Student Guide
Resources for every step of your graduate education
New Student Guide
Congratulations on your acceptance to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University! As you prepare to begin your studies at GSAS, please be sure that you are following the steps outlined in our New Student Checklist. You may find answers to frequently asked questions here, and below are several resources that can assist with your transition to Columbia.
Resources
Housing
Housing
View detailed information about housing for MA and PhD students, as well as additional housing resources.
Visit Columbia Residential's website for tips, policies, and other information about University housing.
Columbia's Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) office assists Columbia students and affiliates in their search for rental housing in the metropolitan area.
Health & Well-Being
Learn about the departments of Columbia Health, the Columbia Health Fee, the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan, and more.
Watch a three-minute introduction to Columbia Health's broad range of services.
This Columbia Health department provides routine and urgent medical care, travel medicine, immunizations, as well as sexual health services, reproductive and gynecological services, LGBTQ health care, and confidential HIV testing.
This Columbia Health Department supports the psychological and emotional well-being of the campus community by providing counseling, consultation and crisis intervention—all of which adhere to strict standards of confidentiality.
This office helps students access affordable healthcare services, and protects the health and well-being of the Columbia community.
Watch an introduction to the services offered by CPS.
Insurance can be confusing, so Columbia Health has put together some definitions and tips to help on and off campus.
Billing & Payments
Visit the SFS website for comprehensive information on billing and payments.
Watch a two-minute tutorial on paying your tuition bill.
Scholarship & Professional Development
Policy Handbook
All master's and doctoral students should familiarize themselves with and follow the policies of the university, the Graduate School, and their individual programs of study.
This resource from Columbia Online provides strategies for being a successful online student.
The Graduate School's new career development initiative helps doctoral and master’s students in the Arts and Sciences to identify, work toward, and achieve their post-graduation career goals.
The libraries’ collections include over 13 million volumes, over 160,000 journals and serials, as well as extensive electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms, maps, and graphic and audio-visual materials. A wide array of services are offered for graduate students.
The CTL partners with faculty, students, and colleagues across the university to support excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
GSAS Writing Studio
The GSAS Writing Studio is dedicated to supporting and building community among Arts and Sciences doctoral students who are in the process of writing the dissertation.
Student Employment
Students who wish to work while they study at GSAS may pursue work-study or non-work-study positions.
Student Life & Community
Graduate Student Government
Students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are represented by two councils, both of which facilitate communication between graduate students and the Columbia administration.
Diversity and Inclusion
At GSAS, diversity is an academic value, one that is a marker of institutional excellence as well as a benchmark of innovation for our research, programming, and student environment.
Graduate Student Center
This space brings together graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty from across schools.
The Arts Initiative encourages students to experience the creative life of the campus, engage the cultural riches of New York City, and to create art.
The Office of University Life furthers the academic and community experience of students, faculty, and staff at Columbia.
For International Students
Information for Admitted International Students
The ISSO coordinates services for the international students, scholars, interns, and family members who come to Columbia.
The ISSO serves the more than 15,000 international students, scholars, interns, and family members in the Columbia community, and provides advisory and documentation services and information on visas, employment travel, and tax-filing obligations.