Non-Degree, Advanced Certificate, and Non-Credit Applications

Admission as a Non-Degree Student

Non-degree status is available to applicants holding a baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. International applicants must hold the equivalent of a 120-credit U.S. baccalaureate degree. The non-degree application is available online at tc.edu/apply. The components of a non-degree application include:

Completed and Signed Online Application Form
$75 Non-Refundable Application Fee
Academic Transcripts and Evaluations: Applicants are required to submit official transcripts reflecting a conferred baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree and all academic courses and grades. For current requirements regarding transcript submission, visit the Office of Admission website at tc.edu/apply. Applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree at an institution outside of the United States are required to submit an official course-by-course evaluation. Please see the “International Applicants” section for further detail.
English Proficiency Tests: If an applicant’s native language is not English and they have not received a baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree from an institution where English was the sole official language of instruction, they must submit official scores from an accepted English proficiency exam. We accept the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the Duolingo English Test (DET).
If an applicant has not earned an undergraduate degree at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction, but they have successfully completed a graduate degree at a school that meets this requirement, they are not required to submit official results from an accepted English proficiency exam. If an applicant meets these conditions, in order to qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/DET exam waiver, evidence of their conferred graduate degree must be displayed on the relevant academic transcript or course-by-course evaluation. Applicants who meet this criteria must reach out to the Office of Admission at admission@tc.columbia.edu to request an English proficiency exam waiver. For more information and score requirements, visit tc.edu/admission/how-to-apply/international-applicants .
Supplemental Application Requirements: Some programs require additional application materials. For more information, visit tc.edu/programs.

A non-degree student may take up to 16 points as long as the academic standards of the College are met. Once the 16 point maximum is met, the non-degree student must either:

Apply to and be admitted to a Teachers College degree program, or
Obtain approval from the Registrar for continued registration under non-degree status.

Admission to non-degree status implies no commitment for admission to a degree, advanced certificate, or non-credit program. Should a non-degree student become a degree candidate, a maximum of 16 points (8 in the major field) taken in non-degree status may be applied toward a degree program, if approved by the program.

For more information about applying as a non-degree student, visit tc.edu/admission/how-to-apply/non-degree-programs/.

Admission as an Advanced Certificate Student

Advanced certificate status is available to applicants holding, or in the process of obtaining, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. International applicants must hold, or be in the process of obtaining, the equivalent of a 120-credit U.S. baccalaureate degree. Some advanced certificate programs require coursework or degree completion beyond the baccalaureate degree; for specific information, visit tc.edu/programs.

The advanced certificate application is available online at tc.edu/apply. The components of an advanced certificate application include:

Completed and Signed Online Application Form
$75 Non-Refundable Application Fee
Statement of Purpose
Résumé
Academic Transcripts and Evaluations: Applicants are required to submit up-to-date transcripts reflecting a complete academic history, including all undergraduate and graduate coursework they have completed. For current requirements regarding transcript submission, visit the Office of Admission website at tc.edu/apply.. Applicants who have completed, or are completing, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees at institutions outside of the United States are required to submit an official course-by-course evaluation. Please see the “International Applicants” section for further detail.
English Proficiency Tests: If an applicant’s native language is not English and they have not received a baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree from an institution where English was the sole official language of instruction, they must submit official scores from an accepted English proficiency exam. We accept the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the Duolingo English Test (DET).
If an applicant has not earned an undergraduate degree at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction, but they have successfully completed a graduate degree at a school that meets this requirement, they are not required to submit official results from an accepted English proficiency exam. If an applicant meets these conditions, in order to qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/DET exam waiver, evidence of their conferred graduate degree must be displayed on the relevant academic transcript or course-by-course evaluation. Applicants who meet this criteria must reach out to the Office of Admission at admission@tc.columbia.edu to request an English proficiency exam waiver. For more information and score requirements, visit tc.edu/admission/how-to-apply/international-applicants
Supplemental Application Requirements: Some programs require additional application materials. For more information, visit tc.edu/programs.

Admission to an advanced certificate implies no commitment for admission to a degree, non-degree, or non-credit program.

For more information about applying as an advanced certificate student, visit tc.edu/admission/how-to-apply/advanced-certificate-programs/.

Admission as a Non-Credit Student

Refer to the TC Academy website at tc.edu/tcacademy for more information about non-credit options at Teachers College.

Admission to a non-credit program implies no commitment for admission to a degree, non-degree, or advanced certificate program.