Affiliated PhD Programs

Columbia-Teachers College Joint Program in Applied Anthropology

In 1968, Teachers College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Columbia University initiated and implemented a joint program in applied anthropology. The joint venture trains graduate students registered at either graduate school. By this agreement, all applied anthropological training at Columbia University is administered through Teachers College. The joint program offers a course of study and thorough training in applied anthropology that is certified by both institutions.

The PhD program in Applied Anthropology is for those who plan to engage in scholarly writing and research; applied research and evaluation; or teaching and administrative responsibilities at colleges, universities, professional schools of education and medicine, research institutes, and state, federal, and international agencies and bureaus. Students design and complete a 75-point course of study, pass the program's certification and language exams, conduct anthropological field research, and write and defend a research proposal and dissertation.

Columbia-Paris Alliance

The Alliance Program is a strategic joint venture between Columbia University and three French Universities: the École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, and the Université Paris 1 Pathéon-Sorbonne. 

Every year the Alliance Call for Joint Projects provides seed grant money—up to $15,000—for transatlantic research projects and/or joint courses teams. The call for projects are open to Columbia applicants from all disciplines. The projects must be presented jointly with at least one faculty member from our partners in France: the École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, or the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Further information can be found on the Columbia Alliance website.

Call for Doctoral Mobility–Paris Alliance

The Call for Doctoral Mobility of the Alliance Program aims to develop PhD students’ mobility to our three French partners (Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sobronne, the École Polytechnique, and Sciences Po) in all disciplines. Columbia students are encouraged to pursue part of their research in one of our French partners for a period of one to three months, under the supervision of a professor in the host university.

Further information can be found on the Columbia Alliance website.

London School of Economics and Political Science-Columbia University PhD Student Exchange Program 

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Trustees of Columbia University have developed an alliance to offer PhD students additional research resources (archival and advisory) and to introduce students to academic culture, professional contacts, and employment opportunities.

Columbia students close to completing their doctoral thesis, or in their second or third year of coursework (prior to fieldwork) with a record of completing their course work satisfactorily are eligible for the exchange. The exchange offers students the opportunity to visit LSE and work informally with one or more advisors at LSE on final thesis revision and/or on publications and presentations. Students also have the opportunity to attend conferences and workshops both within the School and in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Likewise, LSE students in comparable standing are eligible for the exchange. The exchange offers the opportunity to visit Columbia University and work informally with one or more advisors at Columbia University on final thesis revision and/or on publications and presentations. Students also have the opportunity to attend conferences and workshops both within the University and in the United States.

Each exchange is for a minimum of one ten-week LSE term or one Columbia University semester and a maximum of one academic year. The number of exchange students is set at a maximum of two students per year in each direction.

How to Apply

Columbia students visiting LSE will continue to register with Columbia University and pay fees to Columbia University as if they were in full-time attendance. No fee will be payable by Columbia students at LSE.

At LSE, students are registered as Visiting Research Students. They are entitled to attend lectures, seminars, and other academic activities on the same basis as other registered research students at LSE. They work with a designated advisor (supervisor) and they are expected to join in the regular departmental activities for research students, including the weekly research seminar. Students’ supervisors write a brief evaluation at the end of each term and at the end of the visit; this evaluation is discussed with the student. A copy will be countersigned by the head of the Department of Anthropology at LSE and sent by the advisor to the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Columbia University for inclusion in the student’s file.

Columbia students should submit a dossier containing the following materials to the Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Columbia:

  • A one-page, single-spaced statement of academic purpose explaining their progress towards completion of their research, why a visit to LSE would benefit them and what they intend to do in LSE, and indication of which scholar/s at LSE they hope to work with.
  • A letter of support from their PhD sponsor.
  • A note from the head of the Department of Anthropology at LSE confirming that the academic advisor(s) with whom the student intends to work will be able to assume this role at the time of the student's visit.
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
  • Visa status, country of citizenship, place of and date of birth.
  • A letter demonstrating that the student has sufficient funds to live on during the time of the exchange.
  • A completed LSE Graduate Application form can be downloaded from the LSE website

LSE students visiting Columbia will continue to register with LSE and pay fees to LSE as if they were in full-time attendance. No fees other than the mandatory Columbia International Students and Scholars Office administrative processing fee and Columbia health insurance/fees will be payable by LSE students at Columbia.

At Columbia, they will be registered as non-degree exchange students (GFNDGX) by the Assistant Dean for Admissions of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students will be entitled to attend lectures, seminars and other academic activities on the same basis as other registered research students at Columbia. They will work with a designated advisor (supervisor) and they will be expected to join in the regular departmental activities for research students, including the weekly research seminar. Their supervisor will write a brief evaluation at the end of each term and at the end of the visit, which will be discussed with the student. A copy will be countersigned by the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Columbia and sent by the advisor to the head of department of the Department of Anthropology at LSE for inclusion in their file.   

LSE students should submit a dossier containing the following materials to the head of department of the Department of Anthropology at LSE:

  • A one-page, single-spaced application explaining their progress towards completion of their research, why a visit to Columbia would benefit them and what they intend to do in Columbia, and an indication of which scholar/s at Columbia they hope to work with.
  • A letter of support from their supervisor.
  • A note from the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Columbia confirming that the academic advisor(s) with whom the student intends to work will be able to assume this role at the time of the student’s visit.
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
  • Visa status, country of citizenship, place of and date of birth. For United States immigration requirements, MMR [Measles, Mumps, Rubella] or other health requirements. LSE students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents are required to enter the United States in F-1 non-immigrant status.
    • This requires that the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) issue a form I-20 for issuance of the F-1 student visa by the United States Consulate. To be eligible for an I-20, the student must show sufficient funding as required by the ISSO. Further information can be found on the ISSO website.
  • A completed Columbia GSAS Application Form can be downloaded from the Columbia Graduate School website.