| THE COSTS BILLED BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY VIA STUDENT SERVICE ONLINE (SSOL) | |
| Fall Semester | |
| Tuition per semester | $22,808 |
| Document (transcript) fee | $105 |
| Total billed to Columbia account | $22,913 |
| THE COSTS BILLED BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY VIA STUDENT SERVICE ONLINE (SSOL) | |
| Academic Year | |
| Tuition per semester | $22,808 |
| Document (transcript) fee | $105 |
| Total billed to Columbia account for full year | $45,721 |
Tuition: You are responsible for paying the BCGS tuition and fees directly to Columbia University. Tuition is billed each semester, while the document fee is billed only once. The fall tuition invoice will be sent via e-bill from Columbia in mid-August 2026 and will be due mid-September 2026. The spring tuition invoice will be sent in mid-December 2026 and due in mid-January 2027.
Your official bill will be sent directly to your Columbia email address. Tuition is all-inclusive of your academic instruction, course excursions, most materials, and select local transportation and cultural activities. Please budget separately for personal expenses not covered by tuition, such as housing, meals, airfare, medical insurance, and extracurricular travel.
Document (transcript) Fee: This one-time official transcript fee is charged to new students; afterward, transcripts are free.
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses are not billed by Columbia. The estimated amounts in this section provide a basis for students to determine their individual budgets for expenses related to their time overseas for the duration of the program. The below estimate is an average of what students say they actually spend. These expenses are NOT paid to the program.
| Fall Students: OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES NOT BILLED TO STUDENTS (ESTIMATED) | |
Meals | $2,000-$3,000 |
| Housing | $2,415-$5,600 |
Local Transportation | $100 |
| Visa | $0-$110 |
| Books and Course Materials | $210 |
| Cell phone | $265 |
| Airfare | $1,200 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,000 |
| Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses (range, depending on housing choice) | $9,190 -$13,485 |
| Academic Year Students: OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES NOT BILLED TO STUDENTS (ESTIMATED) | |
Meals | $4,000- $5,500 |
| Housing | $5,750 - $11,200 |
Local Transportation | $210 |
| Visa | $0-110 |
| Books and Course Materials | $450 |
| Cell phone | $525 |
| Airfare | $2,400 |
| Personal Expenses | $6,500 |
| Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses (range, depending on housing choice) | $19,835-$26,895 |
Meals: The cost for meals and food will vary widely depending on individual spending habits. Costs can be kept down by preparing their own meals and only eating out occasionally. Academic Year costs are based on 11 months and fall term costs are based on 5 months.
Housing: All students will live in pre-arranged housing. The figures above reflect an estimated average for the various housing options noted on the program webpage in "Life in Berlin".
Local Transportation: Students will be responsible for paying for transportation to and from the airport in Berlin at the start and end of the program. Students pay for their first month of local transportation and then it is covered by the program for the rest of the semester.
Visa: Students are responsible for visa fees, which vary in cost depending on citizenship.
Cellphone: All students are required to have a working cell phone capable of making and receiving both local and international calls throughout the duration of the program.
Airfare: For academic year students, the estimated cost of two round-trip airfare from NYC to Berlin is calculated into the cost above. For Fall-Term students, the estimated cost is for one round-trip airfare from NYC to Berlin. Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements from their preferred departure city to the program.
As part of the program, you will be covered for urgent and emergent care while you are abroad. Routine and preventive care is not included so you should maintain a health insurance policy that will provide coverage outside the U.S. or your home country. This cost is not included in the chart above.