Apply as an International First-Year Student
Choose Your Application
Complete and submit only one of the applications below. A $50 non-refundable fee is required.
Select “Buffalo, University at.”
Select “SUNY University at Buffalo."
After You Apply
We will send you an email with a unique link to your Applicant Status Page, where you can monitor your application status. You are strongly encouraged to check this page regularly for updates about your application.
Spring 2026 Dates & Deadlines
| Application | Date |
|---|---|
| Recommended application submission date | October 1 Students can continue to submit an application for consideration until capacity is reached. |
| Enrollment/Tuition Deposit deadline | December 1 or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. |
| Housing Deposit deadline | December 1 |
| Classes begin | January See UB Academic Calendar |
Fall 2026 Dates & Deadlines
| Application | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | August 1 |
| Early Action | November 1 |
| Honors College Priority Consideration | December 15 |
| Housing Application opens | January 22 |
| Regular Decision application completion deadline | February 1 Students can continue to submit an application for consideration until capacity is reached. |
| Enrollment/Tuition Deposit deadline | May 1 or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. |
| Housing Deposit deadline | May 8 |
| Classes begin | August See UB Academic Calendar |
First-year/first-time admission to the University at Buffalo is based on a holistic review of your application that considers your academic marks, test scores, essay and recommendations.
We are looking for students who excel academically, engage in extracurricular activities and maintain a good school-life balance.
*Any document not written in English must be accompanied by an English translation.
English Proficiency Test Type and Minimum Scores
Below are the minimum scores to be eligible for consideration for admission to UB's undergraduate programs.
| TEST | MINIMUM SCORES |
|---|---|
TOEFL (IBT) (including MyBest scores) | 70 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8.5 |
| TOEFL (PBT) and TOEFL ITP Plus | 523 |
| 6.0 | |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | 105 |
| 50 | |
ACT (English AND reading sections) | 18 |
| SAT I ERWS | 500 |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) English A: Language & Literature | IB grade of 5 or letter grade equivalent (HL and/or SL) |
| Advanced Placement (AP) English Language & Composition | Score of 4 on the exam AND/OR a grade of B in the class |
| British Curriculum (I)GCSE (O levels) English First Language | Result of C |
| British Curriculum GCE (AS/A levels) English Language and/or English Language & Literature | Result of C |
- Scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission.
- Self-reported scores may be submitted for initial review.
- Official scores must be sent directly to UB from the testing agency.
- Use the following to send your scores to UB:
- TOEFL: 2925
- IELTS: University at Buffalo – SUNY
- Duolingo: University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Undergraduate, New York, USA
Undergraduate English Language Proficiency Test Exemption
English proficiency can be demonstrated without a test in one of the following ways:
1. Native Speaker
Applicants who meet all three criteria listed below may be exempted from the requirement of submitting an English proficiency test score. The applicant is:
- A citizen of Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Guam, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore or the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland); and
- A native speaker of English; and
- Was educated entirely in English.
2. U.S. Post-Secondary Education
Transfer applicants currently enrolled in a U.S. college who have:
- Completed at least one term (quarter or semester) of a U.S. college English composition class with an earned grade of B or better and an overall college GPA of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) and strong grades in classes that typically require significant reading and writing.
OR
- Completed at least two terms (quarters or semesters) of a U.S. college English composition classes with an earned grade of C or better in each class, and good grades in classes that typically require significant reading and writing.
ESL classes, remedial English classes, and foundation English classes (for example, non-credit intensive English classes/programs) are not recognized for this waiver.