Apply

Interested students must apply for admission to the University at Buffalo.

If you’re submitting the Coalition for College application, you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.

If you’re submitting the Common Application (Common App), you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.

If you’re applying with the State University of New York (ApplySUNY) Application, please complete the Honors College supplemental application.

As part of the application process, we ask you to write an essay so we can learn more about you.

UB and the Honors College offer a number of programs that can help you earn multiple degrees, or get admitted to a specific program.

To be considered for a merit scholarship, your general application for admission to the University at Buffalo (ApplySUNY, Coalition for College or Common Application) must be on file and complete (including all supplemental materials) by Dec. 8, 2024.

Offers of admission to the Honors College are made on a rolling basis. Preference is given to applications received by Dec. 8, 2024.

If you are transferring to UB from another college or university, or you're currently attending UB, we welcome you to apply for the Honors College. Transfer students and current UB students follow the same application process for the Honors College; the only difference is that transfer students must also be admitted to UB.

Oct. 1 for fall admission.

March 1 for spring admission.

• Completion of at least 30 credit hours (including transfer and alternative exam credits) and at least one full semester as a matriculated undergraduate student.
  • Transfer students: you must be already admitted to UB when applying.
• Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• At least one year remaining of undergraduate studies (i.e., if a student is planning to graduate in spring 2026, the last semester they can apply for Honors is spring 2025)
• A completed Honors Program Application for Transfer Students and Current UB Students, which includes:
  • Current unofficial transcript(s)
  • Updated resume or CV
  • Two essays:
  1. There is more to being a UB Honors scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors scholar outside of academic achievement and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
  2. One of the hallmarks of the UB Honors College is our students' intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one current topic/issue that interests you and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
  • One letter of reference from faculty submitted to honors@buffalo.edu. Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will only be accepted supplementally in addition to the required faculty letter.

Please plan to attend an information session if you are interested in applying to the Honors College as a current UB student. Transfer students are also welcome.

Information sessions are typically held during the first week or two of each semester. You do not have to pre-register for in-person sessions (only for remote sessions.)

All aspects of the application process and requirements will be covered at these meetings.

Fall 2024 Information Sessions

• Wednesday, September 4, 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm in 107 Capen
• Monday, September 9, 10:30 am- 11:30 am in 107 Capen
• Thursday, September 12, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm via Zoom (email honors@buffalo.edu for link)
• Monday, September 16, 2:30 pm-3:30 pm in 107 Capen
• Tuesday, September 17, 11:30 am-12:30 pm via Zoom (email honors@buffalo.edu for link)
• Friday, September 20, 10:00 am-11:00 am in 107 Capen

We welcome UB Singapore students to apply for the Honors College.

• No incoming first-semester students (including transfer students) will be admitted immediately in the fall.
• The application period will open after the end of spring semester to continuing students admitted in the Spring semester or prior. (For example, for Fall 2024 admissions, we will accept applications from students admitted in Spring 2024 or earlier.)
• Ideally students should have four or more semesters remaining before graduation.

• Completion of at least 45 credit hours is required at the time of application. 
  • Transfer credits are acceptable and students should submit a copy of their transfer work transcript with their application along with their UB transcript.
• UB GPA of at least 3.5.
• One letter of reference from UB faculty, including local instructors teaching for the SIM-UB program, should submitted to honors@buffalo.edu. Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will not be accepted.
• Two short essays: 
  
  • There is much more to being a UB Honors Scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors Scholar outside of academic achievement, and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
  • One of the hallmarks of a UB Honors Scholar is our students’ intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one topic/issue today that interests you, and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
• A completed Honors Program Application for Singapore (UB-SIM) Students.

SIM-UB Honors applications will be evaluated by a committee that includes Honors College and International Education staff. Students will be selected by:

• Overall GPA
• Strength of schedule
• Consistency, breadth, and depth of extracurricular activities
• Demonstration of leadership potential
• The quality of the essays

• June 1 – Spring grades can be taken into consideration
• Aug 1 –Releasing decision by early August will allow students to plan their Fall courses to include HON255 before the start of Fall semester.
  
• The Singapore application will be open from June 1 through July 1.