Financial support

This is a reference page for Graduate student information.

THIS PAGE IS NOT OFFICIAL DEPARTMENTAL POLICY. IT MERELY REPRESENTS THE PEER-ADVICE PROVIDED BY FELLOW STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

What the handbook says

Admission to the Columbia graduate program normally is made in conjunction with a Columbia Graduate Fellowship. The Fellowship includes an annual (twelve-month) stipend (for 2006/2007 $26,667 per year), payment of all tuition and fees, and basic health coverage. In addition, incoming students are guaranteed access to Columbia housing. It is important to become informed about the housing selection process well in advance of arrival in New York; the Departmental Administrator should be consulted for details. It is virtually impossible to gain access to the housing system after the first year, so careful consideration should be given to any choice involving deferral of accepting a Columbia apartment until later in one’s graduate career. Housing is guaranteed for five years; annual extensions of up to two additional years are routinely granted, but extensions beyond the seventh year are very difficult to obtain. The Fellowship continues throughout the student’s career (with annual increments in salary as determined by the Graduate School – and thus, largely beyond the Department’s control), as long as the student is making “satisfactory progress toward the degree”. Satisfactory progress is defined below.

Various opportunities for earning additional compensation are described (and circumscribed) below. It is assumed, however, that graduate study in the program is a full-time occupation; students contemplating pursuit of substantial, long-term activities outside of the program are advised to discuss the matter with the Director of Graduate Studies or another faculty member.

Additional information

Currently, ​Columbia University's health insurance is done through ​Aetna Student Health Insurance which is a national group health insurance program negotiated separately by each university. Our university has negotiated to allow all graduate students to be covered under the basic coverage for a fee that is paid for by the department. For an additional $1350 a year you can purchase comprehensive coverage which has greater benefits coverage especially in the areas of prescriptions and physical therapy. ​Dental coverage is available for an additional $251 per year.

Spouses and domestic partners can obtain health coverage at the basic level at an expense of $1498 per year. Comperhensive coverage is not available for spouses or domestic partners. Additionally. your entire family can receive dental coverage for a total of $913.

It should be noted that the guaranteed increase in the stipend from year to year is generally less than the increase in the rent on university housing from year to year.

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