Answers to questions students ask about the Master of Science program.

What type of financial aid is available?

Funding is a concern for nearly all prospective students.  For students pursuing MS degrees the options for funding are all external since the university, like the majority of IVYs, does not provide funding for the MS degree.  There are various organizations and federal or private loans for which MS students may be eligible.  Those require separate applications and some work on the part of the student to find opportunities, check eligibility, and complete the necessary forms, etc.

Columbia University's Office of Financial Aid & Educational Financing, provides comprehensive information on financial aid for Columbia Engineering Graduate Students. Anyone seeking assistance with tuition and fees, room & board, etc. is urged to visit.

A few other things to know:

  • Teaching assistant (TA) positions are filled by PhD candidates;
  • There are limited funding opportunities for MS students; 
  • The GEM fellowship is another possible funding opportunity for eligible students; and
  • Most MS degree students take out loans while enrolled; visit The Federal Student Aid website (an office of the US Department of Education)

There are also external funding opportunities for graduate students at the master's degree level:

Other aid search sites:

 

If I do research at Columbia, do I get a stipend for working?

Paid research positions are occupied by PhD and Post Doctoral students. Students may explore an option with a specific professor, but there are not specific paid research positions for MS students.

Master's research is conducted as a course, CHEN E9400, for which you can get course credit toward your degree. Some, but not all MS students take a research course. You can take up to 6 points of research credit. First, you are required to have written approval by the specific professor with whom you are taking the course in order to enroll in CHEN E9400.  There is no stipend that goes with taking the course. After the first semester, students will have the opportunity to request to joining a research group as part of their program.

Can I be a paid researcher as an MS student?

Paid research positions are occupied by PhD and Post Doctoral students.

Are there research opportunities available for MS students? If so, could these potentially offset tuition?

Yes, MS program students may elect to take CHEN E9400, for which they can get course credit toward the MS degree. There is no stipend that goes with taking the course.  Paid research positions are reserved for PhD and Post Doctoral students. Students may explore an option with a specific professor, but there are no specific paid research positions for MS students.