General Admission Requirements

Admission requirements vary by program, but here we provide some general graduate admission requirements. Once you've read these general requirements, please contact your desired department for specific advice and details on submitting your application and documents.

To be eligible for graduate study at UB, we expect:

  • A bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited/government recognized college or university. Most such degrees will be four or more years in length; UB recognizes some three-year degrees, but not all.
  • A B-grade (GPA of 3.0) or higher from your bachelor's degree (or equivalent) courses. Grade point averages from non-U.S. universities will be evaluated by UB's Office of International Admissions.
  • Appropriate standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.). Not all programs require test scores. See the official academic test scores section below for more information.
  • Letters of recommendation.

Transcript Requirements

Applicants are required to submit transcripts from every college and university attended. UB does not require official transcripts during the application process. Unofficial copies of transcripts are sufficient. Admitted students are required to submit official transcripts from all schools and will be given specific instructions regarding the submission process. 

International Students: Some departments may require you to obtain a transcript evaluation from a third party company. Please check with your department for specific requirements. Please do not mail any official documents unless specifically requested to do so.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Unless exempted or waived from the requirement, all international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting official test scores from one of the following English language proficiency tests:

Test Name
 Minimum Test Score
TOEFL IBT
 79
TOEFL Home Edition 79
TOEFL Essentials 8.5
TOEFL ITP Plus 550*
IELTS and IELTS Indicator
 6.5
PTE Academic and Academic Online 55
CPE (Cambridge English Proficiency Exam) and/or

the CAE (Cambridge English Advanced Exam)
 185
DET (Duolingo English Test)
 120
Are you currently unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL?

If you are a currently unable to take IELTS, PTE or TOEFL due to cancellations related to COVID-19, the University at Buffalo will accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) for proof of English proficiency. This test can be taken online, in your own home.

Overall, UB does not currently require minimum cut-off scores for any subsections of the tests listed above. However graduate admission committees are advised to examine and consider the various English Language Proficiency section scores as they are relevant to the linguistic needs and expectations of their departments. 

Scores must be dated within two years of the time the application is reviewed by International Admissions in UB's Graduate Application System. Scores must be sent directly to UB by the testing agency.

* Institutional versions of the TOEFL test, unless conducted and issued by UB’s English Language Institute, are not accepted for admission purposes.

English Language Proficiency Exemptions

Unless exempted or waived from the English language proficiency requirement, all international applicants must demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores from one of the approved English language proficiency tests.  The following categories of international applicants are automatically exempt from the English language proficiency requirement. However graduate admission committees are advised to holistically consider all applicants’ English language proficiency and the needs and expectations of the department to ensure that the student will be successful.

  1. Students who are citizens of, and who were educated in the English medium (see country exemption list below).
  2. Non-matriculated (non-degree) students attending UB under reciprocal exchange agreements with international institutions of higher education.
  3. Students who were enrolled at UB and are moving from one degree-level to another or one program to another with a break in their studies of no more than three years between the time of graduation and new enrollment.
  4. International students transferring from another U.S. college to UB, who: 
    1. completed (or will complete) a degree at that U.S. college or were enrolled for at least two years at the prior institution; and
    2. had a minimum 2.0 GPA at the prior institution; and
    3. had no more than a three-year break between the time of graduation/attendance at the previous institution and new enrollment at UB.

English Language Proficiency Waiver Petitions

Unless exempted or waived from the English language proficiency requirement, all international applicants must demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores from one of the approved English language proficiency tests. In rare circumstances, UB academic programs (the UB department, not the applicant/student) may petition the Office of International Admissions for an ELP waiver/exception. Through the university’s graduate application system, the academic program will complete an online petition form and submit a written justification for the waiver request along with compelling supporting evidence.  Copies of all of the applicant’s transcripts, copies of all standardized tests taken (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT, DUO, etc.), and an up-to-date CV/resume must be submitted. The petition will be reviewed by International Admissions and a decision communicated to the program.

Official Academic Test Scores

Many programs require you take a standardized academic exam. Check your program's admission requirements to see which test scores are accepted and/or required. Be sure you take tests early enough to provide scores by your program's submission deadline. Please note that it can take several weeks for the testing agency to process your order and deliver your scores to UB.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by individual school and program. Please review your department's website or contact them directly for the most accurate information. Contact information can be found on our list of academic programs.