MBAxMS applicants are required to submit the joint online application, essays, transcripts, standardized test scores (GMAT or GRE), resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, and an application fee. Interviews are by invitation only.
This program has a minimum requirement of two years of professional work experience, with the expectation that most students will have between three and seven years of professional experience.
Application Checklist
Columbia Business School requires that the work contained in your application (including essays) is completely accurate and exclusively your own. Columbia University permits the use of generative AI tools for idea generation and/or to edit a candidate’s work; however, using these tools to generate complete responses violates the Honor Code. Applicants should not participate in the drafting of letter(s) of recommendation. All application content is subject to verification and adherence to the above requirements. OFFERS OF ADMISSION WILL BE RESCINDED SHOULD ANY MISREPRESENTATION AND/OR OMISSION OCCUR. |
Transcripts
A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution is required for admission to Columbia Business School. Applicants should scan and submit PDF versions of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution which they have attended.
If offered admission, you will be required to provide official copies of your transcripts from each of the colleges or universities submitted on your application. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records have been verified.
GMAT or GRE Score
All applicants must submit a self-reported valid GMAT or GRE score when submitting an application. Columbia Business School considers scores to be valid for five years after your test date. Please be sure to send your score report and submit your application at least one week before the scores expire. Please note that while additional test scores may be added to an application after submission, we cannot guarantee they will be reviewed with your application.
If admitted, you must submit an official GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE score. Columbia Business School’s GMAT and Executive Assessment code is QF8-N6-52, and its GRE code is 6442. The Admissions Committee will consider only your highest score when reviewing your application and will not combine sub scores from multiple exams into a single composite score.
*We accept both GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition scores.
MBAxMS Essay Topics
Applicants must complete two short answer questions and two essays.
Short Answer Questions
- How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBAxMS? If in an internship, please include target industry (industries) and/or function (functions). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters maximum)
- In the MBAxMS program, students will have the opportunity to pursue one of two business concentrations and one of seven engineering concentrations. What Business track are you interested in pursuing and why? What Engineering track are you interested in pursuing and why? (250 characters maximum)
Essays
The goal of the MBAxMS program is to focus on the creative application of technology to move organizations forward by leveraging new technologies or designing and implementing innovative solutions. The program has been specifically designed to be a unique and integrated learning environment for individuals looking to become an inclusive leader in technology or start their own venture.
Essay 1
- What aspects of the MBAxMS program academically, professionally and culturally draw you specifically to Columbia University? What are your career goals after completing the MBAxMS program and how will the expertise in both engineering and business allow you to achieve these goals? (500 words)
Essay 2
- Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)
Recommendations
Two letters of recommendation are required. We strongly encourage applicants to submit one professional letter of recommendation and one academic letter of recommendation. If you are unable to secure a recommendation from your direct supervisor, please submit a statement of explanation in the Employment section of your application. Note, you are required to submit two letters of recommendation, regardless of the type.
Please note that Columbia Business School and several of our peer institutions use similar, if not identical, recommendation questions. This is an effort on our part to make the process easier for your recommender. We expect that you, the applicant, will not participate in the drafting of your recommendation. When entering contact information for recommenders, please use their institutional or professional email address. We ask that the recommender upload their recommendation on letterhead, whenever possible. References submitted from personal or anonymous email accounts (e.g. Gmail, Yahoo, 123.com, 163.com, qq.com etc.) will be subject to your admission being rescinded if significant discrepancies are found. Applications are not considered complete until all required information is submitted; this includes your recommendation.
We ask the recommender to consider the following guidelines when writing their recommendation (recommendation limit - 1000 words):
- How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
- Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
Resume or CV
Applicants should upload their current professional resume or CV to the online application. Your professional resume or CV should ideally be one-page in length, but one-to-two pages is also acceptable.
Application Fee
The nonrefundable application fee for the Columbia Business School MBA Program is US$250. Applicants are strongly encouraged to pay this fee via credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) within the online application system in order to expedite the processing of their application.
Applicants unable to pay by credit card should contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] for directions regarding alternative methods of payment.
Fee waivers are available to full-time students, active duty US military personnel, eligible displaced persons (view this website for displaced eligibility criteria), and members of the Peace Corp or Teach For All network partners who are currently in service. Proof of current service is required. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver should create or log into the application and navigate to the "Review" page. Upon accessing the Fee Waiver Request form, applicants will provide proof of service and explain their need for a fee waiver. Qualified applicants who have already submitted an application should email [email protected] to request a Fee Waiver Request form. Please allow up to one week for an update to your online status regarding a fee waiver request.
Interview
Interviews are by invitation only and cannot be requested. The Admissions Office will contact you if you are selected for an interview.
Deposits
Admitted students must submit two nonrefundable tuition deposits to secure their place in the class after admission, except August Round 3, which has a single deposit deadline. Deposits will be applied directly toward your first semester’s tuition and fees. Please be aware that if you do not matriculate, your deposit will not be refunded.
Refer to the chart below for the deposit amounts for each application.
| Application | First Deposit Amount | Second Deposit Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | US$2,000 | US$1,000 |
| Round 2 | US$2,000 | US$1,000 |
| Round 3 | US$3,000 | N/A |
The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 presented institutions of higher education with challenges in teaching and learning, as well as in the assessment of academic performance. As a consequence of these challenges, Columbia University affirms the following principle: The University’s graduate and professional schools, as well as their respective Admissions committees, will take into account the important disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak when reviewing student transcripts and other Admissions materials as part of their customary practice of performing holistic reviews of individual applications or dossiers. Specifically, we will respect decisions made by institutions or individuals regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail or similar grading options during the period in question. The Provost and University Deans adopted this principle to ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged by policy decisions made by their colleges/universities as a result of this unprecedented public health event. |