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Logo with a crown symbol at the top left corner, and text reading 'Columbia Summer Institute for Dialogue & Civic Practice' on a dark blue background.

Application & Tuition

Our program catalogue inlcudes the following courses:

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Foundations of Dialogue Course
April 11, 18, 25, & May 2, 2026

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Advanced Dialogue and Research Courses
July 6-17, 2026
▹ July 27 - August 7, 2026

Eligibility

High school students (current and rising 11th-, 12th-, and post-12th-graders) are eligible for our programs. We do not currently offer a residential option with on-campus housing. Please note that seats for our programs are limited to keep class sizes small.

Requirements

Applicants will be asked to submit the following materials:

  • A nomination letter from a high school instructor/advisor/counselor OR a self-nomination. Self-nominations are short essay questions of ca. 350 words uploaded to the application portal.

  • Copy of the most recent high school transcript or a report card.

  • CV or resume with work experience, school, and extracurricular activities.

Deadlines

    • Rolling Admissions Begin:
      January 19, 2026

    • Application Deadline:
      March 1, 2026

    • Rolling Admissions Begin:
      January 19, 2026

    • Application Deadline:
      April 1, 2026

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Note: We begin admitting candidates to our courses on a rolling admissions basis when applications open. Applicants are advised not to wait until the final deadline. Late submissions may not be considered for an active admissions cycle.

Applicants may extend requests to their recommenders as soon as they are ready to apply. A grace period of 1 week will be given for the receipt of nominations after the deadline. Incomplete applications cannot be reviewed and given full consideration.

Tuition

Foundations of Dialogue Course

Program Tuition $2000
Course Materials $100
Health Fee $30

TOTAL $2130

Advanced Dialogue and Research Course

Program Tuition $3820
Course Materials $100
Health Fee $30

TOTAL $3950

We are offering a 25% early-bird discount on applications received for the Foundations course by February 22 and for our Advanced courses by March 22.

Deposit
Accepted applicants must submit a non-refundable $1,000 deposit, credited towards tuition when they accept our admissions offer.

Course Policies

Payments and Financial Responsibility
After the deposit has been paid, admitted students will receive a Parent Responsibility Agreement and an invoice for the remaining balance. The remaining balance is due two weeks before the program start date. We require parents/guardians to take responsibility for their students' tuition in accordance with a university-wide policy for minors. An agreement will be provided to students for their parents to sign and return. The sample version of the form can be viewed here.

Attendance Policy
If students are unable to attend on any day of the program, please let us know as soon as possible. Keep in mind that we cannot prorate or discount tuition, or offer special materials to cover missed classes. Personal emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Withdrawal Policy
Students must ensure they can attend before accepting their offer. Students who accept their offer and begin the program have two days to withdraw without penalty (non-refundable deposit excluded). If withdrawal occurs after 5:00 pm on the second day of the program, students are responsible for the full tuition. Please contact our program staff if you have any concerns.

More Questions?
Please read our FAQ page.

Ready?
Click below to submit your application.