Admission Requirements

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

1. Completed Online Application form.

2. $80.00 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 Undergraduate Visiting Student.

4. Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

   We strongly suggest submitting unofficial documents at the time of application as it expedites the admissions process. This can be done by uploading the scanned, unofficial transcripts through the online application system. Applicants with transcripts not in English must supply the document in the original language and provide an English translation. Candidates offered admission will later be required to supply official documents prior to enrollment. Official transcripts must arrive 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.

   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 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.

5. Letter of recommendation from the applicant's dean of students attesting to the applicant's good academic and disciplinary standing and approving study at Columbia as an Undergraduate Visiting student.

6. International students must fulfill additional application requirements.

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.

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