M.S. Program Applications

Essentials: 

How do I apply to the M.S. program?
To apply, submit an online 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.

What is the full application process?
Details of each step are included within this FAQ and within the online application, but in summary:

  1. You complete and submit an online application.
  2. You submit Official and valid GRE and TOEFL (if required) scores to Columbia University (code 2111).
  3. You mail ONE official transcript to the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS) Graduate Student Services. Please see below for the address.
  4. The departmental M.S. Admissions Committee members review your application.
  5. Your application is flagged with a decision: rejected or recommended-for-admission.
  6. You are automatically emailed that decision.
  7. If accepted, your application is forwarded to the SEAS Graduate Student Services.
  8. Your official transcripts and test scores are checked, and if everything is in order, the SEAS Graduate Student Services Office will send you an official acceptance package by mail.
What official documents and information do I need in support of my application?

1) One copy of your official transcript

2) Official and valid GRE and TOEFL (if required) scores 

These documents should be mailed to:

Computer Science M.S. Admissions
SEAS Graduate Admissions Office
Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Columbia University
524 SW Mudd, MC 4708
New York, NY 10027
USA

Who should I contact to confirm the receipt of my official documents?
Due to the high volume of inquiries, requests to check the receipt of materials cannot be granted. The application is reviewed online, and if materials are missing, the Graduate Admissions Office will contact you by email.

What are the application deadlines?
Our priority deadlines are Oct. 1 for Spring admission and Feb. 15 for Fall admission. Yet we continue accepting applications on a rolling basis after these school-wide deadlines. If you have any questions, please .

Can I apply for admission to the Summer semester?
No, we do not accept students in the summer. If you want to start taking graduate-level courses in the summer, you have the option of taking courses through the School of Continuing Education’s summer session or through Columbia Video Network. You are allowed to transfer up to 15 Continuing Education credits towards your M.S. degree. Credits are transferred using Advance Standing after you are admitted into the program. You can also transfer Columbia video Network credits, but for more information, please .

What are the admission requirements?
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. For example, Intro to Computer Science (COMS W1004), Object-Oriented Programming and Design in JAVA (COMS W1007), and Advanced Programming (COMS W3157) are prerequisites for taking Data Structures and Algorithms (COMS W3137), which is a prerequisite for most of our graduate-level courses.

Are there any specific pre-requisite courses I need to have taken before applying?
No, as long as the above requirements are met.

Is there a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for application?
Yes, a minimum of 3.3 (out of 4) is required. Most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.  Please see below regarding converting percentage grades to the GPA system.

Test Scores: 

What are the GRE and TOEFL institutional codes for the Columbia University Department of Computer Science?
Use the Columbia University code 2111. It is not necessary to enter the department code.

Is the General GRE Test required?
Yes. 

Do I have to take the GRE Test before applying?
Yes. Your application will not be reviewed without your GRE test scores in the online application. 

Is there a minimum General GRE Test score?
No. Most admitted applicants, however, have scores of 650 or higher on the Analytical and Quantitative sections of the test.

Is the GRE Computer Science Subject Test required?
No, but taking it may strengthen your application.

Is the TOEFL test required?
An applicant, whose native language is not English and who did not receive the "bachelor's degree" in a country where English is the primary language, must complete the TOEFL exam and report scores. 

What TOEFL test scores are required?
For the computer-based TOEFL test, a total score of 250 or higher out of 300 is required.  For Internet-based TOEFL test, a total score of 100, and for the paper-based TOEFL test, a total score of 600 is required.

My TOEFL and/or GRE scores will expire right around the time of M.S. application deadline. Do I need to retake the exam?
We highly recommend you to retake the test as your test scores must be valid for the admissions review.

How long are my TOEFL and/or GRE scores valid for?
TOEFL scores are valid from two years from the date the test was taken. GRE scores are valid for five years. 

I have entered my TOEFL and GRE test scores on my online application. Do I still have to submit an official score report to Columbia ?
Yes, you must submit your self-reported, unofficial scores on your application and request that official score report be sent by ETS directly to Columbia University.

I have sent my official TOEFL and GRE test scores to the specified address. Do I still have to report the scores on online application?
Yes, you must complete the test score sections of the online application. Otherwise, your application will be considered an incomplete application.

Transcript:

My transcripts are not in English. What should I do?
Your transcripts need to be translated by an official and notarized transcription agency. This is your responsibility and the CS department cannot provide referrals.

My course grades on my undergraduate transcript are based on a different scale from Columbia’s. What can I do?
You must have your transcript converted to the GPA scale by an appropriate agency (GPA is on a 0-4 scale) before sending it to the SEAS Graduate Student Services. It is your responsibility to find an agency that can do this conversion for you.

For the online application, though, you can enter an approximate conversion of your percentage grade. There are many websites that help you with grade conversion, and one of them is available through WES. Please note that we do not recommend this site over other ones.

For instructions of calculating GPA, you can check the Columbia Registrar's website.

Recommendation Letters: 

My recommenders cannot submit their letters of recommendation electronically. Can I have them sent as hard copies via mail?
We require electronic submission of recommendations. Paper copy letters of recommendation will not be accepted and exceptions cannot be made.

Can my recommenders send letters of recommendation using Hotmail or Yahoo email addresses?
The email address should correspond to the main institution (e.g.,
university, company) with which the recommendation provider is
affiliated. Please avoid entering email addresses from providers such as
Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.

Financial Support Document:

Do I need to submit the financial document along with my application?
You will be asked to submit the financial statement after you are accepted into the program. So, there is no need for you to submit it before the decision is made.

Technical Problems: 

I’m having problems entering data and/or uploading documents in the online application system, what can I do?
Make sure your internet browser is the most up-to-date version as possible; older versions can cause problems with the system. Try working on a different computer if your problems persist. Make sure you are not attempting to upload non-supported file formats. If you still have a problem, please notify the

Being forwarded to the MS application pool from the PhD application pool:

I applied to the Ph.D. program, but I have received a notice that I have been admitted to the Masters program. What does this mean?
Your application to the Ph.D. program was unsuccessful and on your application form you indicated that you would consider admission to the Masters program if you were denied admission as a Ph.D. student.

I applied for the Ph.D. program, was unsuccessful, and have been offered a place on the Masters program. If I join the Masters program, can I reapply for the Ph.D. program later?
Yes, after entering the M.S. program, you can apply for the Ph.D. program the following year, and transfer into the Ph.D. program if you are successful.

Decision:

When will I receive a decision on my application?
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. 

I submitted my application a while ago and still have not heard about a decision yet.  Has a decision been made?
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 by the application system. Due to the high volume of applications, we request that you do not contact the department inquiring about the decision.

If I am denied admission, may I receive feedback on the reasons behind the decision?
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications received, it is impossible for the department to either admit all of the highly-qualified persons that apply to the Masters program or to provide specific feedback on the decisions made.

Funding Information: 

How do I apply for departmental funding?
The department offers a very limited number of highly selective Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Graduate Research Assistanships (GRA); these fellowships provide partial/full tuition waivers and a stipend. GRAships are available for limited number of qualified applicants at the time of admissions, but the TAships are not available for incoming students. You can read more about the Teaching Assistantship opportunities here.

What is the difference between GRA and TA funding?
Both GRA and TA funding provides a monthly stipend, basic health & medical insurance; both types of funding may include tuition exemption; and both are contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and availability of funds. The primary differences is in the responsibilities. TAs are expected to provide class support services, funded by the department, while GRAs are expected to perform research support services, funded by individual principal investigators.

When will I be informed if I have been successful in application for departmental funding?
As soon as the decision is made, you will be notified via email and mail. Note that if you are admitted "without support," that means that you would not receive financial support from the department. 

Are there other funding opportunities? 
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. 

Reactivation: 

I have been offered admission to the M.S. program. Yet my situation has changed, and I want to enroll in a later semester. What should I do?
You will have to reactivate your application and pass the review process again. Your online application and official documents are held for maximum of 12 months from your original submission date and can be reactivated once within this time without repaying the application fee. To do this, click on the reactivation link in the online application system and specify your desired semester of entry.

I want to apply for admission for the Fall or Spring semester in one year’s time or more, but I cannot see my semester of choice in the online system. What can I do?
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.

I was denied admission. Can I reactivate my application?
No, you cannot reactivate your rejected application. You can reapply to the program by creating a new online application. Also, if you choose to reapply, please send us new supplemental materials. Please be aware that you will need to pay the application fee again when you create a new application.

I am reactivating my M.S. application. Do I need to submit my test scores?
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 date, then you need to retake the exam and submit those new scores.

Columbia Video Network:

What is Columbia Video Network (CVN)?
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 website here.

Contact Us: 

We receive an enormous volume of email with application-related questions, so we ask that you please read this website carefully before sending us email. If you do not find an answer to your question, then contact us by .

 

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Last updated on 6/12/2008