Requirements

Requirements

For additional information on some of the application elements mentioned above, look through the drop-down elements below.

*Letters of recommendation may be waived for those who are Teachers College or Columbia students or graduates.

** If you are not a native speaker of either of the two program languages, you will have to submit proof of language proficiency. 

 

  • For non-native English speakers: An English language score may be waived for those who have received a bachelor’s/master's degree from an EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) university OR who are currently enrolled in a master’s program at an EMI university.
  • For non-native Chinese speakers: A Chinese language score may be waived for those who have received a bachelor’s/master's degree from a CMI (Chinese as a Medium of Instruction) university OR who are currently enrolled in a master’s program at a CMI university.

 

Language Score Requirements:

  • Non-native speakers of English should submit ONE of the following English proficiency score reports:
    • TOEFL iBT: 90
    • TOEFL cBT: 233
    • IELTS: 6.0
    • TOEIC: 700
  • Non-native speakers of Chinese should submit a standardized Chinese proficiency test report:
    • HSK: Level 5 or 6

Application Materials and Procedures

Step 1: Application Submission

All the required application items must be emailed as attachments to the Center for International Foreign Language Teacher Education (CIFLTE) at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu by the appropriate deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered for admission review. 

Application Form

TCSOL Certificate Program Application Form (If you have trouble accessing the application form, please email ciflte@tc.columbia.edu.)

Statement of Purpose  

You must submit a personal statement of about 500 words, documenting your professional interests, goals, and reasons for applying to the TCSOL Program. The personal statement may also include information on your education background and any prior experience in language teaching. For those whose native language is Chinese, the statement of purpose should be written in English; otherwise it should be written in Chinese.

Language Proficiency Tests

If you are not a native speaker of either of the two program languages, you will have to submit proof of language proficiency for your non-native language(s). Please see the specific requirements below. 

- English Language Proficiency Test (for non-native English speakers)

All applicants must demonstrate English language ability, as courses will be conducted largely in English. For specific requirements on minimum English proficiency test scores, please refer to the Language Score Requirements section above. In general, we ask that language scores be less than three years old. 

If you do not have an English proficiency test score (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC), please contact the CIFLTE office at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu to schedule an online interview via Zoom, which will determine if you are proficient enough to succeed in the program.

If you have already obtained, or are in the process of obtaining, an M.A. or Ph.D. degree from an institution in an English-speaking country, the English language proficiency test requirement can be waived for you. To request a waiver, please email a request to CIFLTE at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu.

- Chinese Language Proficiency Test (for non-native Chinese speakers)

Applicants must demonstrate Chinese language ability if they are non-native speakers. In general, non-native speakers of Chinese must demonstrate proficiency at an HSK-5 level or higher. In general, we ask that language scores be less than three years old. 

If you do not have a Chinese proficiency test score, please contact the CIFLTE office at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu to schedule an online interview via Zoom, which will determine if you are proficient enough to succeed in the program. You will be informed of your interview results within three business days following your interview.

If you have already obtained, or are in the process of obtaining, an M.A. or Ph.D. degree from a Chinese-language institution, your test may be waived. To request a waiver, please email a request to CIFLTE at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu.

Two Letters of Recommendation

As part of the application, you must submit two letters of recommendation that can attest to your personal strengths, academic merits, and overall ability to succeed in the program. Referees should email their letters of recommendation directly to ciflte@tc.columbia.edu rather than forwarding them to the applicant. It is highly recommended that you contact your referees early so as to allow them enough time to write and submit their letters of recommendation.

Application Fee Payment

Your application is not considered complete until you have submitted your application fee. The priority deadline is January 15, 2024; if you apply on or before this date, the application fee is $100. Applications submitted after this date (and before the final deadline of April 15) is $150. Please  email your receipt along with other application materials to ciflte@tc.columbia.edu. 

Payment can be made by credit card here. Please do not hesitate to contact CIFLTE at ciflte@tc.columbia.edu should you encounter any problems in making the payment.

Step 2: Application Review and Decision Notification

Applications will be reviewed only after all the required application materials are received and the application fee is submitted. To expedite the application process, you are advised to plan ahead and submit your application materials early. Once an application decision has been made, we will inform you of your application result via email.

Step 3: Accepting the Offer and Tuition Payment

To confirm your acceptance of the offer and to hold your place in the program, you must make a $1,000 (non-refundable) deposit prior to the specified deadline in your offer letter. To make a payment, please click here. The remaining tuition is usually due before mid September, prior to the start of the New Student Orientation. A $100 late fee will be incurred for any payment made past the specified deadlines.

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