Columbia University

Outline jobs held (titles, start/end dates), research, academic honors and fellowships, volunteer/community service, extracurricular activities, honorary societies and awards, and publications.

Upload copies (official or student copy; no portal screenshots) from every post-secondary institution attended, including summer and professional study. Non-English transcripts need a translation. Official transcripts only after admission and acceptance.

At least 2 academic references, unless your bachelor's was earned more than 5 years before applying (then an academic reference is strongly encouraged, but not required). Supervisors allowed; personal references not appropriate.

Interfolio not accepted. Letters can be added after submission.

Not required and not a substitute for the GRE. May be uploaded as supplemental material.

Application, Test Scores tab: 'The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required. If you have taken the exam and would like to provide your scores, you may, but it is not required. Students who do not submit scores will not be penalized in the graduate admissions review process.'

The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

Duolingo English Test (Engineering advisory threshold): Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Advisory: 134 or lower may need improvement.

Duolingo English Test (IEOR advisory threshold): Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Advisory: 130 or lower may need improvement.

IELTS Academic (Engineering advisory threshold): Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Advisory: 7 or lower may need improvement.

IELTS Academic (IEOR advisory threshold): Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Advisory: 7.5 or lower may need improvement.

PTE Academic: Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Advisory: 68 or lower may need improvement.

TOEFL iBT: Required if your undergraduate degree is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK or the USA. One test is enough. No minimum score. Home Edition accepted; MyBest not accepted. Advisory: 4.5 or lower (tests taken after January 21, 2026) or 99 or lower (tests taken before January 21, 2026) may need improvement.

Waiver / exemption: Pages disagree on the exemption: a master's from a listed country (requirements page); a U.S. master's only (one Engineering FAQ answer); a bachelor's or MS from a school where English is the official language, if you were on campus in that country for the whole program (another Engineering FAQ answer); a whole undergraduate or graduate degree in an English-speaking country (IEOR FAQ). Current Columbia Engineering graduate students are exempt.

Mandatory for MS applicants. Opens only after you submit and pay, through the application Status Portal. Three random behavioral questions; 90 seconds to prepare and three minutes to record your answer to all three questions (appears to be 3 minutes in total). Due by the date in the interview-link email (IEOR FAQ).

The purpose of the Personal Statement is for you to share more about your past experiences and to discuss how these experiences have contributed to your personal and professional growth. It allows the applicant the opportunity to explain to the admission committee the distinct qualities and commitment they can bring to the Columbia Engineering community. A few topics that you may want to address in your Personal Statement include: - Describe the reasons you are interested in this program and discuss any relevant past experience. - If you have relevant work or research experience, please indicate how it helped you decide on your career path. - What are your post-graduation plans or career goals? - What do you hope to gain from this program? - What about this program excites you? - If there are any special circumstances that need to be brought to the attention of the Admission Committee, please include that information.