The University at Buffalo welcomes applications from qualified international students. Application information regarding specific programs may be obtained by contacting the academic department in which enrollment is desired. Applicants presenting international educational credentials must possess a university degree that is recognized as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree prior to beginning graduate study. International applicants must meet the following requirements imposed by University policy and by U.S. Immigration Service regulations.
In order to be compliant with federal regulations pertaining to the admission and enrollment of international students, the Office of International Admissions (OIA) must review all international applicants the department wishes to accept. OIA checks and verifies all academic documents, test scores and financial documentation, as well as the offer letter from the department. After reviewing submitted dossiers, OIA enters a decision in GrAdMIT (Accept Provisional or Accept Final). This action triggers an automatic e-mail confirmation of acceptance to the student from the Dean of the Graduate School.
Students who are Canadian citizens with Native American status do not need immigration documents and are permitted to pay in-state tuition. However Canadian Native American status does not change a student’s citizenship nor the manner UB is required to enter that student into university computer systems. Admission records indicate these students as Canadian citizens. Because the Office of International Admissions is not authorized to show a non-U.S. citizen as having in-state status, the student needs to contact the Student Response Center to take the next steps for approval of in-state residency status.
All international applicants (unless exempted) must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students may demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores from either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
International applicants who desire or need to improve their English language proficiency may do so through the University’s English Language Institute, which offers Intensive English Programs during the fall, spring, and summer semesters (the summer programs are six- and 12-weeks in duration, while the fall and spring programs are 15-weeks in duration). For further information, contact the English Language Institute, 320 Baldy Hall, North Campus, (716) 645-2077.
Although departments may require higher scores, the university’s official minimum score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based (PBT) test or 213 for the computer-based (CBT) test. The TOEFL score must be dated within two years of the time the application is reviewed by International Admissions in GrAdMIT.
Although departments may require higher scores, the university’s official minimum score for the TOEFL iBT is 79. UB does not currently require minimum cut-off scores for the four individual subsections. However Graduate Admission Committees are advised to examine and consider section scores as they are relevant to the linguistic needs and expectations of their departments. Though there is no required minimum section score, most accepted students are expected to achieve the following section scores: Reading: 19/30 Listening: 15/30 Speaking: 19/30 Writing: 19/30.
Since the TOEFL iBT is still a relatively new format, UB allows the department/program sole discretion to offer Limited Standard Admission. However, departments are advised to exercise careful consideration and caution when admitting students with total iBT scores in the 70 – 78 range. Departments considering admitting students in this range should pay special attention to section scores and other criteria, such as GRE and GMAT scores, in order to be sure that students meet the linguistic demands of the individual program. The ESL Program Director and/or the Director of International Admissions may be contacted for advice about students in this score range.
New students with TOEFL iBT scores in the 70 – 78 range are permitted to register for a maximum of twelve (12) credits in their first semester and must successfully complete all courses with an overall average of 3.0 or better. Accepted students must be informed of this requirement in their acceptance letter. Assistantships with teaching duties should not be offered to students with scores in the 70 – 78 range unless the Speaking Score is at least 23 and the Listening Score is at least 19.
International applicants who apply for graduate admission with TOEFL scores between 500 - 547 (PBT) or 173 - 210 (CBT) can be offered admission by departments on the condition that they successfully complete an intensive language program in UB's English Language Institute (ELI) as determined by the ELI Office. Conditional Admission is an academic department decision and does not require prior approval from the Graduate School or International Admissions. The departmental acceptance letter must clearly state that: (a) Conditional Admission is being offered, (b) remedial English classes will be required, and (c) costs are in addition to the regular university costs and are borne by the student.
Graduate students who score 60 – 69 (or 60 – 78 for departments that choose not to utilize the Limited Standard Admission option) on the iBT may be admitted to UB under the following condition. The student must enroll in and successfully complete one of three full-time intensive English programs in the UB English Language Institute, depending on score received, as detailed below:
Conditional Admission cannot be granted retroactively. University admission cannot be offered if the TOEFL score is below 500/173/60. Upon successfully completing the required ELI program, the student is free to begin the academic program of study with no further ESL language requirements (with the exception of international teaching, research, and graduate assistants, who may be required to register for ESL 512). "Successful completion" is defined as passing the ELI program (with an overall grade of "C" or higher) and meeting the ELI minimum attendance policy, or having the endorsement of ELI teachers and the Director of the ESL Program.
The required minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score is 6.5 overall with no individual sub-score below 6.0. The IELTS score must be dated within two years of the time the application is reviewed by International Admissions in GrAdMIT. Only the official original IELTS score report is acceptable; photocopies are not acceptable. Conditional Admission is not permitted based on low IELTS scores.
Departments can petition the Graduate School for a TOEFL deferral. A granted deferral results in the student being examined upon arrival at UB. Examine-on-Arrival means the student sits for an Institutional Paper-and-Pencil TOEFL test offered through UB’s English Language Institute not the Computer or Internet-Based Test (C/iBT). Examine-on-Arrival tests are offered on specific dates/times during the International Student Orientation prior to each semester. When a student is granted a TOEFL deferral, the department's acceptance letter must clearly state:
Based on the deferred Examine-on-Arrival TOEFL score, students may or may not be permitted to begin their academic program of study depending on the "arrival score" they earn.
Students who achieve an Examine-on-Arrival TOEFL score of at least 550 are exempt from further English language course requirements (with the exception of foreign teaching, research, and graduate assistants, who may be required to register for ESL 512).
Students who achieve an Examine-on-Arrival TOEFL score between 537 and 547 may matriculate into their graduate program; these students will be required to register for one ESL course during their first semester of academic study and no more than a total of four courses, including supervised teaching and ESL courses, until they complete their ESL course requirement.
Students who achieve an Examine-on-Arrival TOEFL score between 523 and 533 may matriculate into their graduate program; these students will be required to register for two ESL courses during their first semester of academic study and no more than a total of four courses, including supervised teaching and ESL courses, until they complete their ESL course requirement.
Students who score below 523 may not matriculate into their graduate program. These students must enroll in an intensive language ELI program. Students required to complete an intensive English program may not register for any academic courses while they are enrolled in the Intensive English Program.
The following categories of students are automatically exempt from the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
In addition to the English Language Proficiency Requirement (demonstrated with a valid TOEFL or IELTS score), all international students who have been awarded graduate, research, or teaching, assistantships (including Presidential Fellowships) must take the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) test upon arrival on campus. Registration for classes is only possible after taking the SPEAK test. International graduate students in certain programs are also required to take the SPEAK test as a policy of the program, regardless of whether or not they receive an assistantship. Applicants who take and submit a score of at least 55 from a Test of Spoken English (TSE) are exempt from the SPEAK test.
The SPEAK test is given at the beginning of each fall and spring semester during International Student Orientation.Students required to take the SPEAK test at that time must pick up a SPEAK Test Admission Form at the International Student Orientation site or at the English Language Institute, 320 Baldy Hall, North Campus. The SPEAK test can also be administered by appointment during the semester to students who are applying for assistantships. Individual students are allowed to take a SPEAK test a maximum of two times during a semester.
The SPEAK test is used for all international students who have been offered assistantships as well as for departments that currently require the SPEAK test as part of their own admission process. The Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT does not replace the SPEAK test.
International students expected to have teaching duties and who achieve a score of 55 or 60 on the SPEAK (from a total of 60 scored in five-point increments) are automatically certified to teach lecture, seminar, recitation, and lab classes. Those students with a score of 50 are given opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills by means of a teaching demonstration before representatives from the ELI Program and their own department, in order to determine eligibility to teach. A teaching demonstration is only at the request of the student’s department, and can be requested even for a student with a SPEAK score below 50, if the department feels that the test results do not completely reflect the student’s true abilities.
Students whose scores are below 55 on the SPEAK test are advised or even required to take Communication Skills for International Teaching Assistants (ESL 512) before being allowed to take on any teaching duties, regardless of the TOEFL score used for admission purposes. This is a graduate-level training course, offered each fall and spring, that provides instruction and practice in oral communication skills and fundamental teaching techniques. Participants in this course prepare a series of microteaching presentations, which are videotaped. The students and instructor review these presentations. Upon completion of this course, Teaching Assistants take the SPEAK test again and are reevaluated to determine competence for assuming teaching responsibilities.
Students expected to have teaching responsibilities, but whose SPEAK scores are 35 or less are advised to take Advanced Spoken English (ESL 411/412) as a precursor to ESL 512. The English Language Institute also offers a pronunciation course in the evening, to assist students who desire to reduce their accent. It is recommended that these students be assigned reduced duties and responsibilities until they have satisfactorily completed ESL 512.
Students who cannot pass ESL 512 within two semesters (fall and spring) after entering the University will not be permitted to teach or supervise undergraduate students. The English Language Institute communicates such failures to the academic department and works with them to help the student. Directors of Graduate Study should work with international students to integrate them into the department and encourage them to speak the English language during the time they are registered for ESL 512.
All international applicants must document their ability to meet all educational and personal expenses for the duration of their programs. Applicants will receive more detailed information regarding this requirement with their application. Funds must be documented with liquid assets in the form of bank statements, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, stocks, etc. Documentation must be original and dated within one year of the date the student will enroll at UB.
International applicants are eligible for departmental assistantships and some Graduate School fellowships. International students are not eligible for any New York State or federal scholarships or loans. No other financial assistance is available for international students.
A Certificate of Visa Eligibility may only be issued after the applicant has satisfied both the English proficiency and financial requirements and after department recommendation for admission is made and academic documentation reviewed by the Office of International Admissions.