Applying to the MA in Global Thought

Please visit the GSAS website for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees. Costs for the MA in Global Thought can be found under “All Other Master’s Programs.” Students must register for a total of two Residence Units to complete the program.

Global Thought Partial Funding Fellowship

The Committee on Global Thought offers limited partial fellowships to select applicants. To be considered for a partial fellowship, you must submit both a program application and a partial fellowship application (link will be available here by November 2026) by the priority or general application deadline. Please note that MA admissions are need-blind; partial fellowship decisions are made after MA admissions decisions have been made and through an entirely separate review process.

While we take merit into consideration, given our limited available funds and GSAS policy, our first criterion is demonstrated need. Fellowships are partial—they do not cover tuition in full, and do not extend to living expenses or other costs. Please take this into account as you consider how you will finance your MA. For a list of resources beyond the CGT partial funding fellowship, please visit the GSAS External Funding website. For other funding resources at Columbia, please contact the GSAS Office of Financial Aid.

Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students

The Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students (CUSDS) was launched in 2019 in an effort to provide displaced students with the opportunity to pursue degrees through Columbia’s undergraduate and graduate programs. The Scholarship is administered by Columbia Global in partnership with participating Columbia schools and affiliates, and provides students with full tuition and assistance with non-tuition expenses. For more information about eligibility and the application process, visit the CUSDS website for more information.

Applicants must first apply to a participating degree program and then to the Scholarship for Displaced Students. Both applications must be submitted before the deadline for the degree program’s application.

External Funding Opportunities

For a full list of resources including fellowship search databases, visit the GSAS External Funding website.

Most external graduate funding opportunities require students to submit their applications well before they intend to enroll (typically October to February of the preceding year), and before actual program application deadlines. Acceptance to a graduate program is not usually necessary to apply for external funding. Please plan to apply for funding as early as possible.

Ensure that you've completed all tasks and gathered the proper supporting materials by using this application checklist.

Once your completed application has been submitted in time for the deadline, with all required supporting materials (including references submitted by your referees) and payment of the application fee, our admissions committee will assess your application and notify you of its outcome.

The timetable below is for admissions decisions for Fall 2026 entry:

Please note: This timetable is for guidance purposes only. All decisions are communicated in writing from GSAS, usually by email.

If you have specific questions about our program or department, please contact us via email at [email protected].

For questions regarding your application, please contact GSAS Admissions by email at [email protected], or by phone at (212) 854-6729.

Assessment of Your Application

The distinguished faculty members of the Committee on Global Thought (CGT) assess applications that are submitted in full. They examine application materials holistically to determine if applicants have the academic experience, facility with academic writing, and critical thinking skills necessary to ensure their success in the MA program. In some cases, the faculty and staff of the CGT conduct interviews by phone or in person to learn more about applicants, and to determine whether or not they are well suited to the rigors and challenges of post-graduate study at Columbia University.

We receive applications from many more excellent candidates than we can accommodate, and can admit only the strongest among them. It is essential that you take care reviewing your completed application to ensure that all documents are well written and free of errors. Please select supporting materials that best illustrate your academic achievement, and clearly articulate the ways that the MA in Global Thought will help you reach your personal or professional goals.

Accepting Your Offer

If you have been successful, you will receive an initial offer letter, via email, from the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Only the Dean of GSAS has the authority to make an offer of admission. A letter or email from a faculty member is not an official offer of admission. Only when you receive the official offer signed by the Dean of GSAS are you considered admitted. However, the offer of admission is only considered fully official after we have received your official paper transcripts and are able to verify authenticity. Any discrepancies between the uploaded and official paper transcripts may result in the rescinding of the offer of admission.

Deferring an Offer

The Graduate School offers admission with the expectation that students will matriculate in the semester specified during the application process. If extraordinary circumstances will prevent you from matriculating, you may submit a request to defer your admission for up to one calendar year. Deferral requests are not automatically granted and will be evaluated by the Office of Admissions.

MA applicants may request a deferral only after accepting the original offer of admission and submitting the $1000 tuition deposit. After the deposit is paid, a Deferral Request Form will be available on the Applicant Status Page.

You will be notified about the disposition of your deferral request via email. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.