Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC)

The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) provides eligible Arts and Sciences doctoral students with the opportunity to cross-register for graduate-level courses at member schools.

Eligibility
  • Who is eligible: Doctoral students in good academic standing, in years two through seven in Arts and Sciences doctoral programs (listed under “PhD and DMA Programs”)
  • Who is not eligible: First-year doctoral students and all master’s degree students 
Course Limits and Grading Options
  • Course limits: Students may take a maximum of two courses per fall or spring semester. Summer sessions, intersession courses, and independent study courses are not eligible for IUDC registration.
  • Grading options: Courses must be taken for a letter grade or Pass/Fail. R credit and audits are not permitted.
Registration Deadlines for Fall 2026
  • Monday, July 6, 2026: IUDC registration officially opens.
  • Friday, September 18, 2026: Deadline to submit Columbia’s online IUDC application  (for both outgoing Columbia students and incoming visiting students).
  • Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Deadline to drop a class.

Queries may be directed to the Columbia IUDC Coordinator, Sophia Cheng, at [email protected].

If you are a Columbia student interested in participating in the consortium, you must register at both schools by following these steps:

Step 1: Obtain approvals from your home school

Complete all sections of the IUDC Registration Form, including the "Host School" section. Signatures on the IUDC Form should be collected in the order indicated on the form. After your academic advisor signs the IUDC Form, email your form to the Columbia IUDC Coordinator, Sophia Cheng, at [email protected].

Step 2: Secure host school approvals

Obtain the signatures of the host school's course instructor and the host school IUDC coordinator. If the instructor gives you permission via email instead of a signature on the IUDC Form, save that email as a PDF—this electronic approval is acceptable.

Step 3: Apply for the IUDC 

Submit Columbia’s online IUDC application by September 18, 2026. You must upload to the online IUDC application, the completed IUDC Registration Form containing these four required signatures:

  1. Your Department Chair or Program Director/Advisor
  2. Columbia IUDC coordinator
  3. Host school instructor (the instructor's email approval, if applicable)
  4. Host school IUDC coordinator

You will receive a confirmation email when the IUDC course(s) is added to your schedule.

Step 4: Complete host school registration and setup

  • Visit the host school’s IUDC website (linked below in the “Member Schools” section) or contact their IUDC coordinator regarding IUDC course registration, obtaining an ID card, and setting up email. Note the registration deadlines and academic regulations of the host school. 

Grades for Columbia Students

  • IUDC Course Grade: The host school will send your official transcript to the Columbia IUDC Coordinator after the semester ends in February for the fall semester, and in June for the spring semester. Keep your original IUDC registration form until you see the grade on your transcript.
  • Incomplete: If you receive an "Incomplete" or if your grade is blank or wrong in Vergil, you must contact the host school's IUDC coordinator and ask them to send a copy of your transcript to the Columbia IUDC coordinator. Be advised that it is your responsibility to ensure any grade changes at the host school are communicated to GSAS. 

If you are enrolled at a member school and interested in taking a course at Columbia through the consortium, you must complete Columbia’s application process by following these steps:

Step 1: Verify course eligibility

Choose course(s) from Columbia’s Directory of Classes. Courses eligible for IUDC registration must:

Note: If the course you choose is not offered by an Arts and Sciences program, you may not register, despite having received instructor approval. 

Step 2: Obtain required approvals

Fill out the IUDC Registration Form. Secure the following signatures on the IUDC Form:

  1. Your Home School Department Chair or Program Director/Advisor
  2. Your Home School IUDC coordinator
  3. The Host School instructor (an email approval is acceptable if the instructor cannot sign the IUDC form)

Step 3: Submit application 

Go to Columbia’s online IUDC application and apply by September 18, 2026.

  • Upload your IUDC Registration Form (plus any instructor email approvals, if applicable) directly to the online application.

After Applying for the IUDC

You will receive an email notification of the status of your application within five to seven business days. Visiting Students that receive an approval confirmation email from the Columbia IUDC Coordinator should review and complete the following action items steps in order to finalize their enrollment.

Dropping a Course and Receiving Grades 

  • Dropping a course: If you need to drop your Columbia IUDC course, you must email the Columbia IUDC coordinator, Sophia Cheng ([email protected]), by the drop deadline (October 13, 2026).
  • Grades: The Columbia IUDC Coordinator will send your official transcript to your home school IUDC coordinator after the semester ends in February for the fall semester, and in June for the spring semester. If your grade is incorrectly listed or is blank at your home school, log in to Vergil to request an updated copy of your transcript be sent to your home school IUDC coordinator. Be advised that it is your responsibility to ensure any grade changes at Columbia are communicated to your home school IUDC coordinator. You should retain the original registration form until a grade appears on your home school transcript. 

Student Health Insurance
Visiting students taking courses at Columbia through the IUDC are not eligible for the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan. Visiting students should contact their home school regarding health insurance. 

Students from other universities who wish to take a TC course should submit all paperwork directly to Teachers College.