Frequently Asked Questions for New Students

Registration primarily takes place online, through Vergil. For a complete overview of the registration process, please refer to the Registration section of the GSAS website.

Courses generally will have open seats when registration begins. If you find that no seats remain in the course(s) you wish to take, you may join the waitlist.

If a course is full when you register for it through Vergil, you will be placed automatically on that course’s waitlist. Most waitlists are managed automatically on a first-come, first-served basis, and you will be enrolled in the class should a seat become available. Please do not submit a Registration Adjustment Form to the GSAS Office of Student Affairs if you are on a Vergil-managed waitlist. Other waitlists are managed manually by the course instructor. If this is the case, please contact the instructor to request a spot on the course’s waitlist. For more information about course waitlists, please visit the Registrar’s website.

Students may take some courses in other graduate schools at Columbia through cross-registration. Use the Directory of Classes to confirm that courses are open to GSAS students before beginning the cross-registration process. Please also consult your program administrator before submitting a Registration Adjustment Form to the GSAS Office of Student Affairs to enroll in courses offered by other schools.

Students are expected to attend classes on the first day of the semester, which for the fall 2026 term is Tuesday, September 8. Students must complete their registration and begin attending classes no later than Friday, September 18. Those who do not meet this deadline will not be permitted to enroll for the fall 2026 term and must reapply for admission.

No, you cannot. Students must resolve any account holds before course registration begins. Types of holds that can prevent registration:

Transcript Hold: Admitted students must submit final, official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended, including proof of all degrees awarded prior to enrollment in GSAS. If you have a transcript hold, please visit the GSAS Admission’s Office website for information on how to verify your academic credentials and submit official transcripts. 

Immunization Hold: All new students must satisfy the University’s immunization requirements for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), and certify their decision regarding the meningitis vaccine. If you have an immunization hold, please visit the Immunization Compliance Office website for information on how to resolve.

Columbia’s Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) is an excellent resource for students who will be living off campus. OCHA provides information about renting apartments in New York, operates a database for University-managed sublets, and offers a “roommate board” where students may search for roommates and open rooms.

Please visit the Financing Your Education section of the GSAS website to learn about financing options for MA students. You may also consult your program about discipline-specific opportunities. External resources, such as Candid, may also be helpful.