How to Apply

Log in or create an account to start or complete your online application.

Fee is paid by credit card in order to submit the online application.

In the Academic History section of the online application, you must list and upload unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended for at least one term. This includes all graded coursework, in progress coursework, summer program(s), study abroad program(s), or transfer coursework unless:

• You did not earn academic credits; 
• You completed less than 11 credits (on a traditional US credit scale) outside of your home institution. If you completed more than 11 credits outside of your home institution, then you must provide us with unofficial transcripts/ the coursework must be included on your WES evaluation.

If requested, you may be required to provide transcripts or mark sheets from any and all post-secondary institutions.

Applicants who attended a U.S. institution must submit:

• Unofficial transcripts for each institution attended. 

Note: Unofficial transcripts must include your name, the name of the institution, each of the terms attended, the courses you took and the grades you obtained. 

Applicants who attended an international institution must submit:

• An official ICAP course-by-course evaluation* by World Education Services, Inc. (WES), a third-party verification agency, that includes all post-secondary coursework completed outside of the United States. This is required for your application to be reviewed. The evaluation may take several weeks to be completed and sent to SPS. You should start your evaluation as soon as possible after you begin your application.

Applications will not be reviewed until we have received all of your transcripts and/or WES evaluations.

* Please note that if you completed 18 credits or less abroad, instead of submitting a WES evaluation, you may submit an unofficial transcript for admissions consideration. If admitted, you must order an official transcript to be sent to SPS directly from the institution abroad. 

Be sure to write a statement that responds to the specific prompt provided by your program.

Essay requirements vary by master's program. Please be sure to carefully review the table below for program-specific requirements.

Two recommendations are required as part of your application. Recommendations should be submitted from academic and/or professional sources. 

• Certification of Professional Achievement Applicants: This requirement does not apply to the following CPA programs: Bioethics CPA, Narrative Medicine CPA.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All recommendations must be submitted using a professional or academic email domain. References submitted from personal or anonymous email domains (e.g. Gmail, Yahoo, 123.com, 163.com, qq.com etc.) may result in your application being considered ineligible for admission. If you are unable to provide a professional email address for your recommender, please email us at apply [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (apply[at]sps[dot]columbia[dot]edu) with an explanation of why a professional email address cannot be provided. 

If you are still enrolled in your undergraduate studies, at the time of submitting your application:

1. At least one of your recommendations must be from a faculty member with whom you have completed an academic credit-bearing course who can assess your academic work, intellectual ability, and academic potential for graduate work. Research supervisors or instructors are appropriate if you took their research course for academic credit. The recommender should have instructed you directly, academic advisors are not appropriate.
   
   AND/OR
2. You may obtain a professional recommendation from an internship supervisor if that internship was completed for credit as part of your undergraduate degree or at your degree-granting institution.

If you have already completed your undergraduate studies at the time of submitting your application:

1. Your recommendations may be from a faculty member with whom you have completed an academic credit-bearing course who can assess your academic work, intellectual ability, and academic potential for graduate work. Research supervisors or instructors are appropriate if you took their research course for academic credit. The recommender should have instructed you directly, academic advisors are not appropriate.
   
   AND/OR
2. Your recommendations may be from a current or former supervisor (preferred) or work associate/project leader from a Full-Time or Part-Time employment experience. Research supervisors are appropriate if you were employed as a full-time or part-time employee. Recommendations from volunteer work, internships, and externships are not acceptable. If you manage your own business and are your own supervisor, you may select a client as your recommender. 

Include any professional experience or skills related to your program of interest.

After you have submitted your application and fee, you will be required to submit a one-minute video essay answering a randomized prompt. 

• Certification of Professional Achievement Applicants: This requirement does not apply to the Narrative Medicine CPA program.

Some programs require your official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Proof of English Proficiency

If your first and native language* is not English, you must provide official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS Academic unless both of the following are true:

• the language of instruction of your undergraduate degree conferring institution is English, and
• you completed your entire undergraduate degree in English.

*Your first and native language is the language that you learned first or speak best.

Please note: TOEFL/IELTS scores are required if you are applying to the Sports Management or Strategic Communication program. Applicant total scores must meet the Columbia SPS minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL iBT) or 7.0 (IELTS Academic) to be admissible. 

Additional Standardized Test Scores

Standardized scores are not required** upon application submission; however, standard exams are a useful indicator of academic ability and applicants are strongly encouraged to consider submitting scores to further support their candidacy and strengthen their application.

** With the exception of the Bioethics Program.

An additional admissions interview may be required.

1. Visa Requirements (On-Campus Study): International students are responsible for ensuring they have read and understood the University’s student visa application eligibility and requirements. Please note that it is not permissible to enroll while in B-1/B-2 status. International students enrolled in a full-time course load—registered for at least 12 points of credit-bearing courses a term—are eligible for a student visa.
2. International Transcript Evaluation Through WES: If you attended an institution outside the United States, you must submit all of your transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) to World Education Services, Inc. (WES), a third-party verification agency for a course-by-course evaluation for admission consideration.