WELCOME

Enrollment Confirmation

In order to secure a place in the program you must complete the enrollment form within the online application system and submit a tuition deposit.

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Begin the Visa Process (International Students Only)

Complete and submit the application for the form I-20 to the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). Please note that this is only required of international students requiring a student (F-1) visa. If you are not a United States citizen or permanent resident, you must be a full-time student at Columbia in order to be eligible for a student (F-1) visa. If you have questions about the visa application process you can email the ISSO at newintlstudent@columbia.edu.

 

Fee payment must accompany the online application.

 

Apply for Housing

SPS students have the opportunity to apply for housing through Columbia Residential.

The Columbia Residential inventory consists of apartment shares and dormitory-style rooms. There are also a limited number of studio/efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units prioritized for couples and families. Most housing is located within walking distance of the campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood. Students are also housed in Manhattan Valley, just south of Morningside Heights. Additionally, students are housed in Riverdale, Bronx, at The Arbor, which opened in 2008. Shuttle service to and from The Arbor is provided. Full housing information through the School of Professional Studies can be found here.

 

Submit Official Admissions Documents

All new students are required to send official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended to the Office of Enrollment Management prior to beginning their program. Official transcripts must be submitted by July 15 for new students enrolling in the fall term and by December 1 for new students enrolling in the spring term.

Official transcripts from your conferring undergraduate institution must include a notation certifying conferral of a bachelor’s degree. Falsification, forgery, and misrepresentation of any type, will risk forfeiture of admissions and/or enrollment. Forfeiture may occur whenever an integrity lapse is discovered, and may include admissions revocation, expulsion, or another sanction outlined within the Standards of Campus Discipline.

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If your transcripts are from an institution in the U.S. or Canada, official transcripts must be submitted electronically if the institution has a process for emailing electronic transcripts (such as services available through eSCRIP-SAFE, Parchment, or National Student Clearinghouse). The registrar’s office may submit the transcripts to apply@sps.columbia.edu.

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If, and only if, the institution does not provide an electronic delivery option, official transcripts must arrive directly from the issuing institution, and in envelopes sealed by the issuing institution. Copies, opened or unsealed envelopes, unofficial printouts, or facsimiles will not be accepted. We will also not accept hard copy documents from institutions offering electronic delivery.

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All international post-secondary credentials must be submitted in the original language along with both a certified English course-by-course credential evaluation and translation. You are required to use World Education Services, Inc. (WES) to fulfill this requirement.

 

Credentials Verification

Columbia University requires all incoming students to complete a credentials verification process before enrollment. The process includes verification of letters of reference and of all post-secondary transcripts and degrees awarded. Upon submission of the application,  applicants must provide written consent to participate in the verification of all academic, professional, and reference information provided during the application process. 

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The School of Professional Studies has contracted with Re Vera Services to assist with the verification of letters of recommendation. Recommenders will be contacted by a Re Vera representative to confirm authorship of submitted letters. The recommendation verification is conducted concurrently while the application is being reviewed for admission. Admissions decisions will only be released to applicants who have uploaded their consent form within the online application system.

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Admitted students must submit final, official transcripts of all academic studies, and proof of award of all degrees earned prior to enrollment in the School of Professional Studies.

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Detailed information about each part of the credentials verification process appears below.

 

Re Vera Authorization Form

The first step in the credentials verification process requires that an applicant provide consent to participate in the verification process. This consent is granted by completing the Authorization and Release Form, which is administered by our contracted vendor, Re Vera Services. A link to this form will appear within the application system upon submission of the application. Applicants are required to upload the PDF of the signed consent form within the online application portal before an admissions decision will be released. Applicants should encourage their recommenders to respond promptly to Re Vera’s outreach.

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Final Official Transcripts

All enrolling students must provide official final transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, even if a degree was not awarded. Among these must include a transcript showing the conferral of your bachelor’s degree and the completion of any in-progress study reflected on transcripts provided for admissions consideration. Transcripts must include course names and grades for all work completed. Any documents to which a student has had access, including any transcripts uploaded as part of the application, are automatically considered unofficial.

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Submission of these documents is required in the manner outlined here:

 

For Domestic Institutions 

For each institution attended, you must provide an electronic transcript directly from the institution to transcripts@sps.columbia.edu. If your prior institution does not offer electronic transcript transmission, you must write to transcripts@sps.columbia.edu with the link to your prior U.S. institution’s webpage concerning transcript orders to confirm that paper is the only option and obtain permission to submit a paper transcript.

If a paper transcript is the only option, it must be sent directly from the institution to Columbia, and not delivered or forwarded by you. Please have the institution send the approved paper transcript to:

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Office of Admissions

School of Professional Studies

203 Lewisohn Hall

2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119

New York, NY 10027-6902

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For International Institutions

Official transcripts from prior academic institutions outside the United States must be submitted through World Education Services, Inc. (WES) as a course-by-course evaluation. If a WES transcript was provided reflecting in-progress study, a follow-up WES course-by-course evaluation showing the complete academic record and degree conferral is required.

 

Activate your University ID (UNI) and Email (LionMail) Account

Your UNI is created three to five business days after we receive your tuition deposit. To activate your UNI, click the “Activate Your UNI or LionMail Account” option on the Manage My UNI page. If you are unable to look up your UNI using the available search tool and more than five business days have passed, please contact apply@sps.columbia.edu.

 

Complete Immunization

New York State Law requires that all students document their immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. To do so, you must submit the Columbia University Measles, Mumps, and Rubella form to the Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office and confirm your Meningococcal Meningitis decision online.

Read more about immunization requirements.

 

Complete Pre-Orientation Modules

All SPS students are expected to complete online pre-orientation requirements through Canvas, our premiere learning management system. Canvas modules include: Academic Integrity, Campus Policies and Procedures, Haven - Sexual Assault Prevention Training, University Welcome, Career Competencies, International Student Services, Office of Student Life, Student Success Tips, University Health Services, Public Safety, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, and Gender-Based Misconduct. Failure to complete the designated required sections will result in a registration hold on your student account which will prevent you from registering for classes. New students will receive an email with details on how to access and complete the tutorials.

 

Register for and Attend Orientation

To ensure your academic and professional success, all students are expected to take part in New Student Orientation. Orientation takes place in the last two weeks of August for students beginning in the fall and in early January for students beginning in the spring. Students will receive an email invitation that includes registration instructions.

 

Submit Photo to ID Center

To access libraries and secure campus locations, to purchase services at campus cafés and the University bookstore, and to take advantage of cultural discount programs in New York City, you must have a Columbia ID card. Read the instructions on how to submit your photo to the ID Center.

 

Complete the Sexual Respect Initiative Requirement

The Sexual Respect and Community Citizenship Initiative was created by students, faculty, and administrators, and asks students to examine the link between sexual respect and membership in the Columbia community. The goal is to reinforce, for all Columbia students, that sexual respect is integral to being a member of this University community. The initiative takes place during your first semester on campus. You will receive an email with details on how to fulfill this requirement.

 

Select a Faculty Advisor

Faculty Advisor Bios

Faculty Advisor Selection

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Attend Orientation

Again, there will be a required program orientation prior to the start of the program. At orientation, you will receive additional information relevant to your new role as a student at Columbia University including details about and instructions for registering for classes.

 

Register for Classes

Register for classes utilizing the instructions provided at orientation. Review the academic calendar for a comprehensive list of registration dates and other important deadlines.

 

Select Insurance Option

If you are enrolling full-time (12 credits or more each term), you must confirm your enrollment in the Basic level of the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan, upgrade your selection to the Comprehensive level, or request a waiver. If you are enrolling in fewer than 12 credits each term, you may opt in to receiving health insurance through Columbia, but are not required to do so.

 

Review Your Student Account Statement Online

Your E-bill statement will be available through Student Services Online (SSOL). You will receive an alert at your Columbia email address indicating that it is available. Please visit the Student Financial Services website to find out more about financial aid and tuition payment options.