Graduate admissions at the University at Buffalo is decentralized, meaning that each department has its own admissions requirements, in addition to UB's general admissions requirements. Specific admissions-related questions, or questions about your application should be directed to your department. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
All applications should be completed and submitted online. Visit our How to Apply page to learn how to get started.
After your application has been submitted, you can view your application status along with your supporting documents online by logging back in to your Student Status Portal. Professional/special applicants may have to log in to their national application to check their status.
If you are unsure if your application is complete or have questions about what materials may be required, you should contact the department directly. Program-specific contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Once your application has been submitted, you are no longer able to make any changes. However, you will still be able to upload supplemental materials, even after your application has been formally submitted.
Please contact the department directly if any information needs to be added or changed on the application form. Program-specific contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Yes, you may simultaneously apply to as many programs as you wish. Be sure to review each program's website as they may have different application instructions and requirements.
You may apply to only one degree at a time within any given same department. For example, you may not apply to the MA and the PhD programs in a given department at the same time. You must apply and be considered for one or the other. If you are uncertain about which degree program best fits your needs, please discuss this with the graduate program director in your department of interest prior to applying. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Deadlines are different for each program and applicants should contact the department for details. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Please apply as early as possible to be sure you get appropriate consideration for scholarships, assistantships and fellowships. International applicants should remember that sufficient time is required to secure an I-20 or DS-2019, so early application is strongly recommended.
At the graduate and professional level, admission is a decentralized process. This means the admission process is handled directly by the department to which you are applying; they receive and process all admission materials. Application materials should be submitted electronically through our online application portal. If original paper documents have been requested they should be sent directly to the department that you have applied to. There is no central admissions office for graduate and professional applications.
Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
You should contact your department to ask if admissions deferral is available for your graduate program. Admission deferral may be granted for up to one academic year without penalty.
For most degree programs, you can reapply for any reason. Keep in mind that programs change degree requirements periodically. Be sure that you still qualify for the program each time you apply. Some programs have more (or fewer) requirements. Also, admission departments normally retain applications for one year; if you reapply after that time, you may need to submit additional materials and another application fee. Please check with your department of interest for further details. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please contact your department. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
All applicants are required by the State University of New York (SUNY) to pay an application fee. Application fee payment amounts vary by program. Please contact the department for more information. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
An appeal for a deferral (not a waiver) of the application fee can be made by applicants. A deferral (not a waiver) will be considered only in extraordinary instances of financial hardship and then only with clear documentation from an appropriate official at an institution of higher education certifying this financial need. Please note that self-declaration of need by an applicant or mere eligibility for student financial aid (loans) is not adequate justification.
The process to be considered for a fee waiver is included in the Additional Background section of the online application. Applicants must respond to the question listed on the application and work with their academic program before submitting their online application.
You must be a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident to be eligible for the graduate admissions application fee waiver. There are two ways in which you may qualify for an application fee waiver:
Financial need is determined by the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) number listed on your Student Aid Report (SAR), or by the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on your tax return; annual family income cannot exceed the maximum AGI listed in the Family Income Guidelines chart.
Make sure you redact all Social Security numbers before submitting these documents.
Participants in the following programs will be approved for a fee waiver once there is confirmation of your participation. Participants in the following programs must submit verification of program participation, such as a letter bearing the original signature of the program director or advisor, or a copy of the current contract. Participation must be current or no older than two years at the time of your application.
In all cases, you will need to provide official supporting documentation. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Yes. A non-refundable application fee will be charged for each application you submit for formal review. Acceptable forms of application fee payment include: eChecks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Debit cards with Visa or MasterCard logos are also accepted.
Admission requirements vary by graduate program. In general, a B average or 3.0 undergraduate grade point average is expected, with appropriate standardized test scores if required (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) and letters of recommendation. For some programs, an internship or relevant work experience strengthens the application.
International applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency. A minimum score of 79 is required on the internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) to be considered for university admission but individual programs and departments may require higher scores. Other tests are also accepted.
Yes, in many programs you may enroll for up to 12 credits on a non-degree seeking basis. Credits earned as a non-degree seeking student may be eligible for future use in a graduate degree program, at the discretion of the department. For course availability, contact your department. A non-refundable application fee is required. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
Official transcripts are not required while applying, they are only requested after you receive an offer of admission. If you have received an offer of admission, UB only requires proof of your conferred bachelor's degree from the institution that awarded it.
If you are a domestic student and you intend to enroll at UB, official transcripts should be submitted to your department directly.
Please do not send official transcripts prior to being offered admission and deciding on whether or not to enroll at UB.
You will receive specific instructions on what official (original) documents you must bring with you to UB after you have been admitted.
Do not mail official documents to UB unless specifically requested to do so.
Yes, most UB graduate applications offer an online recommendation system. Information for your recommenders is provided on your application along with an electronic waiver statement. Once you submit your application, a request is sent out asking your recommenders to submit an electronic letter on your behalf. Your letters are uploaded automatically to your application and marked off your checklist as they are completed. All application items can be managed through our student status portal.
Yes. You can resend your request to your recommenders from the student status portal via the application checklist.
If a recommender's email address is incorrect on your application, you will need to contact the department directly to correct this. Applicants cannot change any information on their applications after they have been formally submitted. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
This information varies by program. Please visit the website for your department of interest for program-specific admissions information. Department contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.
International applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency. A minimum score of 79 is required on the internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) to be considered for university admission but individual programs and departments may require higher scores. Other tests are also accepted.
All doctoral programs require a standardized test score as part of the admissions process. Test scores are valid for a five-year period. Please check with your master's program to see if they require a standardized test, as this is not mandatory for all master's programs.
Official electronic GRE and TOEFL scores received from Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be automatically linked to your online application. Please note that for computer-based testing, score reports are sent approximately 10 to 15 calendar days after the test date. Only electronic scores that you request to be sent to the University at Buffalo (institution code: 2925) can be linked to your online application.
Like all admission requirements, the emphasis placed on standardized test scores varies by graduate degree program. A good score on the test will certainly improve your chance for admission, so we recommend that you prepare for the test well in advance and consider test preparation assistance including review guides, software and in-person classes.
Graduate education at UB remains extremely affordable. The cost of tuition is less than many of our peers and the Buffalo region offers a comparatively low cost of living. At UB, tuition cost depends on the program of interest and varies across disciplines such as medicine, MBA, PBMA, EMBA, Dental, Law, PharmD, DPT and DNP. See our Estimated Cost of Attendance page for more information.
Fellowships are scholarships awarded to the most talented applicants to graduate programs at UB. These awards vary in amount depending on the degree program and the particular fellowship offered. A full tuition scholarship generally accompanies a fellowship. Work is usually not required in return for a fellowship, but students are expected to achieve a high level of academic performance. See our Fellowships & Scholarships page for more information.
Assistantships require that the student work approximately 20 hours per week doing administrative work, conducting research, or teaching in exchange for a stipend and a full or partial tuition scholarship. A number of departments at UB also offer incoming graduate students smaller scholarships—from $500 to $2,500—in recognition of their prior achievements and in expectation of the contribution they will make while graduate students on our campus. See our Jobs & Assistantships page for more information.