Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Should I apply online or submit a paper application?
We strongly encourage you to apply online. However, you can request a paper application at the Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science graduate admissions Web site.

Can I have someone from the department evaluate my candidacy prior to submitting an application?
Unfortunately, due to an overwhelming number of applications, the department cannot evaluate your candidacy prior to submission. We urge you to apply directly to the programs. If you have specific questions regarding prerequisites to the program, please contact us at .

How can I track the status of my application?
You can check/track your application online.

Can I submit an application past the deadline?
You can submit an application past the deadline, but there is no guarantee that it will be reviewed. We urge all of our applicants to adhere to the appropriate deadline since seats to the programs are often filled.

Where should I submit my application materials?

Please DO NOT send any materials to the department.

Please send all application materials to the following address:

Office of Graduate Student Services
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Columbia University
Mail Code 4708
500 West 120th Street, Room 524
New York, NY 10027
Fax: (212) 854-5900

I am currently an engineering graduate student and would like to apply to one of the IEOR programs. What should I do?
Students already in SEAS can apply to graduate studies in the IEOR Department. You can use the an condensed application for current students.

What standardized exams are required for admission?
In order to apply to the IEOR graduate programs, you MUST submit GRE scores. GRE scores are valid for five (5) years from the time which they were taken. We do not accept GMAT scores. The TOEFL is required for all applicants who have received their undergraduate degree in a country where English is not the official spoken language (regardless of whether all or part of your education has been taught in English). TOEFL scores are valid for two (2) years.

What is the test code for the programs?
The institution code is 2111. There is no department code; leave the department code blank.

Do I need to submit valid TOEFL scores even if I completed a graduate (i.e. M.S., PH.D.) program in the United States?
The TOEFL is required for all applicants who have received their undergraduate degree in a country where English is not the official spoken language (regardless of whether all or part of your education has been taught in English).

Can I be exempted from taking the TOEFL and/or GRE examinations?

Only applications with current TOEFL and/or GRE scores will be reviewed. Please do not contact the Department regarding this issue; there will be NO exceptions. The Office of Graduate Student Services will not forward any applications to our Department without a current score.

Students can self report their current scores in advance of the receipt of their official scores from ETS.

When will I know the decision?
If your application materials (transcripts, recommendation letters, test scores) have been mailed separately please allow two to three weeks for the material to be matched to your online application.

An email notification will be sent when your application has been recorded as complete for review. If your application remains incomplete three weeks after the submission date, an email informing you of the missing material will be sent.

Once your application is complete for review the admissions office will send it to the academic department for evaluation by the faculty admissions committee. The evaluation process can take any where from three to five weeks. There are cases when admissions committees review an application for a longer period of time before making a final decision.

Your decision will be communicated directly from the Graduate Student Services Office via an official letter. Unfortunately we cannot provide application decisions over regular email or telephone. Please do not send requests for your admissions decisions.

Can I defer admission?
Columbia's Engineering School does not allow admission deferrals. Applications will be reviewed the following year when a reactivation form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please note that admission is not guaranteed. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for further information and the reactivation form.

What is the cost of study?
For 2009-10, tuition for full-time students for the academic year is $1,310 per academic credit. Tuition for 30-credit program (MSEMS, MSIE and MSOR) is $39,300; tuition for 36-credit program (MSFE) is $47,160. Annual fees are approximately $2,850 - $3,230, and the cost of books is approximately $1430.

For more details on tuition and fees, please click on this link here.

Is financial assistance available for graduate studies?
There is limited financial assistance available for M.S. students through the department. However, we do offer scholarships to a few top-ranking M.S. applicants each year. Most of the departmental financial aid is reserved for support of Ph.D. students.

Where can I obtain information about the department and its programs?
The IEOR Department makes all information about programs available on their Web site.

You can download an application from the Columbia University 's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science graduate admissions office.

Can I study part time?
MSIE- and MSOR-degree programs are the only programs that can be completed on a part-time basis. The MSFE and MSEMS programs are full time only. However, please be aware that many of the classes begin at 4:10 p.m. or earlier.

How can I apply for the combined M.S./M.B.A. program?
Students interested in the combined M.S./M.B.A. programs (available for Financial Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research) must apply to both programs separately, meeting the application requirements for both programs. If accepted to both, the combined program is designed to be completed in 5 semesters instead of 6 semesters.

Is housing available for accepted graduate students?
Housing questions should be directed to University Apartment Housing. Their contact information can be found at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ire/

Can I apply to the doctoral program if I do not have an MS degree?
Yes, if you do not have your M.S. degree, you should apply for the M.S.-Ph.D. program. However, the IEOR Department will allow you to enroll in the doctoral level courses in preparation for the Ph.D. program.

Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Application

Standardized Exams

Admissions Decision

Tuition and Cost

Graduate Programs and Campus Life