Columbia Physics

PhD Registration Process

All doctoral students in Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) are required to maintain continuous registration throughout their program. Each semester, students must register for the appropriate enrollment category through Vergil, ensuring they remain in good academic standing and maintain access to university resources and services.  For general information regarding registration periods the Academic Calendar.

NOTE: The degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is conferred upon a student who has fulfilled all PhD requirements except the dissertation; post-MPhil, students are not eligible to enroll in classes except in rare circumstances when the department has deemed a course to be essential for a student’s dissertation research.

Continuous Registration

Continuous registration is a fundamental requirement of doctoral study. Students must remain registered every fall and spring semester until all degree requirements have been completed or their time-to-degree limit has been reached. Registration reflects a student's academic status and degree progress, regardless of whether they are actively taking coursework.

Students who begin full-time employment before completing their degree remain subject to GSAS continuous registration requirements and are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion.

Registration Through Vergil

Registration is completed through Columbia's student information system, Vergil,. Students may register only during their assigned registration appointment times and should consult both their faculty advisor and the Department of Physics when selecting courses and enrollment categories.

When registering, students will need the appropriate five-digit call numbers available through the Directory of Classes and Vergil Course Search. Course availability, prerequisites, and departmental permissions should be reviewed before registration begins.

Occasionally, an advanced doctoral student begins a full-time position prior to distributing or defending their dissertation.  Students in such situations should be aware of the following:

  1. The continuous registration requirement remains in effect until all requirements are completed or the time-to-degree limit has been reached as noted above.
  2. Students will be held to the same expectations for academic progress as all other students.
  3. Students may not receive GSAS funding while employed full-time unless the student has guaranteed funding remaining.  In such circumstances, GSAS will cover the student’s M&F tuition and health fees.  The term in which such funding is received will count towards the total number of guaranteed semesters.
  4. Students who accept full-time employment at Columbia may not simultaneously also serve as a student officer.  Similarly, students who have received a GSAS stipend in the semester in which they start a full-time position at Columbia will have their stipends pro-rated based on the start date of the full-time position.
  5. Students who accept full-time employment at Columbia may not stay in Columbia Residential housing beyond the end of the semester in which they start the new position.

To register, you will need a course's five-digit call number, which is available in Vergil or the Directory of Classes. When registering, you should follow the guidelines and requirements of your department or program and consult with your advisor. Additionally, individual courses may be restricted to students in a particular program only, or may require completion of prerequisites and/or permission from the department or instructor; these and any other special instructions will be listed in the course entry. For Physics PhD students you will find your registration course options by:

  • Visiting the Directory of Classes
  • Navigating to the "G" option under course Listings by department
  • Select "Graduate School of Arts and Sciences" and the Term you are registering for
  • All options will then be displayed. 

Residence Unit (RU)

Residence Units are intended for students who are completing coursework requirements and those within their first six semesters of doctoral study. The successful completion of six Residence Units is required for advancement to the M.Phil. degree and ultimately the Ph.D. degree. Two Residence Units contribute toward the M.A. degree earned en route to the doctorate.

Extended Residence (ER)

Extended Residence is typically used by students who have completed their initial six semesters and are actively engaged in research, teaching, or other approved academic appointments, including Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Research Fellows, and Core Preceptors.

Full-Time Summer Research

Students serving as Research Assistants during the summer term should register under the Full-Time Summer Research category. Students supported by external fellowships or serving solely as Teaching Assistants during the summer generally do not need to register for the summer term.

**Note: Students who are acting as Teaching Assistants during the summer term do not need to register. In addition, students who have an fellowship or award external to Columbia (ie. NSF, DOE, etc) do not need to register during summer.

Doctoral students may register for a maximum of 20 credits per semester. Any enrollment beyond this limit requires approval from both the Director of Graduate Studies and GSAS. Students may also add or drop courses during the designated Change of Program period at the beginning of each semester.

For more information about these registration categories, click here.

Two Residence Units are required for the MA earned as part of a PhD degree; four additional Residence Units, for a total of six overall, are required for the MPhil, PhD, and DMA degrees.

PhD students may not register for more than 20 credits per semester. Credits in excess of 20 must by approved by both the DGS and the GSAS Office of Student Affairs.

You may add or drop courses without penalty through the first two weeks of the semester, known as the Change of Program period. For more information, see the Registrar's website.

Please note that your registration is not complete until you also register for an enrollment category, which affects your tuition bill. For more information on how Residence Units affect your tuition bill, please click here.