Application Information

Unofficial transcripts (uploaded by applicant) are used during application review. 

Official transcripts must be sent directly from your institution, preferably electronically to ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu, or mailed to the address below. Official transcripts are only required for admitted applicants who decide to join our program. IHN staff will upload official documents to your application. 

• For matriculating students, official transcripts must be received before the academic year begins. Failure to do so may affect course registration and admissions decisions.

International transcripts must be translated to the US grading system via:

• World Education Services
• Education Credential Evaluators
• Exceptions apply for programs already using the US grading system.

Transcript Mailing Address: 

Electronic: ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu

Paper: 
Institute of Human Nutrition, c/o Admissions
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
630 W168th Street, PH1512 East
New York, NY 10032

Applicants may be in the process of completing their degree at the time of application. Final, degree-awarding transcripts can be submitted after application decisioning. Please contact admissions at ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu with transcript translation questions.

General Chemistry

General Biology

Organic Chemistry (Biochemistry may be accepted in place of Organic Chemistry)

Reference Types

• Letters must come from academic or professional contacts; personal references are not accepted.

• If you earned a degree within the past 5 years, submit at least one academic reference (two are encouraged).

• If it’s been more than 5 years since your last academic program, academic references are encouraged but not required.

Reference Guidelines

• Letters must be submitted by recommenders as PDFs on official letterhead to ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.

• Letters sent through third-party services like Interfolio are accepted.

• To update recommender information, contact the Admissions Office at ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.

• Prompt: Tell us why you are interested in the Institute’s MS program and how it fits your goals.

• Personal statements should be approximately 500 words.

• This document must be in PDF format. Word documents are not accepted.

• A non-refundable $95 application fee is required.

• Fee waivers are available. Contact ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu for details.

• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required for some international applicants.

  • Test Minimum Score

    TOEFL: 100

    IELTS: 7.0

    Duolingo: 135

• Official scores must be sent to:

  • Email: ihnadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu

  • Mailing Address:
    Institute of Human Nutrition, c/o Admissions
    Columbia University Irving Medical Center
    630 W168th Street, PH1512 East
    New York, NY 10032

• Unofficial score reports should be included with your application for initial review.

English proficiency tests are not required if English is your native language or if you completed your degree at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.

Graduate-level test scores (GRE, MCAT, DAT) are recommended if already taken, but not required.

The Admissions Committee may request scores if a decision cannot be made otherwise.

Test score submission codes:

• GRE & DAT: School code 2173, Department code 0214
• MCAT: Submitted using AAMC ID and score report verification code