CAN I APPLY TO MORE THAN ONE PROGRAM?
You can only apply to more than one program if you are applying to an approved dual-degree program within GSAPP.
Applicants need to contact the testing company directly to have official test scores sent to the GSAPP Admissions Office.
GRE score reports should be sent to the GSAPP at Institution Code 2164, a department code is not needed. Please contact Educational Testing Service (ETS), 1-800-473-2252 for more information.
TOEFL score reports should be sent to Institution Code 2164, Department Code 12. Please contact ETS, 1-877-863-3546 (within US) or (609) 771-7100 (international) for more information.
GMAT score reports should be sent to Institution Code QF8-73-53. Please contact the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) for more information.
Applicants to the Master of Architecture, M.S. in Historic Preservation, M.S. in Urban Planning, M.S. in Critical, Curatorial, and Conceptual Practices and M.S. in Real Estate Development* are required to take the GRE. Applicants should contact ETS to have official test scores sent to the Admissions Office via Institution Code 2164. Scores sent to any other institution code will not be accessible to GSAPP staff. GRE scores are valid for five years after the test date. We do not publish a minimum score requirement and encourage all to apply. The average GRE scores for admitted applicants are 161 for the verbal section and 165 for the quantitative. We review all application materials holistically.
*Applicants to the M.S. in Real Estate Development program may submit GMAT scores in lieu of GRE scores. Applicants should contact GMAC to have official test scores sent to the GSAPP Admissions Office via Institution Code: QF8-73-53. Scores sent to any other institution code will not be accessible to GSAPP staff. GMAT scores are valid for five years after the test date.
All applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores (with the exception of Introduction to Architecture applicants). We do not accept the IELTS in lieu of the TOEFL. Applicants should contact ETS to have official test scores sent to the GSAPP Admissions via Institution Code 2164, Dept. Code 12. Scores sent to any other institution code will not be accessible to GSAPP staff. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date.
International students who have successfully completed two years of study in an English-speaking institution may waive the TOEFL exam requirement. We do not publish a minimum score requirement. The average admitted applicant has a TOEFL score of 104.
In rare cases, the admissions committee may determine that an applicant is eligible to be admitted directly into 2nd year, which is called “advanced placement”.
In the application there is a section where you can indicate that you would like to be considered for advanced placement.
For more information on advanced placement & advanced standing, please click here.
The Admissions Office has an open door policy, no appointments are required, though it is recommended that you email arch_admissions@columbia.edu in advance. The GSAPP Admissions Office is in 407B Avery Hall and is open Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM EST.
Please note that office hours are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. Please email for a video conference.
The GSAPP Admissions Office is open Monday-Friday, 9AM- 5PM EST.
Please note that office hours are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. Please email for a video conference.
M. ARCH, M.S. HP, M.S. UP, M.S. CCCP, and NY/P begin in the fall semester.
M.S. AAD, M.S. AUD, M.S. RED, and Intro to Architecture programs begin in the summer. Please visit the academic calendar for specific dates.
Please note that the 2020-2021 start of the M.S.AAD, M.S.AUD, and M.S.RED programs has been deferred from Summer to Fall semester due to COVID-19.
Due to the nature of the program requirements and their course sequences, it is not possible to start these programs in the fall or spring. Please view the academic calendar for more information.
Please note that the 2020-2021 start of the M.S.AAD, M.S.AUD, and M.S.RED programs has been deferred from Summer to Fall semester due to COVID-19.
We do not accept transfer students. Students must first apply and be accepted to one of our programs.
In some rare cases, M. Arch applicants are admitted directly to 2nd year, allowing them to complete the degree in 2 years rather than 3. For more information please click here.
Columbia GSAPP’s Master of Architecture (M.Arch) , Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (M.S.AAD), and Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design (M.S.AUD) are now designated as STEM programs.
Currently, the CIP codes (Classification of Instructional Programs) for the M.Arch Program, M.S.AAD Program and M.S. AUD Program are eligible for a STEM OPT Extension if other criteria are met. Consequently, international M.Arch, M.S.AAD and M.S. AUD students are eligible to apply to extend their Optional Practical Training (OPT) for an additional 24 months of OPT authorization after the initial 12 months of OPT to work in the United States.
At this time, the STEM designation only applies to the M. Arch, MSAAD, and MSAUD programs.
A student admitted into M. Arch with an undergraduate degree in architecture may receive credit for some courses; credit will be evaluated on an individual basis (maximum 9 points).
For more information on advanced standing, please click here.
Please see the Tuition and Aid for Domestic Students and Tuition and Aid for International Students pages for a summary of tuition and fees.
Columbia University Student Financial Services has information about current and past estimated total cost of attendance on their website.