Info for Students

Who should apply? All MIA and MPA students (non D&G students and non-MPA-DP students) graduating in spring 2027 or fall 2027 who have not yet completed their Capstone Workshop requirement – or whose final semester in residence at SIPA will be spring 2027 or fall 2027 – must apply and are guaranteed placement in a workshop. Please note that Capstone workshops are only offered once each year. Therefore, all fall graduates must complete their Capstone requirement in the spring semester. 
 

• Students who are in the Development and Governance concentration or MPA-DP program students who wish to opt in to the Capstone Workshop program must review their selection with their program director and submit an email confirming that they have reviewed the selection prior to submitting the application. Similarly, any students outside of the D&G program must receive special permission from the Capstone Office in Academic Affairs to apply to the D&G program. Please write to the Capstone office at [email protected] should you wish to apply for an D&G project
   

• For 2026-2027 Capstone workshops, MPA-DP students can apply for up to three projects from the MIA and MPA Capstone Workshop as their top choices. MPA-DP students are expected to also apply to at least three D&G Workshop projects.  D&G students and MPA-DP students have priority consideration for D&G projects, reflecting the original intention to develop a development-specific portfolio of projects.  
   

• Please note, Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice (the D&G Workshop)  have a separate application with separate application dates. If you are outside of the Development and Governance priority group of students and interested in D&G workshop, please write to the Capstone office at [email protected]. In addition, you should connect with Prof. Eugenia McGill ([email protected]) or Vida Huimin Herling ([email protected]) to review your selection with them prior to applying to D&G workshops. When cross applying between degree programs, please submit a confirmation email from Professor McGill that you have reviewed your selection with her.  

For students who are not in these two groups? This application is ONLY for students who are required to take a Capstone workshop this year to graduate at the end of spring 2027 or fall 2027. 

Read the Capstone Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Students and on the Fall Capstone Consultancy Project Management Course.

FALL 2026 - SPRING 2027 Capstone Workshops are posted below and the Application is Linked Here 
 

To apply, students must submit an application. When submitting an application, students must:

(1) Submit a PDF resume saved as one’s UNI (not as your name, please use your UNI)

(2) Complete all of the required fields on the online application, including the release form. On the online application, students must rank order their Capstone preferences from 1 to 10 (1 being the first choice) and submit a 250-word “statement of interest” for each Capstone. In addition, students must list their relevant coursework, writing the full name of the course (rather than writing the SIPA course number or an abbreviation of the course). Relevant coursework may include courses taken outside of Columbia University but please indicate where and when the course was completed.

Please note, due to the high volume of application submissions, confirmation email may go to the spam folder or be delayed. Please also make sure you have entered your email address correctly in the form.

* Please note, the Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice (the D&G Workshop) and the MPA in Development Practice Capstone workshops have separate application with separate application dates. If you have questions about the D&G workshops, please contact Prof. Eugenia McGill ([email protected]) or Program Manager Vida Huimin Herling ([email protected]). Students may not apply outside their designated Capstone workshop program without prior permission. D&G and MPA-DP students who wish to opt in to the Capstone workshop program must receive special permission to apply outside of their program. Similarly, any students outside of the D&G program must receive special permission from the Capstone Office in Academic Affairs to apply to the D&G program. Please write to the Capstone office at [email protected] should you wish to apply for an D&G project and to the D&G prior to submitting an application.