A: No, currently none of our degrees have an online component or can be done online.

A: No. Our program is designed for students who seek the Ph.D. There are two M.A. programs associated with the department which are administered independently: a dual MA/MSc degree in International and Global History, offered in partnership with the London School of Economics. The second is an M.A. in History and Literature, which is based at Reid Hall, Columbia’s campus in Paris.

A: No. Ph.D. decisions are not made on a rolling basis.

A: You may request a waiver of your application fee through the GSAS Application Portal. For more information, please see the GSAS Application Fee Waivers page. 

A: Because we receive about 600 applications per year, we cannot conduct admissions interviews, and we lack the person power to provide general briefings to visitors. The department organizes a yearly admissions event in March called Visiting Day. All admitted students are invited to the campus for a day long information and exchange session with students and faculty. This is meant to help prospective students determine if Columbia is the right school for them.

A: Yes. If you are reapplying for the next academic year you do need to submit all new materials such as a new application and all new supporting documents.

A: Yes, a writing sample is required for the GSAS application. There are no further specifications on topic/themes/format. The online application allows students applying to the History Department to upload other supplementary materials. Please limit all submissions to 20 pages.

A: We have no set minimum. Our applicants come from all over the world. Not every institution uses a 4 point grade scale and actual GPA’s vary quite a bit. In general, persons offered admission to the program have GPA’s that are high for the institutions they come from — top 5-10% of their class and 3.6 and above at U.S. institutions.

A: No. The department does NOT require GRE or GRE subject tests scores.

A: We require a minimum of 600 on the paper-based exam and 100 on the internet-based test. Applicants whose scores are below these levels should not apply.

A: If your undergraduate degree was awarded by an institution in a country where the official language is not English, you may request a waiver of the English proficiency exam requirement under these conditions:

• You are currently studying at the graduate level or have received a graduate degree in the US or another English-speaking country
  You have taken the TOEFL or IELTS exam and scored above the Columbia GSAS minimum requirement of 100 (IBT), 600 (PBT), or 7.5 (IELTS) and you have a copy of your score report
• If you meet these criteria, you may request a waiver of the official English proficiency requirement by completing the Official TOEFL/IELTS Waiver Request form (including the upload of your expired score report).

Waiver request forms are available on the Test Scores page of the application. The form and all supporting documentation should be submitted at least two weeks before the deadline date of the program to which you are applying.

Every waiver request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis; submission of a request form does not guarantee approval.

For more information about TOEFL waivers, please see the GSAS website. 

A: Undergraduate and graduate students who are US citizens, permanent residents or nationals and who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program that combines modern foreign language training with international or area studies or with the international aspects of professional or other fields.

A: All Ph.D. program applicants, including international applicants, are eligible for fellowship support. Except in very rare cases, students admitted to the program are admitted with an offer of multi-year fellowship support guaranteed for up to five years.

The fellowship covers tuition, the health services fee and medical insurance, and a stipend. Several fees are not covered. These include the university transcript fee, which is charged to you only once, and the other fees which recur every term. These are the international student fee, where applicable; the student activities fee; and the university facilities fee. See the relevant GSAS page for fee schedules.

A: The graduate school’s current practice is to only admit those students who are funded completely, and to make a guaranteed multi-year commitment of 4 or 5 years to each admitted student. In other words, an admission offer is a fellowship offer. Additionally, all students in years two through five of the program have a teaching obligation. Therefore, there are no separate teaching assistantships as they are part of the fellowship and doctoral program.

A: Yes. The only difference is that international students on student visas have registration and residency requirements that must be met in order to remain active in the program.

A:  The Graduate School does not automatically grant deferrals; students must register in the term specified for admission. A student unable to register then, but wishing to be admitted in a subsequent year, must make a written request to the Office of Admissions to reactivate his/her application. Students should communicate with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) if considering requesting a deferral.

A: There are 13 fields. Information may be found here.

A: 413 Fayerweather Hall (on the 2nd floor above entrance level). Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

A: A list of office hours is posted outside the History Department (413 Fayerweather Hall) and on the Faculty pages of the website.

A: Yes, you may. Please visit this page for more information: http://gsas.columbia.edu/content/summer-tuition-credit.

A: There are 13 fields. Information may be found here.

A: The Graduate Handbook has answers to all of your pressing questions, including the steps students must follow to fulfill all academic and administrative requirements and expectations.

A: The steps are as follows: prepare a brief dissertation prospectus, fill out a dissertation proposal committee form, write the dissertation, apply for the defense, defend the dissertation, format the approved dissertation, and finally deposit it with GSAS. A detailed list of steps and forms can be found in the relevant section of the  Graduate Handbook.

A: if you encounter an issue or if you have questions about your visa or status, please see the Department Administrator for advice. You may also contact the Office of International Students and Scholars directly.

A: Undergraduate and graduate students who are US citizens, permanent residents or nationals and who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program that combines modern foreign language training with international or area studies or with the international aspects of professional or other fields.

A: In the normal course of events, students should seek guidance from the DGS. It is also appropriate to contact the Chair of the department.

Outside of the department, students may contact GSAS or the Office of the University Ombudsman.