General Admissions Information
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences no longer publishes a printed graduate bulletin, but all information regarding individual programs may be found at their website:
General Degree Requirements
Information for International Students
Fellowship Information
Admissions Information and Online Application
Ideally, candidates for admission to the graduate program should have exceptional fluency in German, an excellent undergraduate and (if applicable) postgraduate record, three academic letters of recommendation, and strong writing skills. GRE test scores are optional.
The deadline for fall admission to the Ph.D. program is January 4, 2024
The deadline for fall admission to the M.A. program is March 28, 2024.
The required components of the application , which must be received by the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are:
- Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation from academic recommenders
- A personal statement about intellectual interests
- A writing sample, preferably in German (15-20 pages in length)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores from all international students who are not native speakers of English (unless they have received a post-secondary degree at a US college or university)
For questions about the TOEFL see the Educational Testing Service web site.
International students should consult the GSAS page on admissions, as well as the comprehensive site maintained by the Columbia Office for International Students and Scholars.
All students are encouraged to apply online to the graduate program.