Housing, Dining & Health

Housing

American Language Program (ALP) students may choose from a number of housing options depending on the time of year.

Columbia University campus housing is limited, and students are encouraged to apply early. American Language Program students must be 18 years or older to live in campus residences.

Dining Options

Student cafeterias are located in many places on campus. Students may purchase a meal plan, set up a debit account ("Dining Dollars"), or pay by cash. Many students prefer to eat in the many cafés and restaurants located in the area, or simply to cook in the dormitories which feature shared kitchen areas.

Please see www.columbia.edu/cu/dining for further information.

Health Service and Health Insurance

Students in the Fall and Spring intensive programs as well as those who enroll in both summer sessions A and B must pay the Health Services Fee and must have insurance. Please see this document for a helpful chart to help you understand your immunization responsibilities at ALP. 

The Health Services Fee gives students access to the health services office on campus. The student insurance plan covers hospitalization and visits to special doctors outside of Columbia’s Health Services office.

While it is possible to waive the insurance charge if proof of adequate medical coverage is submitted, we strongly recommend that students purchase Columbia’s approved insurance policy. Many other insurance plans are not able to offer the required coverage at a comparable price. For Columbia University health insurance coverage requirements and insurance waiver options, please visit: http://health.columbia.edu/insurance/enroll-upgrade-waive/request-waiver.

Charges for health service and insurance are automatically added to each student’s bill at registration. Students in the spring intensive program will be charged for eight months of coverage.

Please note that insurance charges added at registration are considered due when they are added. Students with comparable insurance coverage may submit insurance waiver applications after registration. If the waiver application is accepted, the insurance charge will be removed from the student's account.

Information about immunization requirements:

Students in the ALP must follow the Health Services office's rules for immunization (immunization = vaccinations against sickness and disease). 

The Health Services MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) form is located here.

Please submit the MMR form to the Health Services office directly. The form shows you how to do this. You must be compliant (compliant = you have followed the rules) by August 1st. If you are not compliant, there could be a hold on your Columbia account. This means you will not be able to register in classes and begin your studies with us.

More information about Immunization:

Below are links to the Health Services website. By looking at these links you can see if you need to get any immunizations before you can study at Columbia. These rules apply to ALL students.

Students need to make appointments at Health Services for vaccinations. If you have already had these vaccinations at home or in the US, then bring medical records to show this. You will not need to be immunized again if you can show you had the vaccinations.

Links:

For meningitis, you must decide if you want this vaccination. You need to show your decision online here.

Please see www.health.columbia.edu for further information.

Find out how to apply for our English language courses and programs.