Do I qualify for financial aid?
- Contact Student Financial Services to learn about options for funding your education. Information on loan eligibility is also available on the Office of Financial Aid and Educational Financing page.
How long does it take to complete a degree?
- You have 2 years to complete the Certification, 5 years to complete the MS, and 7 years to complete the DES. While enrolled in these programs, you are required to maintain continuous enrollment or a minimum of 2 classes per year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. You may take more than one course during each semester and take courses during the Summer but you are not required to. On average, students take 3.5 years to complete the degree, however, we encourage each student to take courses at a pace that suits their schedule.
Am I eligible for the Columbia University health plan?
- Columbia Video Network (CVN) students are not eligible for the Columbia University health plan.
Can I start as a certification student and then apply to an MS program?
- Since Columbia University's policy prohibits the double counting of coursework between programs, Certification students admitted to and enrolled in the Master of Science program will forego their Certification in order to allow these courses to count towards their Master of Science. Only six of the twelve credits earned from the certificate may be applied towards an MS. Instead, consider enrolling in one or two non degree courses before applying to the MS.
- After taking 2 courses (or six credits) as a certificate student, please reach out to the CVN team to confirm if you would like to continue pursuing your certificate or if you are thinking of applying to the MS program.
- Please note, once you receive your certificate you will not be able to transfer any of your coursework to the MS program.
Where can I change my status as a student?
- If you need to change your status as a student, please follow the the link and fill out the necessary forms. Students must submit requests online through the Change of Status Form. Requests are reviewed by your department and Office of Graduate Student Affairs in 7 to 10 business days. If you have not received an email notification after 10 days, please contact your department.
- Change of status forms include: Advanced Standing, Degree Concentration Change, Degree Level Change, Leave of Absense, Readmission, Withdrawal, MS Petition for Program Extension, Doctoral Program Extension Request, Certification Letter, and Petition to Walk.
I'm done! How do I graduate?
- First, check-in with your advisor. Together with your advisor, make sure that you've met your program requirements, and provide your advisor with the approvals you've secured for any deviations/exceptions/substitutions to your course of study. Please note that Deans and advisors are the final authority on whether graduation requirements have been met.
- Second, candidates preparing for graduation should submit a completed application for degree to the Registrar’s Office. Be sure to indicate which conferral you prefer (degrees are conferred in October, February, and May only).
- Third, submit a graduation checklist to your department, check your department's website for additional information.
- Finally, if you are eligible and interested in joining Commencement activities, be sure to watch Columbia University's Commencement page (commencement.columbia.edu) for updates and instructions. Commencement is held in May of each year for degrees conferred that May as well as the two previous conferrals (February of the same year and October of the previous year).
How will I receive my diploma after I graduate?
- When you graduate (either in October, February, or May/June), your diploma will be ordered and mailed by the printer after the conferral date. It will take a few weeks to complete the process so it’s important that the address you have listed on SSOL is accurate.
- If you need to update your address, you may do so through Student Services Online (SSOL) anytime until 5 p.m. on the Monday before graduation – please be sure to select the DP (Diploma) address option.
- Please check out the registrar's website for degree application for more information.