🗽Columbia University

New York, NY, US

QS World 2026 · #34

An Ivy League school built around NYC and a mandatory Core Curriculum.

About Columbia

Every Columbia College student, regardless of major, takes the same Core Curriculum — Literature Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Art Humanities, Music Humanities and more — a shared intellectual foundation unlike almost any other US university. Its Manhattan location gives direct access to journalism, finance and the UN.

Why students choose it

  • Mandatory Core Curriculum — a shared intellectual foundation for every student
  • Manhattan campus with direct access to journalism, finance and the UN
  • Dual-degree options with Sciences Po and other international partners

🎓 Free application support for Columbia

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Columbia — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

A*A*A (A Level)  ·  IB 41

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

$60,000+/yr

premium tier for US — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, New York, NY

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Columbia's financial aid office.

Scholarship access for international students is more limited than for US citizens — most need-based financial aid programmes are domestic-only, and only a small number of universities are 'need-blind' or meet full demonstrated need for international applicants. Merit scholarships (not tied to financial need) are more widely available and are the main route for most applicants.

  • University merit scholarships: Named awards like 'Presidential' or 'Dean's' scholarships at many universities — automatically considered from your application, based on academic record and sometimes essays/interviews.
  • Need-blind / full-need-met universities: A small group of highly selective universities (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst) admit international students without considering ability to pay and meet full demonstrated financial need — extremely competitive to gain admission in the first place.
  • Fulbright Program: US government-funded, but for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not linked to undergraduate admission.

Most US universities in this tool are private and do not offer significant need-based aid to international students — check each university's own international financial aid policy before assuming support is available.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Journalism

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Law

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years for an undergraduate LLB (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia); typically a 3-year postgraduate JD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Not required at Bachelor's entry — Law is typically a postgraduate JD here, entered via LSAT after completing a Bachelor's degree.

Medicine

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology · Not required at Bachelor's entry — Medicine is a postgraduate degree here, entered via MCAT after completing a Bachelor's degree.

Durations are typical for US — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall)
Typical deadline
Regular Decision around 1 January
Note
Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall

TOEFL: 80–100 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

See where Columbia ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free US University Shortlist Builder to see whether Columbia is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other US university that matches.

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More US universities

Columbia FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Columbia as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Columbia?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Columbia expects around A*A*A at A Level or 41 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Columbia's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Columbia's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Columbia cost for international students?

International tuition at Columbia typically falls in the $60,000+/yr range (premium tier for US). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Columbia's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Columbia?

Columbia follows US's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), with applications generally due regular decision around 1 january. Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early. Always verify the exact date on Columbia's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Columbia?

US universities, including Columbia, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

What is Columbia known for?

An Ivy League school built around NYC and a mandatory Core Curriculum. Every Columbia College student, regardless of major, takes the same Core Curriculum — Literature Humanities, Contemporary Civilization, Art Humanities, Music Humanities and more — a shared intellectual foundation unlike almost any other US university. Its Manhattan location gives direct access to journalism, finance and the UN.

Can I apply to Columbia with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Columbia accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free US University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Columbia and every other US university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to Columbia? Get free application support.

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