. You will receive an email when a decision is made. Be advised that after the deadline Columbia reserves the right to evaluate an application and render a final decision even if all pieces of the application have not been received.

Contacting our office for your status interrupts and can delay the processing of applications for review.

Admissions decisions are released in the months following the posted deadlines. Applicants will be notified of the result of the application review as soon as possible. Please be aware that this can take several months.

No. Early application submissions will not receive a decision any earlier than candidates who submit their application by the deadline.

The official notice of an admission decision will be communicated to you in a formal letter within yourStatus Portal. Be sure you provide a current and valid email address to ensure you receive all correspondence.

We are unable to accept hard copy reference letters by mail. References sent this way will not be reviewed. If your reference provider has trouble submitting their reference online, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for assistance at[email protected].

There is no need to submit financial documents before the decision is made on your application for admission. You will be required to submit financial statements to theInternational Students and Scholars Officeafter you are accepted into the program.

For information about different types of funding options visit the website of theStudent Financial Services. All prospective students should seek funding from external sources, such as scholarships offered by philanthropic or government organizations. Eligibility requirements will vary depending on the sponsor.

In addition, separate applications will be required by each sponsor. To find a list of external funding opportunities, visit thegraduate funding page. There are many other search sites available on the Internet. We also suggest you consult with faculty, administrators, or mentors at your current or prior undergraduate school as they may also have knowledge of sources of funding.

All prospective students may apply for department funding with their application for admission. There is no separate application for financial aid awarded by the department. This aid includes TA/RA Assistantships and other funding support.

To apply, submit a complete application for admission within a few weeks of the priority deadline for best results. Be advised, this type of funding is generally only available to doctoral admits. You will be notified directly by the department along with or shortly after your admission decision if you are awarded any departmental aid. Both international and domestic applicants are eligible for departmental aid.

There is no separate application for funding awarded by the department. The application for admission is also used for financial aid consideration from the department. This type of aid is awarded by the department to which you apply based on merit and the amount of funding available. It is not guaranteed with admission. Typically, this form of aid is not available to students pursuing Master of Science degrees. Both international and domestic applicants are eligible for department aid.

You will be notified directly by the department at the same time or shortly after your admission decision is made. Initially, you may be notified over e-mail contact by a faculty member or administrator. If you have not been awarded aid you will receive no communication regarding funding from the department.

Fellowship funds may or may not be taxable, depending on how they are spent. Normally, funds used to pay tuition and fees are not taxable, but funds used to pay living expenses are. Students should consult with a tax professional or check publication 970 from theIRS websitefor more information.

If you have additional questions about funding you may email our office at:[email protected].

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for the 2025 admission cycle. This includes Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. If you have taken the exam and would like to provide your scores, you may, but it is not required. Students who do not submit scores will not be penalized in the graduate admissions review process.

If you provide test scores, you must self-report your full scores (each section with percentiles) for all exams in your online application in the space provided. Your self-reported scores will be verified during the review process and if you are recommended for admission after the deadline. If you accept the offer of admission, you will need to submit official test scores at that time. Scores sent fromETSto our School, code 2111, typically arrive within two weeks.

GREscores expire in five years.TOEFL,IELTS, andDuolingoscores expire in two years. Expired test scores will not be accepted. All standardized test scores must remain valid through your first semester. If your scores expire prior to this, we strongly encourage you to submit your official score report to us before their expiration.

Applicants who earned their undergraduate degree in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the United States of America must submit an official score from an approved English language proficiency exam. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Korea, Africa, Southeast Asia, and most European countries.

Approved English language proficiency exams are theTOEFL iBT- including TOEFL iBT Home Edition,IELTS Academic,PTE Academic test, orDuolingo English Test. TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. Only one English language test is required.

Applicants who transferred from or have combined/joint program degrees from an institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the United States of America, are also required to submit one of the English language tests with their application.

An exception will be made for applicants who have earned or will complete a Master's degree in the United States before enrollment. In this case, the applicant is not required to submit English language proficiency exam scores for admission.

Current Columbia Engineering graduate students enrolled in a degree program who are applying again to another degree program do not have to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test.

There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. However, it may be necessary to improve your English proficiency if you score:

• 99 or lower on the TOEFL internet-based test; or
• 6.5 or lower on the IELTS
• 68 or lower on the PTE Academic
• 134 or lower on the Duolingo English Test

There are no minimum test score requirements to apply for admission consideration. The average GRE quantitative scores for past entering classes in recent years rank around 91%. Therefore, it is recommended that your scores in this section be comparable. You can check the percentiles provided and your ETS scores to find your ranking and compare. When entering your scores onto the online application, be sure to enter your score on each section of the test and include the percentiles.

If you are a doctoral applicant (MS leading to PhD, PhD, EngScD) applying to the Applied Physics program, you must submit the official GRE Physics test score. It is not required for any other program.

Unfortunately, the GMAT may not replace the GRE test requirement. Applicants applying to graduate programs within the departments of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research or the Data Science Institute may upload their GMAT score report as Supplemental Material if they have taken the test and wish to provide the score.

Please upload a copy of the corresponding score report for any test scores you have provided in your application. This is the only score report required at the time of application. You should have official scores sent to us directly from your testing agency (ETS code 2111). Your self-reported scores will be verified during the review process. If we cannot verify your test scores, we will contact you. Please do not contact our office to confirm if your scores were received, as this will create a backlog.

If you are including test scores with your application, you must include these prior to submission. We strongly encourage you to apply and complete your application close to or within a few weeks of the priority deadline for the best results.

No, you are not required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo test if the university is located within the US and you were enrolled on campus for the entire program.

Unfortunately, no exceptions will be made for reasons outside of the policy.

The test requirement is based on where you studied, not your citizenship status, so you may still be required to take the test.

The test is only waived if you are awarded your Bachelor's or Master of Science degree from a school where English is the official and widely spoken language. In addition, you must have been on campus in the country for the duration of your program.

Current Columbia Engineering graduate students are not required to submit the test a second time. If you are not enrolled and your test expired, please retake the test and submit valid scores with your new application.

The transcript copy you upload onto your online application must be an official copy, which is typically obtained from your college or university Registrar's office or the office that issues official transcripts to students, or a student copy. Do not upload screenshots of your student portal.

If you are a currently enrolled graduate student at Columbia Engineering applying again to another department or degree level you must upload a copy of your transcript to your online application. This is required even if you are a student at Columbia Engineering already and whether or not it is your first semester and grades are available.

All applicants must upload copies of official transcripts to the online application system for review purposes. The Office of Graduate Admissions will require all official transcripts at the point of admission.

Yes, transcripts must be submitted for all institutions attended.

Yes, you are required to upload a copy of your Columbia transcript onto your online application. Do this even if your grades are pending and this is your first semester. However, you will not be required to mail or deliver an official copy of your transcript if you are subsequently admitted into the program.

Official transcripts must be received shortly after the start of the semester.

If you are an international student and your transcripts are not in English, you also need to mail an official notarized translation and separate degree certificates indicating the conferral of your degree. Although uploaded or other copies of transcripts may be used for review purposes, enrollment is contingent upon receiving all official transcript/s, translations (if required), and degree certificates (international students). If we do not receive these documents in a timely manner it may cause admission delays.

Admitted students who plan to enroll must submit official transcripts to Columbia Engineering. Certified and secure online official transcripts must be submitted directly to Columbia from your prior academic institution(s)’ Registrar's Office to[email protected]. Among these must be a transcript indicating the conferral of a Bachelor’s degree. The policy for submitting official transcripts is as follows:

1. All students who have attended a college or university in the United States must submit electronic transcripts directly from their school to[email protected].
   
   If a school does not offer electronic delivery, applicants must write to[email protected]to provide us with the link to their institution's web page concerning transcript orders. Applicants may also be asked to provide additional documentation to confirm the school cannot send transcripts electronically. After verifying that your institution does not provide an electronic option, we will then authorize a hardcopy submission mailed directly to us by the Registrar of your university in a sealed envelope.
2. All students attending Chinese institutions will be required to contact CHESICC to arrange submission of a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript” AND a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate” or "Online Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate" (for those earning a degree in China) to Columbia at[email protected].
3. All other students who have attended an international university must submit an electronic transcript (if their school offers secure online delivery) to[email protected].

If the university cannot send transcripts electronically via a secure, password-protected system, applicants must order a Course-by-Course Evaluation and International Credential Advantage Package to be sent electronically to[email protected]fromWorld Education Services(WES).

No. We will not accept hand-delivered transcripts to our office, nor will we accept transcripts mailed by the student.

Yes, all information submitted during the application process will be verified prior to enrollment. All students must provide written consent to participate in a verification process of all academic, professional, and reference information provided during their application process. All students must sign and date an authorization and release form to conduct the verification process. The link to do so will be provided once you have formally accepted our offer of admission.

If your official transcripts are not originally in English and the college/university you attended does not provide a translation of your official transcript into English, you must include a notarized translation to English for each of your non-English transcripts along with proof of graduation.

The translation must include complete contact information for the service provider. You may find and select a translation service of your choice. The official or original language transcript must be sent in addition to the translated version.

Many translation or evaluation services can convert your grades to the U.S. scale. We recommend you use aNACES-accredited evaluatorto accurately determine what your GPA would be on a U.S. grading scale.

The table below is the standard A-F grading scale used at most schools within Columbia University:

Pass grades have no GPA value.

Official transcripts are a record of your grades or results of academic study and are valid when issued by the school you attended. We require that you upload copies of your official transcripts to your online application. Final transcripts state that a degree has been conferred and provide the date of conferral and type of degree. If your school does not indicate this on transcripts, a separate official degree statement will also be required.