Information for International Students

Judgments concerning equivalency of international baccalaureate degrees are made by the Graduate School. In general, only those international students who (a) have the equivalent of the U.S. baccalaureate degree with a superior examination record and (b) can understand rapid idiomatic English and can speak, write and read English with a high degree of facility are eligible for admission.  The Graduate School accepts applications from students who have earned or will earn 3 year bachelor's degrees in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Australia, South Africa and any country which is a participant in the Bologna Process.

All applicants whose native language is not English must submit official scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they have received a bachelors degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution in a country whose official language is English and was enrolled in that school for at least two years. This is the only exception.  Applicants who have received an undergraduate degree from an non-English speaking country and are now studying at the graduate level in the U.S. or an English-speaking country must thake the TOEFL or IELTS.   Applicants are strongly urged to make arrangements to take these examinations in the early fall.

The Graduate School requires the following minimum scores:

• 600 on the TOEFL paper-and-pencil test
• 100 on the TOEFL internet-based test
• 7.5 on IELTS

Scores more than 2 years old are not accepted.  Unofficial or student score reports are also not accepted.

The TOEFL examination is administered in foreign countries by the Educational Testing Service.  IELTS is administered in foreign countries by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), the British Council and IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia. For more information on the TOEFL, please contact the Educational Testing Service. For more information on the IELTS, please go to http://www.ielts.org.

Applicants who are in the New York area may take the English Certification Test (ECT) administered by the Columbia University American Language Program (ALP) in place of either TOEFL or IELTS. Interested applicants should contact the ALP directly at (212) 854-3585.

All non-native English speakers admitted to the Graduate School must take the English Certification Test administered by the Columbia University American Language Program in their first semester.  Depending on the results of this test, some students may be required to take English language courses in addition to ordinary degree course work. All non-native English speakers who will be teaching fellows must also take the SPEAK test of spoken English, also administered by the American Language Program.

It is essential that all international students apply as early as possible to allow enough time to process their applications for admission.