Eligibility

To ensure adequate preparation, you must be cleared (approved) to study abroad. Each Columbia undergraduate home school maintains the authority over students’ ability to study abroad. Clearance procedures and eligibility will vary by Columbia undergraduate home school.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to attend a Study Abroad First Steps meeting or speak with a UGE Adviser.

Semester or Academic Year Programs

Columbia College

  • You must be an enrolled student in good academic and disciplinary standing to study abroad;
  • You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA to study abroad. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the semester before going abroad;
  • You must meet the prerequisites of your chosen program. Please be aware of any disciplinary and language requirements;
  • During the academic year, you must study abroad as a junior or senior. If you study abroad as a senior, you must petition the Committee on Academic Standing;
  • You must have declared a major;
  • You must have demonstrated progress in the Core Curriculum and your major requirements. You must have completed Literature Humanities, Contemporary Civilizations, University Writing, and Frontiers of Science. You should only have one Core Course per term remaining after your return from study abroad;
  • If you are a transfer student, you should meet with a UGE Adviser to discuss eligibility; and
  • You must show demonstrated academic interest in the region or program where you plan to study abroad. This course must be taken prior to your study abroad semester. You should discuss this with your UGE adviser.​ There are a few ways to fulfill this requirement:
    • You can take a course with content related to the politics, culture, or history of the country or region;
    • You can study the language of the host country; or
    • If the program has a specific theme (i.e., human rights, computer science), you may take a course related to the theme.

Columbia Engineering

  • You must be an enrolled student in good academic and disciplinary standing to study abroad;
  • You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA to study abroad. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the semester before going abroad;
  • You must meet the prerequisites of your chosen program;
  • During the academic year, you must study abroad as a sophomore, junior or senior. You will most likely go abroad sophomore spring;
  • You must have declared a major; and
  • You must have made adequate progress in your first and second requirements and major requirements.

The School of General Studies

Please visit the School of General Studies Study Abroad page to review eligibility requirements.

All study abroad programs, including Columbia-Led study abroad programs, must be approved by the appropriate GS Study Abroad Advisor. For study abroad-related questions, please email gsstudyabroad@columbia.edu.

Summer Programs

  • You must be in good academic and disciplinary standing to study abroad;
  • You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA to study abroad. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA during the semester before going abroad;
  • You must meet the prerequisites of your chosen program. Please be aware of any disciplinary and language requirements;
  • You can study abroad during the summer following your first year at Columbia. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students should have completed at least one semester before applying to go abroad. The School of General Studies students admitted for the spring semester may go abroad during the following summer only under certain exceptional circumstances. Speak with the General Studies Study Abroad Dean for more information.
  • Columbia College and the School of General Studies students studying abroad during the summer on Columbia-Approved Programs generally take language courses.