Applying to SIPA

Each year at Columbia SIPA, we welcome students from different academic fields, career paths, and corners of the world. The perspectives and experiences you bring matter. They spark better conversations in our classrooms, push us all to think differently, and make our community of emerging policy leaders stronger and more globally minded.

Eligibility

Requirements for enrollment as a transfer student at Columbia SIPA:

• You must have completed at least one semester and no more than two semesters at an approved graduate-level policy/international affairs school to be considered as a transfer student. Approved schools are members of NASPAA or APSIA.
• Registration as a graduate student in good academic standing at the time the coursework was completed.
• Transfer courses require a minimum grade of B- to be approved.
• A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited US or international institution prior to enrolling at SIPA and previously studied at another relevant graduate policy school and program.

Application Requirements

A completed transfer application includes the following items. Please be sure to read the additional details about each component below:

Written Essays 

• Personal statement (includes career goals and program objectives) and essay response on WHY they wish to transfer to SIPA (why you want to leave your current institution and highlight why Columbia SIPA is the right fit for your academic path). More instruction on each of these essay prompts can be found within the application portal. 

Resume/CV

• Include any professional experience, internships, volunteerism, and skills most relevant to your program of interest.

Letters of Recommendation

• 2 required (one should be from current policy/international affairs professor, the other may be from a former supervisor (professional) or professor.

Academic Transcripts 

• Your transcripts should include any college or university where credit was obtained, including  bachelor’s degrees, master’s, PhDs, certifications, transfer credits, etc. Also, you must submit a transcript from your current institution.

Transfer Course Form 

• List all courses you wish to transfer for credit (note, courses must have been completed at your current policy/international affairs institution). A syllabus with the course description, reading list, or bibliography must be attached for each course you wish to transfer for credit. Only courses listed with the attached syllabus will be considered.

GRE/GMAT

• Recommended, not required. *Please note: we do not accept the at-home versions of these exams.

• GRE school code: 2161 (no department code)

• GMAT school code: QF8-64-56 for MIA or QF8-64-99 for all MPA programs

English Standardized Test Scores

(international students only). Required if your native language is not English and if your entire undergraduate degree was not taught in English. *Please note: we do not accept the at-home versions of these exams.

• TOEFL iBT: preferred 110, minimum 100

• IELTS: preferred 7.5, minimum 7.0

• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced/ C2 Proficiency: C1 Advanced, preferred 191, minimum 185

Video Essay

• A 90 second video recorded after application submission. Recording is in response to a randomized personal or policy question.

$95 USD non-refundable Application Fee

Frequently Asked Questions

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For more information on all of our application materials: