University-Based Aid

Institutional aid or university-based aid refers to aid managed and awarded by Columbia University as a central entity or independently at each of the University's schools. Such aid usually takes the form of grants offered to students to cover a portion of the cost of attendance. 

There is another form of institutional aid that is managed centrally and frequently funded by external organizations. That centrally managed aid comes in the form of interschool fellowships. These fellowships are typically need-based awards that are not restricted to students in one Columbia school or college. Award amounts will vary. 


Application Process

Students interested in applying for any of the below fellowships must contact their respective school financial aid office. Please submit all the necessary documents as required by each fellowship.

The financial aid offices submit the names of potential recipients to the Office of University Financial Aid for review and possible awards. The financial aid offices are notified of the recipients within two months of their submission and are responsible for the release of funds.


 

Available Fellowships

This scholarship is intended to benefit the children, adopted children, and step-children of the employees of Boston-based Houghton-Mifflin Company, its  subsidiaries, or successor companies. The minimum amount of a scholarship is $1,000 for a school year, and increased according to the needs of the candidate.  This fellowship is available to graduate or undergraduate students.

Required Documentation: Letter from employer verifying eligibility

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund is available for students pursuing graduate level programs in the study of the the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences (including law, medicine, engineering, architecture or other formal professional training).

Learn more about the application guidelines on their website

The George W. Ellis Fellowship is available to graduate students who are residents of Vermont or who have graduated from an accredited Vermont college or university.

Required documentation:

  • Residents of Vermont should provide a copy of taxes, driver’s license, or voter registration documentation.
  • Graduates from a Vermont college should provide a copy of their academic transcript.

This fellowship is available to female graduate students at Columbia who are graduating from or graduated from the University of Nebraska.

Required Documentation:

  • A copy of the student’s transcript from the University of Nebraska
  • A letter of reference from a faculty member of the University of Nebraska

The Lydia C. Chamberlain Fellowship is available for students who resided at any time in the State of Iowa and graduated from a college or university located in the State of Iowa. The award is based on scholastic standing, seriousness of purpose, moral character and real need of financial help and would be used to pursue advanced and graduate studies in Columbia University.

Any person(s) awarded a Lydia C. Chamberlain Graduate Fellowship shall give to Columbia University due notice in writing of acceptance of the fellowship AND shall also state acceptance of the intention to return to the State of IOWA for a period of at least two years upon completion of studies at Columbia University or upon the expiration of the fellowship. If any person so appointed shall fail to register at Columbia University in accordance with its generally applicable rules for timely registration, his fellowship shall be deemed vacant and a new fellow shall be appointed in his / her place. The stipends provided by this award are intended for the payment of the tuition and fees at Columbia University.

Please note: this award is open to all students EXCEPT those students studying law, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or theology.

Required Documentation:

  • A copy of the student’s transcript from the Iowa institution
  • Upon acceptance of the award, applicant must submit in writing the intention to return to the State of Iowa for period of 2 years.

This scholarship is to benefit a male or female student in area of the University who has attended college or university in Greece. It is available to graduate or undergraduate students for two years.

Required Documentation:

  • An affidavit or transcript

The Richard T. Wamser Fellowship is available to male and female undergraduate students of Native American descent. Students must work at least 10-20 hours per week during the term they receive assistance from the fund.

Required Documentation:

  • To verify that the student meets the criterion, please provide one of the below:
  • Certification of Report of Birth issued by Dept. of State (DS-1350)
  • U.S. Citizen ID Card (I-197 or I-179)
  • Native American tribal documents
  • Students involved in athletic activities should include a written statement outlining their participation. 

This fellowship is to benefit Estonian-speaking students attending Columbia. The fellowship cannot be greater than $2,000 annually.

It is available to graduate or undergraduate students.

Required documentation: To verify that the student speaks Estonian, please submit a letter from the NY Estonian House located at 243 East 34th Street, New York NY 10016.

The Shardashish Interschool Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the UNM (Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta) Foundation. The UNM Foundation is committed to expanding educational opportunities at all levels. Believing that education and health are cornerstones of societal development, particularly in a developing country like India, the UNM Foundation expends significant resources in both these areas. 

The intention of the Shardashish fellowship at Columbia University is to make available the best of global educational opportunities to bright and committed students who are economically challenged. Beneficiaries of “Shardashish” (blessings of Mother of Knowledge) must push their existing boundaries to achieve and excel. The expectation of Shardashish fellows is that they will maximize their learning opportunities and once successful will pay it forward, through enabling others.

For more information on this fellowship, visit the Shardashish Interschool Fellowship page on the Office of the Provost website.