Apply to this Program

Individuals who hold at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited American or foreign university may apply for admission as Postbaccalaureate Studies students.

Spring 2013 Applications are Still Open

There is still time to apply for Spring 2013 - submit your online application as soon as possible.

If you are applying for Spring 2013 and do not receive an admission decision by email by end of day Monday, January 14th, you must come in person with all required documents to 106B Lewisohn Hall during our walk-in admission period. At that time, you will meet with an admissions officer who will evaluate your application on site. Only applications accompanied by all required materials will be considered. Computers will be available on-site if you have not yet submitted your online application.

Walk-In Admission, Columbia University campus,
106B Lewisohn Hall

Tuesday, January 15, 10:00AM to 5:30PM
Wednesday, January 16, 10:00AM to 5:30PM
Thursday, January 17, 10:00AM to 5:30PM
Friday, January 18, 10:00AM to 4:30PM

Admission Requirements

Applicants for whom English is not a first language
You will be required to demonstrate English proficiency before being considered for the program, unless you have received your undergraduate degree from a US college or university. See details in the application instructions below.

Columbia University Faculty & Research Officers
You will complete an abbreviated application consisting of contact and citizenship information, and will not be assessed the application fee nor be required to submit additional documents. Start the application process now.

All other Columbia University Employees
You must be admitted into the Postbaccalaureate Studies program in order to register for a course. Please review the application materials below as they must be submitted for your application to be complete. Employees are held to the same academic standards as matriculated students at the University, and are required to follow the calendars, admissions requirements, and administrative policies posted on our website.

Note: Alumni and continuing students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program applying for sustainability analytics must only complete an application. Additional materials are not required. Their application fee is also waived.

Application Materials

1. Completed Online Application form.
   Choose "Postbaccalaureate Studies" under Student Category.

2. $80.00 nonrefundable application fee (U.S. currency).

3. Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. The rules and requirements for providing documentation for domestic vs. international transcripts are outlined below:

   Domestic Transcripts
   from institutions in the U.S. or Canada
   

   If your transcripts are from an institution in the U.S. or Canada, we strongly recommend submitting unofficial documents through the online application system at the time of application. Candidates offered admission will later be required to supply official documents prior to enrollment for verification before the offer is considered official.

   For those applicants who are offered admission, official transcripts must arrive in envelopes sealed by the issuing institutions certifying conferral of a bachelor's degree. 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. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is a discrepancy between the self-reported transcript and the official transcript.

   International Transcripts
   from institutions outside the U.S. or Canada
   

   Spring & Summer 2013 Applicants If your post-secondary credentials are from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, the Office of Admission requires that all post-secondary credentials be submitted in the original language along with both a certified English credential evaluation and translation. We recommend using the World Education Services, Inc. (WES) to fulfill this requirement.

   Fall 2013 Applicants If your post-secondary credentials are from an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, the Office of Admission requires you to submit all post-secondary credentials (undergraduate and graduate) to World Education Services, Inc. (WES), a third party verification agency for a course-by-course evaluation.

   Instructions for using WES

   WES must complete a course-by-course evaluation of all post-secondary credentials. Please select the WES basic course-by-course evaluation (with GPA and course-levels) and request to have WES send your evaluation to Columbia University School of Continuing Education. The school can be found by searching Columbia University and then selecting School of Continuing Education. The evaluation provided to the School of Continuing Education becomes an official academic record and sole property of the School of Continuing Education upon its receipt.

   WES evaluations will be reviewed by the School of Continuing Education administrators and the determination of degree equivalency to U.S. degrees is at the discretion of the School of Continuing Education.

4. A statement of purpose (no more than 500 words for all programs except sustainability analytics which should be 500 to 750 words) that addresses your interests and purpose in entering the program. Some applicants use their statements as an opportunity to amplify information contained on the application or academic transcripts. The statement provides an excellent forum for explaining any weaknesses that may appear on the transcript or to highlight any strengths that may not be evident elsewhere. Students applying to psychology or business should clearly indicate whether or not they plan to pursue the program. Students applying to sustainability analytics should address the following: their purpose and interest in pursuing a program in sustainability analytics, and how the program fits into their overall professional growth, focusing in particular on the connection between the program and their academic and/or professional experience.

5. Applicants to certificate programs are required to submit a résumé.

6. Applicants to the business edge program for the fall and spring semesters must submit a letter of recommendation from their home institution's dean of students on university letterhead. This letter should attest to the applicant's good academic and disciplinary standing and approve study at Columbia as an undergraduate visiting student.

7. Applicants to classics must submit two letters of recommendation that attest to their readiness for an intensive post-baccalaureate program. Applicants to sustainability analytics must submit two letters of recommendation written by teachers or professional colleagues who are well positioned to comment on their intellectual strength and professional promise.

8. For students applying to sustainability analytics, an admissions interview may be required. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test are not required but may be submitted in support of your application. GRE school report code: 3602. For complete information regarding the GRE go to www.ets.org. Applicants who do not submit GRE scores may be required to take a Graduate Writing Test at Columbia. Those applicants who are admitted may, as a result of their scores on that test, be required to take a writing course for M.S. students during their first semester.

9. International students must fulfill additional application requirements.

Note: Applicants whose native language is not English or have not completed their undergraduate studies at an accredited US college or university are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official scores either from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System).  Official scores must be sent directly from either TOEFL or IELTS and are only valid for two years.  (Use school code 2594 to report TOEFL scores.)

Applicants taking the TOEFL must have a score of at least 100 on the Internet-based version (600 paper based).  Applicants taking the IELTS must receive a score of 7.0 or higher.  Applicants receiving scores below the posted minimums may be advised to apply directly to the American Language Program.

Applicants who are admitted on the basis of TOEFL or IELTS scores may be required to further demonstrate their command of the English language during orientation and/or registration.

Submitting the Application

1. Applicants are encouraged to submit all supporting application materials through the online application system.  Unofficial documents will be used for admission consideration.

2. Applications are not considered complete until all required materials listed in the Application Materials section have been received.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.

3. Applicants who are admitted to the program must submit all official documents to the Office of Admissions before the offer is considered official.

4. All submitted materials should clearly bear the applicant's name and the name of the program to which he or she is applying.

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.

Applicants to the Psychology Certificate Program will be notified of their admissions decision 4-6 weeks after the deadline for which their application was completed.

Important: The Office of Admissions stops mailing admissions decisions one week prior to the start of registration for every session. Students who complete their applications fewer than five business days prior to registration must come in person, during registration, to receive an admissions decision.