Doctor of Philosophy in Higher & Postsecondary Education

Tuition fees are 53,576 USD per year, while the application deadline for the Sep 2026 intake is Dec 1, 2026.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Higher & Postsecondary Education program prepares scholars and researchers in the field of higher education. It focuses on teaching, learning, organizational and institutional analysis, policy, and the social and comparative contexts of tertiary education. Students develop programs of study, conduct original scholarly research, and receive training in teaching the field.

Focus areas include policy, scholarly learning and careers, student development, professional development.

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 75 points, distributed across core coursework, research methods, a disciplinary cognate, electives, a certification exam, and a dissertation.

Graduates pursue careers as academic faculty, administrators, policy analysts, and educational researchers.

Admission requires a Master's degree, transcripts, three letters of recommendation (at least two academic), an academic writing sample, a statement of purpose, resume, and an application fee. English proficiency test results are required for international applicants if applicable.

The programme totals about 75 credit hours. Campus-based, available in full-time or part-time formats. Full-time students typically complete the program in four to five years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 4% of applicants.

Columbia’s work spans research, teaching, public engagement, and professional preparation. Current university activity includes engineering research on a chip that mimics how cancer spreads, work connected to fusion energy, and a medical center alongside libraries, arts, and athletics. Careers, summer courses, academic calendars, and campus access are part of the university’s public-facing academic life.

The university’s story reaches from the American Revolution to space exploration. Telescopes served the revolutionary cause, while later Columbians worked with seismometers on the moon and satellites in orbit. That history is tied to a continuing emphasis on asking questions, following evidence, and searching for answers across fields.

Campus life is closely connected to New York City. Columbia presents its Morningside campus as a place to learn about university life and the city around it, with opportunities to explore campus access, libraries, arts, athletics, and the Medical Center. The university also works with government and community partners through its Office of Government and Community Affairs. Students from abroad should expect a campus experience shaped by both Columbia’s academic resources and its location in New York City.