The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 presented institutions of higher education with challenges in teaching and learning, as well as in the assessment of academic performance. As a consequence of these challenges, Columbia University affirms the following principle:
The University’s graduate and professional schools, as well as their respective admissions committees, will take into account the important disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak when reviewing student transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their customary practice of performing holistic reviews of individual applications or dossiers. Specifically, we will respect decisions made by institutions or individuals regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail or similar grading options during the period in question.
The Provost and University Deans adopted this principle to ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged by policy decisions made by their colleges/universities as a result of this unprecedented public health event.
To create an application, scroll to the bottom of the page and select "Create an account" if you're a first-time user, or "Log in" if you're a returning user. Once you create an account, you'll be provided instructions for completing your application to SIPA. For your reference, deadlines to all of SIPA's master's degree programs are included below. Please ensure all your materials are submitted by the deadline in order to be considered for admission. The cut-off submission time for all application deadlines is at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Applicants must submit all materials directly via this online application system. Applications will not be accepted not through an agent or third-party vendor, with the sole exception of submissions by the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and its three partner agencies IIE, LASPAU and AMIDEAST, and by the DanishAmerican Fulbright Commission (DAF), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), and Vietnam Education Fund (VEF).
In addition, the applicant will be required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to Columbia. If you have any questions about this requirement, please contact the admissions office at sipa_admission@columbia.edu.
Spring 2021 Deadlines (Now Open!) | ||||
| Master of International Affairs (MIA) & Master of Public Administration (MPA) & Developmental Practice (MPA-DP) | ||||
| Final Application: November 15, 2020 | ||||
| Executive MPA (EMPA) | ||||
| Final Application: December 15, 2020 | ||||
Summer 2021 Deadlines (Now Open!) | ||||
| MPA in Economic Policy Management (MPA-EPM) | ||||
| Early Action: November 15, 2020 | ||||
| Fellowship Consideration: January 15, 2021 | ||||
| Final Application: February 15, 2021 | ||||
| MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) | ||||
| Early Action: November 1, 2020 | ||||
| Fellowship Consideration: January 15, 2021 | ||||
| Final Application: February 15, 2021 | ||||
Fall 2021 Deadlines (Now Open!) | ||||
| Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Public Administration (MPA) & Developmental Practice (MPA-DP) | ||||
| Early Action: November 1, 2020 | ||||
| Fellowship Consideration: January 5, 2021 | ||||
| Final Application: February 5, 2021 | ||||
| Executive MPA (EMPA) Fall | ||||
| Priority & Fellowship Consideration: March 31, 2021 | ||||
| Final Application: July 1, 2021 | ||||
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A note about email addresses:
To ensure your application is reviewed in a timely manner, please use the same name and email address for all communications regarding your application to SIPA. It's suggested you use an email account that you check frequently, or one that is also associated with the examinations you are required to take in order to apply to SIPA (e.g., create an application using the same email address you use for your GRE exam.)
Returning users: | First-time users: |