Admitted Graduate Students

Your UNI is the login name and password you will use to access many online services at Columbia and setting it up is a crucial first step. 

Learn how to activate your UNI. Once you have done so, check your University email account. Stay up to date with deadlines and events by adding our calendar to your LionMail account. Clicking the (+) button on the bottom right will sync our Calendar with your LionMail.

Your UNI gives you access to both your Columbia email and Student Services Online (SSOL). The SSOL account is for online course registration, student billing, and much more. Please ensure that we have your updated contact information in SSOL at all times.
 

All new incoming students must request a CU ID by submitting their photo online. Please make sure to read the directions on the ID Center's website.

IDs must be picked up during your Department Orientation. The ID Center will not have your ID.

All CU IDs must have an "EP sticker" indicating that they are enrolled in a Graduate Engineering Program. If your ID is missing an EP sticker, please request one at the front desk of the Office of Engineering Student Affairs, located in Room 530 of the Mudd Building. If you have an ID already, you do not need to get a new one unless your current ID has expired.
 

International students at Columbia enter the United States on an F-1 or J-1 student visa. You will need an I-20 for F-1 status or DS-2019 for J-1 status issued by Columbia’s International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) before making your visa appointment at a U.S. consulate to apply for your visa. 

Watch ISSO’s video on how to get a visa. You will need to:

• Prepare your documents (bank statements, passport, and other supporting documents)
• Log in to Compass to apply for your I-20 / DS-2019
• Receive I-20 / DS-2019
• Apply for Your Visa at a U.S. Consulate (the visa cannot be issued more than 120 days in advance of your program start date).
• Log into Compass to notify the ISSO of the status of your visa application ( You can submit multiple forms as your visa application status changes).

Ready to begin? Go to the ISSO website for the I-20/DS-2019 application, supporting documents checklist, and instructions.

During your visa interview, you may be asked for additional information. We recommend you download the information packet about your department for more detailed information about your curriculum and future faculty.

• Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics (PDF)
• Biomedical Engineering (PDF)
• Chemical Engineering (PDF)
• Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (PDF)
• Computer Engineering (PDF)*
• Computer Science (PDF)
• Data Science (PDF)**
• Earth and Environmental Engineering (PDF)
• Electrical Engineering (PDF)
• Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (PDF)
• Mechanical Engineering (PDF)

Doctoral students should print out information related to their Faculty Adviser and future research lab. If an Adviser and lab have not been assigned yet, provide information on the research occurring throughout the department. Please contact the department directly for additional materials. 

* The Computer Engineering MS program is jointly offered by the Department of Computer Science and Department of Electrical Engineering

** The Data Science MS program is jointly offered in collaboration with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Statistics, and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Computer Science and Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research.

If you have not already begun the I-20 and visa application process, you must do so as soon as possible.

Students must submit immunization documentation upon admission or at least 30 days prior to their scheduled registration date. Compliance with all current vaccine requirements must be confirmed before you will be permitted to register.

The vaccinations required are:

1. MMR​
2. Meningitis (MenACWY)​

The vaccinations recommended (but not required) are:

1. Up-to-date COVID-19​
2. Seasonal Influenza (required for Spring registration)

Guidelines on how to submit immunization can be found here. 

Please refer to Columbia Health’s immunization requirements page for additional information, including contact information, if you require additional assistance.

Grad Engineering Welcome Day is a mandatory, in-person orientation session for all new graduate engineering students. Please go to the Grad Engineering Welcome Day webpage to save the date and learn more about our new graduate student orientation session. 

Invitations and registration information for Welcome Day will be sent to your LionMail account, so please be sure to activate your UNI as soon as you can.

Each Program or Department has a mandatory kick-off/orientation that is separate from Engineering Welcome Day. Please refer to our Program Kick-Off page for more information. 

If you have any specific questions regarding Welcome Day, please feel free to contact the Graduate Student Life team at [email protected]

The Professional Development and Leadership (PDL) course empowers and educates Columbia engineers to maximize performance and achieve their full potential to become engineering leaders of today and tomorrow. The workshops provide engineers with skills and perspectives needed to succeed in a fast-changing technical climate. 

ENGI E4000 (Professional Development and Leadership) is required for all Master of Science students. Additional information, including a schedule, will be shared with you soon. You can also find more information on the PDL website. Any questions regarding the program should be sent to [email protected].

All incoming MS students* must participate in the final verification process, in which we review and verify all academic, professional, and reference information provided during the application process. 

In order to satisfy this requirement, students must complete the MS Verification Survey. Instructions on how to do so will be sent out a month before the start of your coursework. Questions about this step can be sent to [email protected].

*MS Express students are exempt from this requirement. CS Bridge students must participate in the verification process.

Official Test Scores

Official test scores must be submitted via the appropriate testing agency for all scores provided with your application for admission. If we do not receive your scores prior to Welcome Day, you will not be able to register for classes.

Read more on Columbia Engineering’s Official Test Score policy.

Official Transcripts

The policy for submitting official transcripts varies by where the University is located. All official transcripts must be received by October 15, 2023.

• Students who have attended a college or university in the United States must submit electronic transcripts directly from their school to [email protected]. If a school does not offer electronic delivery, applicants must write to [email protected] to provide us with the link to their institution's web page concerning transcript orders. After verifying this information, we will then authorize a hardcopy submission mailed directly to us by the Registrar of your university in a sealed envelope.
• Students who have attended a college or university in China will be required to contact CHESICC to arrange submission of a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript” AND a “Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate” (for those earning a degree in China) to Columbia at [email protected].
• Students who have attended a university that is not in China or the United States must submit an electronic transcript if your school offers secure online delivery to [email protected]. If the university cannot send transcripts electronically via a secure, password-protected system, applicants must order a Course-by-Course Evaluation and International Credential Advantage Package to be sent electronically to [email protected] from World Education Services (WES).

Read more on Columbia Engineering’s Official Transcript policy.

Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.

Full-time students are required to register for 12 credits and part-time students typically register for 6 credits. Incoming students will be able to register or join a waitlist for up to a total of 15 credits.

Students should see registration appointments listed in SSOL by the middle of the summer for a period in August. Some departments have different registration appointments from other departments so the specific starting date for registration can differ from other classmates. If registration appointments are not listed by the middle of the summer in SSOL, please email [email protected].

For any questions related to the course schedule or specific requirements for the degree, we strongly encourage students to contact their department directly.

For more information about registration, please visit Graduate Enrollment Services.

Withdrawing After Registration

If you are registered for courses and have decided to no longer attend Columbia Engineering, you must complete this form and select "Withdrawal.”  Make sure to contact your department about your decision.

All Full-Time students must have health insurance. If you have your own health insurance and would like to continue using it, you may waive the Columbia University health insurance enrollment.

To sign up for health insurance, please visit this website. For health insurance prices, please refer to this website.

International students: To ensure students have comparable insurance coverage, all registered full-time international students are enrolled by default in the plan offered by the University. A charge for the Columbia Plan as well as the Columbia Health fee will appear on the first student bill. Find additional information for International Students on the Columbia Health website.
 

A. Office of University Life Pre-Arrival Tutorials

Every student who is new to a degree program at Columbia must complete two required tutorials that introduce important University policies and valuable student resources. These tutorials convey values that are foundational to membership in the Columbia University community and provide skills and resources to help you excel during your time here. 
Both must be completed before your arrival on campus. Each tutorial takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Learn more and gain access to these tutorials. 

Tutorial 1: Welcome to Columbia
Tutorial 2: Sexual Assault Prevention

Fall deadline: First day of classes
Spring deadline: First day of classes

Students who do not complete both tutorials by the respective deadlines will have a registration hold.

For questions related to the OUL Pre-Arrival Tutorials (Welcome to Columbia and Sexual Assault Prevention), please contact [email protected].

B. Columbia Engineering Required Tutorial 

Over the summer, new students are automatically enrolled in three modules on Canvas, also known as Coursework2. You will receive an email when these tutorials are activated. The modules are in a course titled "SEAS Mandatory Orientation Tutorials"

All incoming students must complete the required Columbia Engineering Tutorials located in Canvas. 

The deadline is October 14th at 11:59 PM.

For questions regarding the SEAS Mandatory Orientation Tutorials, please email [email protected].

ENGI 6001: Engineer Your PhD (EYP) is a week-long orientation for new doctoral students. The orientation prepares doctoral students to maximize performance and achieve their full potential both during and after their doctoral program. The goal is to cultivate future scholars and leaders in their respective fields. The modules are tailored for each stage of the doctoral program, with a focus on the development of academic, research, and professional skills.

This course is zero credits and R-graded. R is a non-evaluative grade that confers credit for registration. 

Students attending The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science are required to notify the Office of Student Financial Planning to report any outside funding.

Bulletin

From course descriptions to rules, regulations, and disciplinary procedures for the school, the bulletin is your official source for a wealth of important information. Access Bulletin.

Columbia University Information Technology

The office provides IT services and support to empower Columbia. Find IT services.

The Office of Graduate Student Services

The office is the primary source for university-related questions and is an important link between students, administrators, and academic departments.The office can help with questions and issues like:

• Clarification of academic policies and procedures
• Changes in Status
• General questions, concerns or difficulties
• Academic standing, academic warnings, and probation
• Voluntary and medical withdrawals
• Receiving Advanced Standing Credits

Alice!

Alice! Is Columbia University’s Health Education program and consists of a team of professional health educators that lead workshops, train student leaders, public printed and online health information, and coordinate special projects - all providing guidance and encouraging wellness.
Alice! is best known for its interactive health Q & A Web service, “Go Ask Alice!,” which has a growing archive of more than 2,000 inquiries and responses on everything from sunscreen to STDs.

Athletics

The university offers various athletic facilities and programs to support the entire Columbia community in sustaining their health & fitness. Learn more about athletics.

Counseling and Psychological Services

CPS supports the psychological and emotional well-being of the campus community by providing confidential counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention. Learn more.

Health Services at Columbia

Columbia Health has a number of resources available to support your mental and physical health. Access health services.

Disability Services at Columbia

Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services from Disability Services (DS) are required to register with the office. Access disability services.

Public Safety

The department is committed to making the Columbia University campus and its surroundings safe for the community. Learn more about public safety at Columbia.

Engineering Wellness

Engineering Wellness provides resources and services in order to promote general wellness for students. Engineering Wellness is a part of the Graduate Student Affairs (GSA) at Columbia University, School of Engineering. Learn more.

Community Impact

The organization serves individuals in need in the communities of Upper Manhattan with volunteering & leadership opportunities available for students. Learn more.

Engineering Graduate Student Council

The Engineering Graduate Student Council is the student governing body of graduate students at Columbia Engineering. Visit the ESC.

Office of the University Chaplain

The office designs and sponsors a variety of programs on matters of justice, faith, and spirituality for small and large campus groups. Learn more.
 

The Professional Development and Leadership course offers special workshops, labs, competitions, and courses that build your professional skills, your network, and your confidence. We offer over 300 sessions annually for our BS, MS and PhD students. This is a degree requirement for our MS students.

Columbia University Individual Development Plan (IDP) Program

The Columbia University Individual Development Plan (IDP) program is designed to help participants recognize the importance of managing one’s own career, develop strategies to help with career management and comprehend the purpose and value of an IDP. Program participants will become familiar with a variety of career options, and learn which skills and experiences are necessary to pursue these career paths. Through involvement in the IDP series and workshops, participants will also be able to develop skills relevant to a variety of careers. The IDP program developed at Columbia University was designed for NIH-funded postdoctoral trainees and graduate students.

The Graduate Career Placement Team is dedicated to supporting you in the job search process. Each and every MS student is assigned to a Career Placement Coach to help you every step of the way.

Student Financial Planning for Graduate Engineering

The Office of Student Financial Planning provides financial aid information to Graduate Engineering students. It is the central contact for counseling Master of Science students. Learn more.

ID Center

The center procures the student University ID Card - the passport to services and access to Columbia University. Visit the ID Center.

International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO)

ISSO offers various services for international students as well as American citizens and permanent residents who have received their education in a foreign country. Visit ISSO.

Office of the Registrar

The office works with academic departments and schools to review student’s progress toward the completion of their degrees and certificates; post degrees, honors, and grades. The office also processes requests for academic transcripts and certifications - and orders and distributes diplomas. Visit the Registrar.

Student Financial Services

SFS is in charge of monitoring student accounts including tuition, meals, health services, and other fees. Visit Student Financial Services.

Explore sources of funding to support your studies, including external fellowships and part-time positions on campus.