About Columbia University
Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.
For more than 250 years, Columbia has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world. At the core of our wide range of academic inquiry is the commitment to attract and engage the best minds in pursuit of greater human understanding, pioneering new discoveries and service to society.
About Columbia Summer
Founded in 1900, the Summer Sessions at Columbia University are one of the longest-running summer programs in the country, with courses taught by the world-renowned faculty of New York City's only Ivy League institution.
A wide range of undergraduate-level and graduate-level courses, certificates, and programs in over 50 areas of study are available for international students. Classes are held on Columbia’s beautiful campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, and as a student, you will gain access to all campus facilities, including one of the largest academic library systems in the country, computer labs, the gym and fitness center, as well as numerous nearby cafés and lounges.
Course listings for Summer 2026 will be available HERE. In order to be eligible for a student (F-1) visa, students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents must maintain full-time status by registering for at least 6 points of credit-bearing courses in the six-week session.
Program Date
HKUST-nominated students can only participate in Session B.
Session B: 6 July to 14 August 2026 (6 weeks)
Notes:
- Host Institutions may provide orientation activities for students, with some mandatory, which you should attend. You are required to pay attention to the host institution's arrival information and arrive in time.
- You should only depart after completion of the program (i.e. finishing all final examinations and/or assessments, both compulsory and optional ones).
Fees
This is a fee-paying program and HKUST students will bear the program fee and the costs for accommodation, travel, visa, insurance, personal expenses and other fees incurred by the program. Please CLICK HERE for more information.
| Fees |
Amount
Fees listed below are for Summer 2025 only.
2026 rates will be updated soon. Students should expect a modest increase in some or all of these rates. |
| Application fee |
USD 80 |
| Tuition (for 6 points) |
~ USD 15,500
|
| Student Activities Fee |
USD 300 |
Eligibility
HKUST students must apply through the Office of Global Learning. Individual direct application to the host institution will not be accepted. You are eligible to apply for the program if you:
You may also find the details on application process and selection criteria under HKUST Summer Study Abroad Program brochure page.
Visa Information
In order to be eligible for a student (F-1) visa, students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents must maintain full-time status by registering for at least 6 points of credit-bearing courses in any of the six-week sessions. Please CLICK HERE for more information.
Health Insurance
International students who are attending courses for 8 weeks or longer, or students who register for 12 points or more are required to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Insurance. For details, please CLICK HERE.
HKUST students who take part in the University's study abroad programs will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Plan. Please CLICK HERE for details.
Accommodation
HKUST students must stay in one of the accommodation options offered by the host institution (if applicable). If you choose not to stay in any of them, you must obtain a pre-approval from HKUST by emailing OGL at study.abroad@ust.hk.
For high priority on the list of University housing, you must complete an application for admission and a separate application for housing and submit them at the same time. Rooms will be assigned on a rolling basis until all available rooms are filled.
For details, please CLICK HERE.
