Columbia University Complete Information
Academic Calendar
Columbia University academic year
The academic year at Columbia University is divided into three terms: fall term, winter term and spring term. The fall term runs from September to December; the winter term covers January through April; and spring marks May through August.
Fall Term
The fall term is the shortest and most famous of Columbia’s academic terms. It runs from late September through December, making it ideal for students who want to take a few classes and get out of town before winter sets in.
Students are also drawn to this period because they can participate in the many activities that come with being in New York City during the holidays: ice skating at Bryant Park or watching The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center are just two examples! As a result, many parents prefer sending their children here during the fall as well; grandparents love seeing their grandchildren during this season too!
Winter Term
Winter term runs from January to March and is the shortest term of the year. It's also the only term that doesn't have a mid-semester break, so you should expect Winter Term to be your busiest time at Columbia.
Winter term courses will typically be offered in a compressed format, allowing students to complete coursework within one semester rather than over two semesters (as happens with Fall and Spring terms).
Spring Term
Spring term is the shortest of the three terms, but it's also the busiest. Spring term lasts from January to May and includes final exams for most classes. Most students graduate at this time as well.
Graduate Admission Calendar
Fall Applications
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Doctoral: MS/Ph.D., Ph.D., Eng.Sc.D |
December 15 |
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Master of Science |
Business Analytics - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Civil Engineering Programs - February 1 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Computer Science - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Data Science - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Electrical Engineering - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Financial Engineering - January 15 |
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Industrial Engineering - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Management Science and Engineering - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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Operations Research - January 15 (Priority), February 15th (Regular) |
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ALL OTHER MS PROGRAMS - February 15 |
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MS Express |
February 15 (Regular), May 1 (Final) |
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Integrated BS/MS |
April 30 (of Junior year) |
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BARNARD 4 + 1 Pathway |
February 15 (of Junior year) |
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Certificates |
Certificate in Data Science - February 15th |
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CAMPEP Accredited Certificate of Professional Achievement in Medical Physics - August 1 |
Spring Applications
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Master of Science + Doctoral: MS/Ph.D., Ph.D., Eng.Sc.D |
October 15 |
Undergraduate Admission Calender
November 1
- Deadline for Early Decision applications
- Deadline for QuestBridge National College Match applicants
November 15
- Deadline for Early Decision financial aid applications
Mid-December
- Admissions and financial aid decisions released online to Early Decision candidates
January 1
- Deadline for Regular Decision applications
Early January
- Early Decision response deadline
February 15
- Deadline for Regular Decision financial aid applications
Early April
- Admissions and financial aid decisions released online to Regular Decision candidates
May 1
- Regular Decision response deadline
May 15
- Enrollment deferral request deadline
Late June
- Final transcript due for incoming students
Early decision, early action and regular decision deadlines
- Early decision: November 1
- Early action: December 15
- Regular decision: January 1
- Combined Plan: February 8 (extended)
- Transfer: March 1
- Visiting Students: June 8 (updated)