Use the link to access our online application system. You should begin by creating an account. Once created, you will be prompted to choose an application, select your term year and program. Please read the directions on your College of Arts and Sciences application carefully.
Master's Applicants: Currently offering Spring and Fall Admission
Deadline for Spring: December 1
Deadline for Fall: May 1
**Please note that the Department currently does not fund Master's students. Research assistantships for Master's students may be available once you have started the program.
PhD Applicants: Fall Admission only. Review of applications for funding consideration begins on December 1st for Fall admission.
PhD Excellence Initiative
The University offers competitive funding packages under the PhD Excellence Initiative. Most funded PhD students are admitted under this highly competitive program. Students receive a minimum $20,000 per year stipend and full tuition scholarship. Fellowships are available to all students, domestic and international. Applicants who are seeking a funded PhD position are strongly encouraged to contact a member of our faculty to identify their willingness to serve as their primary Advisor. For more information on the PhD Excellence Initiative, visit the Graduate School's information page here.
Arthur A. Schomburg Graduate Fellowship Program
The Schomburg Fellowship program is designed to assist UB in the recruitment, enrollment and retention of students in PhD level programs who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Such categorial circumstances may include academic, vocational, social, physical or economic impediments or disadvantaged status that students or other characteristics that constitute categorical under-representation in their particular graduate program such as gender or racial/ethnic status. Schomburg fellowships are available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Schomburg Fellows receive a competitive top-up amount above the regular stipend offered by the PhD Excellence Initiative.
The Department of Geography is strongly committed to increasing diversity in our discipline through PhD training. Please see our diversity statement here. Departments nominate candidates for Schomburg Fellowships once they are admitted to the PhD Program. There is no separate application. For more information, please visit the College of Arts and Sciences webpage here.
Presidential Fellowships
The UB Presidential Fellowship Program is aimed at enhancing UB's competitiveness in recruiting outstanding PhD students with a competitive top-up amount above the regular stipend offered by the PhD Excellence Initiative. Departments nominate candidates for Presidential Fellowships once they are admitted to the PhD Program. There is no separate application. For more information, please visit the College of Arts and Sciences webpage here.
The following must be attached to all applications:
International students who are admitted, and choose to accept our admission offer, will need to attach the following for I20 processing:
GRE requirements:
The GRE is not required for Masters applicants.
For PhD applicants: There is no mandatory university minimum, but our department uses a guideline of 300 (combined verbal and quantitative). Funding is only offered to PhD applicants. GRE information can be found at: http://www.ets.org/gre
TOEFL requirements:
The University minimum is 79 iBT, however, our department generally desires a higher score. The TOEFL score must be dated within two years of the time the application. We do not admit students who do not meet these requirements. TOEFL information can be found at: http://www.ets.org/toefl
GPA requirements:
2.9 Undergraduate GPA for admission to MA/MS
3.0 Undergraduate GPA for admission to Ph.D
