Graduate Admission

Fall scene.

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Applications are welcome from students whose philosophical interests are consonant with any of the areas studied within the Department.

Current graduate students come from virtually every geographical region of the United States. The Department regularly admits qualified students from other countries as well.

Application Deadline: December 15.

UB Philosophy Graduate Student Handbook

Further application information can be found in the UB Philosophy Graduate Student Handbook, via the pdf below.

Admission Criteria

  • Students entering the PhD program must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Students entering the MA program must have a minimum GPA of 3.0

What will my application include?

All applications will include the following:

  • Completed application form.
  • Electronic copies of transcripts of all previous undergraduate or graduate coursework. Only admitted applicants will be required to submit official transcripts.
  • Three letters of recommendation, submitted electronically. Once you submit your application for final review, your professors will receive an automated email requesting that they upload their recommendation letter.
  • A personal statement of 500 to 750 words, double-spaced. Please include a description of your background in philosophy and the areas of philosophy that interest you.
  • A writing sample of philosophical work that is 3,000 to 6,000 words (about 10 to 20 double-spaced pages).
  • GRE scores are not required.

International Applicants

International Applicants will include all of the above, plus:

1. International Applicant Financial Statement.

2. Results of the TOEFL (test of English as a Foreign Language) for international applicants whose native language is not English.

Please be sure to review all requirements for International Student Admission on the UB Graduate School website.

TOEFL Exam

  • Applicants whose native language is not English must establish proficiency by means of the TOEFL examination. For international students who are already in the US to complete a degree program, TOEFL is automatically waived.
  • The minimum scores required for each of the forms of the exam are: 
    (1)  555 for the paper based test (TOEFL PBT);
    (2)  213 for the computer based test (TOEFL CBT);
    (3)   79 for the Internet based test (TOEFL IBT).
  • If you are a currently unable to take IELTS, PTE or TOEFL due to cancellations related to COVID-19, please contact the current Director of Graduate Studies in the Philosophy Department (see Department Contact below).
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Code
  • 2925 — TOEFL Institution Code for UB

Department Contact