SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

How to Apply

Initial Application Process

The application process for financial aid is relatively simple and ultimately consists of two steps (However, we urge you to read all financial aid materials carefully and make note of all important dates):

1. Complete the SIPA Financial Aid Questionnaire
2. Apply for the different types of Financial Aid you intend to use in financing your education and submit all supporting documentation to our office.

Depending on your eligibility, you may complete applications for the aid types described below:

SIPA Fellowships

SIPA has an endowment, which we use to award funding to students.  All applicants are eligible for consideration regardless of citizenship.  It is important to meet deadlines to be considered.  

Prospective Students

Prospective students are automatically considered for every award SIPA provides to first- year students by completing and submitting an admission application.   Simply answer all of the questions in the admission application and you are applying for SIPA first-year fellowships.

Continuing Students

In order to be considered for SIPA fellowships, current students, including those who received support in their first year, must submit an application by the date set by the Office of Student Affairs. Applications will be made available online and information sessions will be scheduled to provide information about the process.

External Fellowships

Many SIPA students have been successful at securing external fellowship support toward their costs of attending graduate school. Many of these scholarships are described in the SIPA directory of external fellowship opportunities (see link in the right hand menu). If you are awarded an external fellowship, it is your responsibility to notify the SIPA financial aid office in writing.

United States Government Funding

Federal aid is available only to United States citizens and permanent residents (green card holders).

Completing the Application Process for U.S. Federal Aid (U.S. citizens and permanent residents)

1) FAFSA. Your application for U.S. Federal Aid begins only when you submit your FAFSA to the U.S. government, which provides the government with information on your financial resources.

All applicants should file the FAFSA by April 15th to be given full consideration for federal funds, however, as federal processing time may be as long as six weeks, and since many Federal Aid programs have limited award budgets, we urge you to submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible.  You may need the previous year’s federal income tax return, including W-2 or earnings statement to complete the FAFSA.

• Applicants must include Columbia’s Department of Education code number, 002707, in the school listing section of the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available beginning in mid-December at all colleges, local libraries, high schools in the United States, and on the Web. If you applied for financial aid in the previous year, you should receive a renewal application or a PIN number from the Department of Education in December. The PIN number is only required for renewal applications.
  
• The FAFSA can be completed online. The Web address for the Department of Education is: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please remember to print, sign, and mail the signature page to the Department of Education Processing Center. It will not be processed without the signature page. If you already received a PIN number, you may use that instead of mailing the signature page.

2) SAR (the Federal Government's response to your FAFSA). Within six weeks of submitting a completed FAFSA, including the signature sheet, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR). SIPA will also receive the data electronically if you included SIPA (code number, 002707) as a recipient on your application.  

Check the SAR for accuracy, and if corrections are necessary, make them on the FAFSA Web site. You should receive a corrected copy within three weeks. SIPA will also receive the corrected information electronically.

You may be asked to contact your school or to submit other types of documentation. The following are some of the most commonly requested forms: 

• Signed copies of a federal income tax return (and spouse’s return if you are married and separate returns were filed);
• A verification statement;
• Any other verification documents requested by the Financial Aid Office;
• If you have previously defaulted on an educational loan, documentation to verify that you have repaid the debt or are no longer considered in default;
• A copy of your permanent resident alien card if you are an eligible non-citizen;
• Further verification of your registration status with Selective Service indicating your registration number or your exemption from registration status.
• You will receive a "missing information letter" if additional information is required. It is your responsibility to provide correct and complete information.

Please respond promptly to all requests for information, as this prevents delays in processing. 

If the FAFSA is correct and requires no further action on your part, SIPA will use the data to calculate your financial aid award.

Meeting Educational Expenses

Domestic and International students can apply for loan funds to meet educational expenses. The amount that an applicant may apply for is described as "Un-met Financial Need" in the SIPA Financial Aid Notification you receive once packaged for aid as a current students or admitted applicant.

The term "Un-met Financial Need" is meant to imply that there are different alternatives that individuals can pursue based on their particular circumstances to fund their education up to the Cost of Attendance less any other aid received. For example domestic applicants can apply for Federal or private loans. International students can consider loans through banks in their home country or through banks based in the United States.

In both cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to initiate the process to get loan approval. Once the loan has been approved the applicant or student should contact our office to let us know.

For a full explanation of 'Un-Met Financial Need', please click here.