Begin your application by creating an account at the GSAPP Online Application Portal.
Please read the University’s Statement of Principle regarding impact of COVID-19 on the admissions process.
Columbia University’s graduate and professional schools, as well as their respective admissions committees, will take into account the important disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak when reviewing student transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their customary practice of performing holistic reviews of individual applications or dossiers. Specifically, we will respect decisions made by institutions or individuals regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail or similar grading options during the period in question.
Applicants may only apply to one GSAPP program per application cycle, with the exception of approved dual degree programs.
Only applicants applying to an approved dual degree program may submit two applications in the same cycle. Details can be found on the Dual Degree page.
Columbia GSAPP has established several dual degree programs in conjunction with other departments and faculties at the University. Students who wish to enter one of these dual degree programs must apply to each of the participating programs and be admitted to both.
Students wishing to pursue a dual degree program with other schools at Columbia are responsible for consulting the respective school’s admissions office for additional information. Applicants must complete the application and meet the respective deadline and requirements of each program. Application materials are not shared between schools. Students can only apply to an established dual-degree program and may not create their own.
Prospective students should apply in the year that they plan to enroll. GSAPP offers admission with the expectation that students will matriculate in the semester specified during the application process.
Requests for deferrals are only considered in the case of personal medical emergencies, and additional documentation is required. Please see the Deferrals Policy 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.
Applicants must submit all materials directly, not through an agent or third-party vendor, with the following exceptions: submissions by the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and its three partner agencies IIE, LASPAU and AMIDEAST; submissions by the Danish-American Fulbright Commission (DAF); and submissions by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). In addition, the applicant will be required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to Columbia. If you have any questions about this requirement, please contact the Office of Admissions at arch_admissions@columbia.edu.
Failure to submit complete, accurate, and authentic application documents consistent with these instructions may result in denial or revocation of admission, cancellation of academic credit, suspension, expulsion, or eventual revocation of degree. Applicants may be required to assist admissions staff and faculty involved in admission reviews in the verification of all documents and statements made in documents submitted by students as part of the application review process.
A digital portfolio is required for admission to the MARCH, MSAAD, MSAUD, MSCDP, and MSCCCP programs.
Applicants to the PhD in Historic Preservation are encouraged to submit an optional portfolio if it speaks to their research interest in experimental preservation approaches that explore material intersections of the PAAST (Preservation Art Architecture Science and Technology) with urgent contemporary environmental and social issues.
Digital portfolios must be uploaded at the time the application is submitted. Portfolios should contain reproductions of original drawings, prints, graphic design, or sculpture.
The digital portfolio should be a single PDF document, maximum 20 PDF pages (including the cover pages and table of contents, if applicable), and should not exceed 32 MB. The digital portfolio should be optimized for viewing on a standard size computer screen.
Under the guidelines of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all letters of recommendation are confidential during the admissions process, even if you have not waived your right to view them. This policy applies to both domestic and international applicants.
If you did not waive your right to see one or more of the letters, you may view them only after you are enrolled at Columbia GSAPP. Students who do not receive an offer of admission, or those admitted who do not enroll, are not permitted access to the letters at any time.
A complete explanation of the FERPA policy can be found on the University Policies page.
In approximately 500 words, describe your background, your past work in your intended field of study and your plans for graduate study and a professional career.
The MSUP program application requires a Personal Statement of approximately 800 words in length. Please describe your academic background, your motivation for studying urban planning, your past work and relevant experience, and your plans for graduate study and a professional career. In addition, please describe your experience with analytical reasoning including (but not limited to) statistics, GIS, data analytics, or qualitative methods.
The Introduction to Architecture program application does not require a Personal Statement.
GRE/GMAT test scores are optional for 2025 Admissions cycle.
MSRED applicants who do not have a strong background in finance, statistics, or analytics, and who do not have at least two years of relevant professional experience, are encouraged to submit GRE/GMAT test scores to supplement their application.
MSUP applicants who do not have strong analytical background or professional experience are encouraged to submit GRE results to supplement their application.
Each degree program offered by Columbia GSAPP has unique admissions requirements, please see the Application Process page to review the program-specific application deadlines, processes, and requirements.
Applicants need to contact ETS to have official test score reports sent to GSAPP at Institution Code 2164 (a department code is not needed). Scores sent to any other institution code will not be accessible to GSAPP staff. Please contact Educational Testing Service, ETS, 1-800-473-2252 for more information.
GRE scores are valid for five years after the test date.
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 primary language is not English must submit English Proficiency Exam scores (with the exception of Introduction to Architecture applicants).
Columbia GSAPP accepts TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo test results. Self-reported scores must be verified by requesting official scores to be sent directly to GSAPP.
TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the date taken. For more information, see the TOEFL website.
IELTS scores are valid for two years from the date taken. For more information, see the IELTS website.
Duolingo scores are valid for two years from the date taken. For more information, see the Duolingo website.
TOEFL scores are reported to Columbia GSAPP in electronic format. Our ETS institution code is: COLUMBIA University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (2164).
Although GSAPP does not use department codes for test score reporting, ETS requires designation of a department code. Therefore, please enter the default code: 12. Scores sent to any other institution code will not be accessible to GSAPP staff. Please contact ETS, 1-877-863-3546 (within US) or (609) 771-7100 (international) for more information.
IELTS scores are reported to Columbia GSAPP in electronic format. Please submit IELTS scores using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery. You must contact the IELTS test center where the test was taken to request that your official electronic test results be sent to the address below. An institution code is NOT required.
E-Delivery account name: “Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation”
For the 2024 application, Columbia GSAPP is accepting Duolingo English Test scores. The official scores must be reported electronically.
Once you receive certified test results, log in to your account. Click on the “Send Results” button next to your test results. Filter the institution list for “Graduate Schools.” Select “Columbia University - Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation” as the institution to which you would like to send your results
An uploaded scan or PDF of your transcript is considered “unofficial” if it is sent directly by you, rather than from the issuing institution. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the admissions process. You will be asked to provide an official copy of your records from your previous institutions only if you are admitted to GSAPP and choose to enroll in the school.
The unofficial transcripts uploaded as part of your application must be copies or scans of official transcripts. Course lists or registration records printed from your student account are not acceptable.
No. Official transcripts are required only after an offer of admission has been made and accepted.
However, the unofficial transcripts uploaded as part of your application must be copies of official transcripts. Unofficial course lists or registration records printed from your student account are not acceptable.
If you have a copy of a World Education Services (WES) evaluation, we encourage you to upload it with your unofficial transcript.
Please note: GSAPP retains official documents for admitted applicants only. Official materials received from applicants who do not enroll will not be kept on file.
Scan at the lowest DPI that results in a legible document. (We recommend using under 300 DPI whenever possible.)
Ensure that the institution name and other identifying marks are clearly visible and that your scanned copy is clearly legible and can print on letter size paper (8 ½" x 11").
Include the transcript legend (sometimes found on the reverse or final page).
Save your document as a PDF file.
Make certain that its size is less than 2,000 KB (2.0 MB). Scanning in grayscale or black and white may produce the best results.
Once an applicant has been admitted and has indicated acceptance of the offer of admission, certified and secure online official transcripts must be submitted directly to Columbia GSAPP by the Registrar’s Office of the applicant’s prior institution(s).
Please see the “Admitted Student” tab for detailed instructions.
When searching for your school, if you do not immediately find the name of your institution, please attempt to search using alternate spellings of the city name (Saint Petersburg vs. St. Petersburg) or under a possible variation of your school name. If you attended a particular college within a larger institution, or a satellite campus of a larger school, please enter the name of the larger institution. The details of your study will be visible to the faculty when they review your transcript.
If, after careful searching, you are certain that your school does not appear on our list, please choose the appropriate country (and city, if available; if not available, select “other”), and then select “other” for your school name. Space will be provided for you to enter the name of the institution. Please also confirm its city, state/region (if applicable), and country. Once you have entered your school information, you must also complete the Missing School Code form so that we may add your institution to our records.
A $75 nonrefundable fee is required as part of an application to Columbia GSAPP. We are unable to refund the application fee under any circumstances, but you may qualify for a fee waiver.
Applicants must start an application to access the Fee Waiver Request Form. This form can be found on the online application and is open to all eligible applicants, international and domestic.
Please review the eligibility guidelines below. Official documentation is required. Documentation must include your full name as listed on your application. Screenshots are not accepted and unofficial letters are not eligible.
Below is a sample of some of the eligibility guidelines for application fee waivers for GSAPP:
Applicants must submit an application in order to submit a Fee Waiver Request.
You may check the status of your supporting materials on the Application Status screen. You will be able to access this screen only after your application has been submitted.
Once your application has been submitted, the status of your application will appear as “Submitted”. No further updates will be displayed until a decision on your application has been released.
If you have a question not answered on our website or need to update any information, please notify the GSAPP Admissions Office directly via email at arch_admissions@columbia.edu with “Question Not Answered on Website” or “Change Application Information” in the subject line.
In the body of the email, you must include your name, date of birth, and your application ID number.
Please note that any changes must be received prior to the application deadline in order to be considered.
Notification of decisions for all Master’s applicants generally takes place by mid March.
All notifications are made via email to the address provided in the application.
Master’s degree candidates must accept their offer of admission with a non-refundable enrollment deposit by April 15 using the link provided in their offer letter.
Please also see the Admitted Student FAQ and After You’re Admitted webpages for additional details on your next steps to enroll at GSAPP.
Please see the Tuition and Aid page for a summary of current tuition and fees.
GSAPP works closely with Columbia University’s Student Financial Services, which provides detailed information about current estimated total cost of attendance and works with students on FAFSA applications and loan processing.
GSAPP scholarships are available for both international and domestic students. All applicants who submit a completed application for our degree programs are reviewed by the admissions committee for funding. GSAPP scholarships are merit based and awarded at the time of admissions to select applicants.
Additional scholarships are available to enrolled students during their studies. Please see the GSAPP Scholarships page for more details.
Yes, all applicants are considered for merit-based GSAPP scholarships regardless of citizenship.
International students may also be eligible to apply for student loans. A co-signer who is a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident and lives in the U.S is usually required. Please see the Student Financial Services website for details, or contact the Student Financial Planning office at 212.854.7040 for further information.
Columbia GSAPP offers a limited number of teaching and research assistantships to students enrolled in full-time degree programs and to continuing non-enrolled students. Applications are typically open in the summer for fall semester position, and in the fall for spring semester positions.
Remuneration is based on the expected workload and is disbursed via semi monthly paychecks. Please see the Assistantships page for additional details.
Fall Semester start: MARCH, MSHP, MSUP, MSCCCP, and NY/P
Summer Semester start: MSAAD, MSAUD, MSCDP, MSRED
5-week Summer session: Intro to Architecture
Please see the Academic Calendar for specific dates.
GSAPP does not have Spring semester entries for any degree program.
Special Students and Visiting Scholars have spring term admissions, with a December 1 application deadline.
Columbia GSAPP’s Master of Architecture (MARCH) , Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (MSAAD), Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design (MSAUD), and Master of Science in Computational Design Practices (MSCDP) are designated as STEM programs.
Please see the STEM page for additional information.
Currently, the CIP codes (Classification of Instructional Programs) for the MARCH Program, MSAAD Program, MSAUD Program, and MSCDP Program are eligible for a STEM OPT Extension if other criteria are met. Consequently, international MARCH, MSAAD, MSAUD, and MSCDP 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. Please visit the Columbia ISSO page for details.