M.S. Program Application FAQ

To apply, submit anonline application. Once you register with a valid email address, you can log on as frequently as you need to fill out your application data. Submit the application when it is complete.

Details of each step are included within this FAQ and within the online application, but in summary:

STEP 1: Complete and submit an online application: Refer to theSEAS Admissions Page

STEP 2:After you submit the application, reference requests are sent to your recommendation providers.

STEP 3:Your application will be assigned to the faculty on the MS Admissions committee and pass through several stages of review.

STEP 4:Official decision notifications will be sent out via email.

Due to the high volume of inquiries, requests to check the receipt of materials cannot be granted. Refer to the online application portal atSEAS Admissions.

Official deadlines are posted by SEAS here:https://www.gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements

Fall 1st priority deadline:January 15
Fall 2nd final deadline:February 15

We strongly encourage all applicants to meet the 1st deadline.

Spring deadline:October 15th

If you have any questions, pleaseemail.

No, we do not accept students in the Summer and Fall admitted students cannot begin in the Summer.

You should have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline.

If your undergraduate degree is in a different field, you are required to have completed at least four computer science courses covering foundations of the field and basic programming, and two mathematics courses. Please refer to theCS@CU MS Bridge Programfor the courses needed.

If you do not have this foundational coursework but still feel you are qualified for the MS program, then your qualifications should be clearly outlined in your application through your resume, statement, and reference letters.

If you are interested in pursuing this foundational coursework at Columbia then you may be interested in theCS@CU MS Bridge Program here.

No, you do not need to take the coursework at Columbia, but the courses must be completed at an accredited university.

If you are interested in pursuing this foundational coursework at Columbia then you may be interested in the CS@CU MS Bridge program which incorporates all the foundational/bridge coursework and the MS coursework into one program. Learn more aboutCS@CU MS Bridge Program here.

You may be interested in the CS@CU MS Bridge program which incorporates all the foundational/bridge coursework and the MS coursework into one program. Learn more aboutCS@CU MS Bridge Program here.

While there is no minimum GPA requirement to apply for admission consideration, the program is highly selective. Successful applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Information regarding converting your GPA can be found on theGraduate Student Affairs website.

Applicants who were previously admitted and 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, as admission will not be guaranteed.Columbia does not defer admission.

Applicants who were not previously admitted are not eligible to reactivate their application. Instead, they must complete an entirely new application for admission.

For more information, please contactseasgradmit@columbia.eduor visit theirwebsite.

Use the Columbia University code 2111. It is not necessary to enter the department code.

Please have your official GRE and TOEFL scores sent to us directly byETS, using the Columbia University institutional code 2111. It is not necessary to enter the department code.

ForIELTSscores, enter your TRF number on the application for admission. Our office downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the IELTS e-download account. You may select Columbia Engineering, by searching for Columbia University under “List of Organizations subscribing to the E-TRF Query” and then selecting “The Fu Foundation School.” We will not accept paper IELTS test report forms.

Please refer to the SEAS Standardized Test Scores FAQ for more information on this process. For follow-up inquiries, we encourage you to contactseasgradmit@columbia.edudirectly.

Please see the official application requirements online here:https://gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements

No. Most admitted applicants, however, have scores of 750 or higher on the Quantitative section of the test. If you are not able to convert the score into the current version please refer to theETS websitefor concordance table information.

Please see the official application requirements online here:https://gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements

Please see the official application requirements online here:https://gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English (PET Academic) official scores are required. See theSEAS policyfor more information on possible exceptions or contactseasgradmit@columbia.eduto discuss it further.

For Internet-based TOEFL test, we recommend a total score of 101. For IELTS, 7 is the recommended score for admission.

Yes. All standardized test scores need to remain valid through the start of classes. If your scores will expire prior to this, we strongly encourage you to retake the exam.

Please see the official application requirements online here:https://gradengineering.columbia.edu/graduate-admissions/application-requirements

TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid from two years from the date the test was taken. GRE scores are valid for five years. However, per SEAS policy, all standardized test scores need to remain valid through the start of classes. See theSEAS policyfor more information.

Yes, you must report your scores on your application and must request ETS or IELTS to send official scores directly to Columbia University. Do not send these to the Department.

Yes, you must complete the test score sections of the online application. Do not send these to the Department.

SEAS Graduate Student Affairsadministers this policy; please see their website on this topic and send follow-up questions directly totheir team.

SEAS Graduate Student Affairsadministers this policy; please see their website on this topic and send follow-up questions directly totheir team.

The purpose of the Personal Statement is for you to share more about your past experiences and to discuss how these experiences have contributed to your personal and professional growth. It allows the applicant the opportunity to explain to the admission committee the distinct qualities and commitment they can bring to the Columbia Engineering community.

A few topics that you may want to address in your Personal Statement include:

• Describe the reasons you are interested in this program and discuss any relevant past experience.
• If you have relevant work or research experience, please indicate how it helped you decide on your career path.
• What are your post-graduation plans or career goals?
• What do you hope to gain from this program?
• What about this program excites you?
• If there are any special circumstances that need to be brought to the attention of the Admission Committee, please include that information.

The purpose of the Personal Statement is for you to share more about your past experiences and to discuss how these experiences have contributed to your personal and professional growth. It allows the applicant the opportunity to explain to the admission committee the distinct qualities and commitment they can bring to their department and to the overall Columbia Engineering community.

We recommend that your Personal Statement be between 250 and 1,000 words. Your application will not be negatively impacted should exceed this recommendation.Please do not email us to request permission to exceed this recommendation, no permission is necessary.

If possible, the following format is preferred:

• All margins should be at least one inch, and the left and right margins should be equal.
• Text should be double spaced.
• The preferred fonts are 10-point Arial or 12-point Times New Roman; however, any legible serif or sans-serif standard font may be used. Do not use script or ornamental fonts.
• Your name should appear in the Header or Footer of every page.

It is integral to the admissions process that you write and submit this Personal Statement on your own. Any evidence of plagiarized materials may result in denial or revocation of admission.

A few topics that you may want to address in your Personal Statement include:

• Describe how your background has prepared you to pursue an advanced degree in the field of engineering or applied science at Columbia University.
• Describe the reasons you are interested in this program and discuss any relevant past experience.
• If you have relevant work or research experience, please indicate how it helped you decide on your career path.
• What are your post-graduation plans or career goals?
• What do you hope to gain from this program?
• What about this program excites you?
• If there are any special circumstances that need to be brought to the attention of the Admission Committee, please include that information.

Follow-up questions can be sent to the SEAS Graduate Admissions team:seasgradmit@columbia.edu.

Your entire application, including recommendation letters, should be complete by the priority deadline.

We require electronic submission of recommendations. Emailseasgradmit@columbia.eduwith any related issues.

You should use the professional email address/contact information for all of your recommendation providers. Emailseasgradmit@columbia.eduwith any related issues.

They can upload a current employee ID or badge. Emailseasgradmit@columbia.eduwith any related issues.

International students will be asked to submit the financial statement after they are accepted into the program through the I-20 application process. There is no need for you to submit it before the decision is made.

SEAS Graduate Student Admissions administers this policy; please see their website on this topic and send follow-up questions directly totheir team.

Your application to the PhD program was unsuccessful, but since you indicated that you would like to be considered for the MS program, your application was forwarded to the MS application pool for consideration.

Yes, after entering the MS program, you can apply for the PhD program the following year, and transfer into the PhD program if you are successful.

The Masters Committee reviewers evaluate all applications and make admission decisions. As soon as that decision is made, you will be notified by email to the address specified on your online application. We cannot respond to requests for updates on decisions.

If you have not received the email notification yet, that means the application is still being evaluated. As soon as a decision is made, you will be notified automatically via email. Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot respond to requests for updates on decisions.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications received, the Department cannot provide specific feedback on the decisions made.

US students are encouraged to apply for scholarships, merit fellowships, and loans. Visit the FFSEAS Official Financial Aid and Educational Financing for more information. International students are advised to pursue fellowship programs available through their countries of origin.

You will have to reactivate your application and pass the review process again. Your online application and official documents are held for a maximum of 12 months from your original submission date and can be reactivatedoncewithin this time without repaying the application fee.

Applications are only accepted up to a maximum of two semesters in advance. Check back at a later date when your semester of choice will be activated to receive applications.

No, you cannot reactivate your rejected application. You can reapply to the program by creating a new online application with all materials resubmitted. Please be aware that you will need to pay the application fee again when you create a new application.

If you have previously applied to the CS graduate program and submitted official scores the first time through ETS and those scores are still valid, then you do not need to resubmit them with your current application. If your test scores have expired as of the new application deadline, you need to retake the exam and submit those new scores.

CVN is the graduate distance learning program of Columbia University’s School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS). CVN enables students globally to pursue residency-free, fully accredited engineering courses and degree programs completely via the Internet, allowing students to view their lectures anytime and anywhere.

If you are interested in the distance learning program, please visit their websitehere.

It is not possible to transfer between the in-person and CVN CS MS within the first semester.