Apply for Aid

Apply for Financial Aid

Joint Bachelor's Degree Program students are charged the tuition rate of the institution they are currently attending. Similarly, JBDP students are awarded institutional scholarships by the institution in which they are enrolled. Where eligible, students will receive institutional scholarships directly from CityUHK for the first two years of the Program. Similarly, if eligible, students will receive institutional scholarships directly from the Columbia University School of General Studies for the second two years of the Program. GS institutional aid for Dual BA Program students is assessed based on need. 

Applying for financial aid is entirely optional and is not a requirement for admission to the JBDP. Your application for financial aid has no impact on our admissions decisions. However, for those who are interested we strongly recommend that students apply for financial aid concurrently with their admissions application. This ensures that all necessary financial resources are in place if you are admitted, allowing for a smoother transition and better planning for your educational expenses. If you have any questions or need assistance with the financial aid process, our office is here to help.

Financial Aid Application Process

The financial aid application process differs for incoming and continuing JBDP students. Please view the financial aid timeline for a breakdown of important dates for both applicants and current students. 

A variety of financial aid options are available at both CityUHK and the Columbia University School of General Studies. For more information about the types of aid available and how to apply, please see Types of Aid.

Applicants

CSS Profile

The Joint Bachelor's Degree Program scholarship committee requires that all students applying for institutional aid submit the CSS Profile, regardless of their country of citizenship.

Students applying for admission who wish to request scholarship funding from either CityUHK or Columbia University must submit this documentation by February 15.

The CSS Profile is not required to apply for U.S.-based federal student aid. The CSS Profile is only required for students who wish to be considered for institutional aid. Applicants are not required to submit a CSS profile if they do not wish to be considered for institutional aid.

To be considered for institutional aid, prospective students should complete the 2026-2027 CSS Profile using Columbia University’s General Studies CSS School Code: 2095.

For consideration for GS institutional aid, complete family and parental information is required on the CSS Profile application from both custodial and non-custodial parents. If the parents have separate households (unmarried, separated, or divorced,) complete financial information for both parental households must be provided on the application.

For additional information, including tips and tutorials on creating a parent account and completing the CSS profile, visit the College Board website: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org.

In addition to the CSS Profile, all U.S. citizens or permanent residents applying for financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15.

The Columbia University FAFSA code is 002707.

Current Students: Years Three and Four

Continuing students are required to submit the documentation listed below to be eligible for financial aid from the School of General Studies. The below documents must be submitted prior to years two, three, and four of the Dual BA Program.  

Deadlines

All financial aid application documents noted below must be completed annually by April 1.

CSS Profile (students entering Year 3 only) 

The Dual BA Program scholarship committee requires that all students applying for institutional aid submit the CSS Profile, regardless of their country of citizenship.

The CSS Profile is not required to apply for U.S.-based federal student aid. The CSS Profile is only required for students who wish to be considered for institutional aid. Applicants are not required to submit a CSS profile if they do not wish to be considered for institutional aid.

To be considered for GS institutional aid, prospective students should complete the 2026-2027 CSS Profile using Columbia University’s General Studies CSS School Code: 2095. Complete family and parental information is required on the CSS Profile application from both custodial and non-custodial parents. If the parents have separate households (unmarried, separated, or divorced,) complete financial information for both parental households must be provided on the application.

For additional information, including tips and tutorials on creating a parent account and completing the CSS profile, visit the College Board website: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org.

GS Scholarship Application (for years 3 and 4) 

The GS Scholarship Application is available in early spring each year on the School of General Studies website. Scholarships are awarded based on full-time enrollment. Students who may enroll less than full-time should meet with the Financial Aid Office and their Academic Advisor.

In addition to the GS Scholarship Application and Planned Enrollment Form, U.S. citizens or permanent residents applying for financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students who have questions or concerns about this information, or who seek financial aid advising for years three and four of the Dual BA Program, may schedule an advising appointment to speak with someone in the GS Office of Educational Financing.