SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Applying to the Program

Admission to the School of International and Public Affairs is competitive, based in large part on academic excellence and professional focus. The applicant must have a bachelor's degree or evidence of equivalent preparation as determined by the director of admissions. Undergraduate work should ideally include at least two courses in economics (macro and microeconomics). Students lacking an economics background must make up this deficiency before entering the school. For the Master of International Affairs (MIA), applicants should have studied at least one foreign language in their undergraduate course work. The average age of incoming students is from 26 to 27 years old, with most applicants having had several years of relevant professional experience before deciding to return to school. A small percentage of students—those who have significant fieldwork or internship experience—apply directly from undergraduate institutions and represent about 5% of each year's incoming class. Applicants are encouraged to gain applicable work or internship experience, even if it means delaying graduate study for one year or more.

You may apply to SIPA using the following methods:

1. Apply online. We strongly encourage all applicants to submit their application forms through the SIPA admissions web site. All of your admission documents, including letters of recommendation, can be submitted online except for academic transcripts and test scores.  Official copies of academic transcripts must be mailed to our office. 
2. Download a PDF application.

Please carefully follow the application instructions.  SIPA utilizes an online application system that helps expedite the receipt and tracking of information.  Applicants are able to track the receipt of documents via the online application site once an application form, personal statement, CV/Résumé, and the appropriate nonrefundable application fee have been submitted.  We therefore recommend that applicants submit the online application form as soon as possible to trigger this process.

Sending hardcopy materials can delay the evaluation of your application and we recommend that you submit as many materials via the online application site as possible.  Our online site allows applicants to submit the following online:

• Application form
• Application fee
• Personal statement
• Résumé/CV
• Letters of recommendation

You are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges, professional schools, and universities attended (including Columbia). The registrar should seal the transcript in an envelope, sign across the seal, and return it to you. Do not open these envelopes or break the seals. Some Universities may prefer to send transcripts directly to our office. If this is the case, please have official transcripts sent to:

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
420 West 118th Street, Room 408
Mail Code 3325
New York, NY 10027

All documents, except foreign transcripts judged irreplaceable, become the property of Columbia and cannot be returned. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations.