Student Exams
Final Examinations are administered at the conclusion of each term. The Final Examination Schedule provides a guide to Final Examinations and is available online.
Final Examination dates may include Religious Holidays for some students. NYS Education Law ยง224-A mandates that Faculty make available an opportunity to make up any Examination missed because of religious observance. To facilitate the preparation of makeup Examinations, students intending to be absent in order to observe any religious holidays must notify the instructor by October 15th in the fall semester and February 15th in the spring semester.
The Schedule of Final Examinations with locations is usually available in mid to late October for the fall semester and early April for the spring semester. Prior to classroom assignments being made, students and Faculty should still consider the posted Final Exam Schedule as the definitive final Examination Schedule. Students may access their individual Examination Schedules in Vergil by clicking on "Schedule," then "My Exam Schedule" after classroom assignments are posted.
Students who have trouble locating a course on the Final Examination Schedule should contact the instructor to make sure the course has a Final Examination.
Information for Students
Students will occasionally have two exams scheduled for the same time. If one of the exams is a departmental exam for a class with several sections, the student should contact the department to arrange a make-up exam. Similarly, no student is obliged to take three exams on any given calendar day. Students with three exams on the same day should print their exam schedule from Vergil and present it to each instructor or department. An attempt will then be made to arrange for one of the instructors to schedule a make-up exam on a different day. Examinations are not rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.
Undergraduate and Non-Degree Classes: Exams must be scheduled, except for seminar classes.
Graduate Classes: Exams are optional.
Each school at the University has a Committee on Instruction. These committees determine examination policies and procedures and publish them in school bulletins. There are three basic examination schedules prepared by the University:
- Columbia College and the School of General Studies
- Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science
- The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the School of International & Public Affairs
The Projected Exam Schedule will help students plan examinations. Some general principles may help:
- Colloquia and seminars do not schedule final exams, but instructors may give them if they wish.
- Applied courses such as laboratories, research, and studio classes usually have final examinations during regular class hours.
- Courses at or above the 6000 level do not have final examinations, but instructors may give them if they wish.
For further information on final examinations, read your school Bulletin.
The majority of the information on this page pertains to Morningside students. CUIMC and Manhattanville students should contact their respective schools and programs or student affairs office to learn about their exam schedules or additional testing and field requirements.