Please also reference the Admitted Student page for a timeline of next steps following your admission to GSAPP.
If you are eligible for Federal Aid and have submitted a FAFSA, you will receive an email generated by Student Financial Planning (SFP) with instructions on how to view your financial aid package through NetPartner. Notification will be sent out within a week of receiving your admission letter.
2024 FAFSA Update: The Department of Education has announced a delay in FAFSA processing. Students who have submitted a FAFSA can expect a financial aid package at the end of March.
All applicants are considered for a GSAPP’s merit-based scholarships, Awarded at the time of admission, GSAPP scholarships for incoming students are competitive and are awarded based on recommendations by the program’s admissions committee.
Please see the Tuition and Aid webpage for more information.
Additional funding opportunities include need-based scholarships to support continuing students who are experiencing financial hardship during their studies. All currently enrolled students are eligible to apply; selections are made based on the Scholarship Need Assessment submissions in order to prioritize the students with the greatest financial need.
Please see the GSAPP Scholarship webpage for more information.
GSAPP’s policies on transferring credit are determined by program, and transfer credit may apply to advanced standing or waivers.
For Master of Architecture there are two ways that a student may receive advanced standing:
For more detailed information on advanced standing and waivers, please see the Credit Transfer page.
GSAPP offers admission with the expectation that students will matriculate in the semester specified during the application process.
Requests for deferrals prior to matriculation are only considered in the case of personal medical emergencies, and additional documentation is required. Please see the Deferrals Policy and contact the Admissions Office at arch_admissions@columbia.edu for more information.
Upon satisfactory completion of one year in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, a leave of absence may be requested in writing. Requests must be made by December 15 for leaves beginning in January, and by July 15 for leaves beginning in September.
Please see the Leave of Absence page for additional details on this policy and a link to the online form.
An academic transcript/record from each university attended and credit earned is required for all applicants, and unofficial scans or PDFs of transcripts are accepted for review purposes only.
Enrolling students must provide official transcripts before the end of their second semester at GSAPP.
Read full details on the Credentials Verification webpage.
Students who attended a College or University in the United States
Electronic transcripts must be sent directly from your school to the GSAPP Admissions Office.
Most electronic transcript delivery options will require an email address and you can input arch_admissions@columbia.edu. If a point of contact is required for electronic requests, all can be addressed to Sara Konekeo, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.
If your prior institution does not offer electronic delivery, you must send a message to arch_admissions@columbia.edu with link to the institution’s webpage concerning transcript orders to confirm that paper is the only option, and obtain permission from the GSAPP Office of Admissions to submit a paper transcript.
Students who attended a College or University outside the United States
International transcripts require a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES). Please note we require the WES-ICAP (International Credential Advantage Package) option which includes verified transcripts. WES-ICAP should be sent electronically from WES to the GSAPP Office of Admissions. Copies of WES-ICAP uploaded during the application process will be considered unofficial.
Students who completed their studies in China can utilize the CHESICC, the credentials verification service affiliated with the PRC’s Ministry of Education. Students should arrange for submission of a Verification Report of China Higher Education Student’s Academic Transcripts and a Verification Report of China Higher Education Qualification Certificate. These should be delivered electronically.
Please feel free to reach out to the Admissions Office at arch_admissions@columbia.edu if you have any questions about transcripts.
If the original language of the transcript is not English, the translation must be certified as an accurate translation of the original and should be notarized or otherwise authenticated (either by the degree-granting University or third-party). Either WES or an official translation (certified/notarized/authenticated as accurate) is appropriate.
The certified translation needs to be accompanied by the transcript in its original language.