Application Requirements

All applicants to the Dual Degree Program must apply by January 2 for fall enrollment. The admissions process includes a review of the applicant's academic history, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (if required or submitted), a personal essay, and an interview conducted in English. Applications will be reviewed by a joint committee featuring admissions representatives from both Columbia and TAU.

Application Deadline: January 2

Preview a PDF version of the application (for reference use only) before creating an account. This application is subject to updates, so please refer to the electronic application for the most current version.

Application Process and Requirements

A complete application for the Dual Degree Program between Tel Aviv University and Columbia University includes all of the following:

  • Submission of the online application. (Please note that it is not possible to apply to the Dual Degree Program via the Common Application).
  • High school transcripts, secondary school records, or GED test results.*
  • Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Additional details can be found in the Transcripts section below.*
  • Standardized test scores, if required, reported directly to the Dual Degree Program by the testing service. Please visit the Standardized Testing page to determine whether you are required to submit standardized test scores as part of your application.
  • One admissions essay.
  • Two academic letters of recommendation from teachers and/or a guidance counselor familiar with your academic career. Please note that the Dual Degree admissions committee will not accept more than two letters of recommendation.
  • A nonrefundable application fee of $80. Applicants using the online application may use a credit card to pay the $80 fee. If paying the application fee via credit card is not possible, applicants may also submit their application fee in the form of a check or money order payable to Columbia University.

* See note on official documents below

Transcripts and School Reports

Students applying for admission to the Dual Degree Program must submit transcripts from all secondary/high schools attended, as well as any college or university transcripts, if applicable, as part of the application process. Dual Degree students come from a broad range of high schools and educational backgrounds, and the admissions committee is experienced in reading academic records from around the world. 

Transcripts should include grades from the previous three years of secondary/high school study as well as any grades available from the current academic year (the equivalent of 9th-12th grade in the U.S.). Wherever possible, the Dual Degree admissions committee strongly encourages students and their counselors to include school profiles along with their transcripts. Please note that transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
The Dual Degree admissions committee also requires predicted or preliminary grades where available. Mid-year grades, which can be submitted after the January 2 application deadline, are strongly recommended. For non-U.S. applicants, please refer to the International Academic Records section below for further details on transcript requirements. 

Applicants will have the opportunity to upload unofficial copies of these documents in the “Previous Education” section of their application.

Unofficial documents are only accepted as part of the application review process. If offered admission, in order to enroll, you will be required to submit official documents using one of the methods below. 

  • Official Electronic Documents: Your college or school counselor may submit your official electronic documents through Slate.org. 
  • E-mail: If electronic documents are not available from your high school, or your school does not participate through Slate.org, students may also instruct a school administrator to email transcripts from their school email account to [email protected] and they will be counted as official.
  • Physical Mail: Mailed copies of transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions of the School of General Studies will be accepted if electronic documents are unavailable. Paper transcripts may not be delivered or forwarded by a student. We strongly encourage students to send documents electronically or by e-mail if possible.
  • All non-English language documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Slate.org

To expedite the application submission process, college and academic counselors can submit official documents, including transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation, for their students’ applications via Slate.org. Counselors can register on Slate.org or sign in directly using their Google Apps / G Suite school account, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Any colleague at an institution with an active Slate.org account will be able to verify a new account. If no other active accounts exist, the verification process will be handled by Technolutions.

Interviews

The interview is the second round of the application process. Interviews are scheduled on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee and are by invitation only. Interviews are typically 30 minutes in length and conducted by a small panel of representatives from both Columbia University and Tel Aviv University. Candidates should expect to discuss various aspects of their application file, personal experiences, academic plans, and topics specific to their chosen academic program. 

Applicants will receive an update on their application status by February 15; interviews typically take place between mid-February and mid-March. Interviews are held virtually and conducted entirely in English.

International Academic Records

Please consult the list below for further clarification on the types of international academic records required by the admissions committee. Note that this list is not comprehensive, and that transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you have questions about the types of documents required for your personal academic background, please contact our offices via email at [email protected].

The admissions process for the Columbia University International Dual Degree Programs is administered by the School of General Studies and is highly selective. Thus, applicants may not simultaneously apply to the Dual Degree Program and to Columbia College (CC) or Columbia Engineering (SEAS). Additionally, candidates are not eligible to apply to the School of General Studies, including the Dual Degree Program, if in the last three years they were rejected by CC/SEAS. Finally, students may not submit an application to more than one Columbia International Dual Degree Program for any given academic term.

Students who have applied Early Decision to CC/SEAS are not eligible to apply to the Dual Degree Program, regardless of their admission decision, including if the student was waitlisted.

Students interested in being considered for admission to other programs at Tel Aviv University must apply for admission using the application procedure appropriate to their situation. Please refer to the Tel Aviv University International website for more information.

Due to the unique structure of the Dual Degree Program, there is no transfer admissions process option for students not currently enrolled at Tel Aviv University. Please see more information about the Transfer Entry Process.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Admissions policies for the Dual Degree program are governed by and adhere to the policies of Columbia University and Tel Aviv University.

Columbia Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy
Tel Aviv University Constitution