Admissions
Ready to dive in? This page has all of the details on applying for the CDSE PhD program, including admissions requirements, deadlines and the materials needed.
Admissions Requirements
- Master's degree in related field, including but not limited to: engineering, mathematics, business, marketing, pharmacy
- 3 Letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Statement of purpose
- GRE scores
- GPA of 3.0 or better from your bachelor's degree courses
- Proof of English language proficiency (for international applicants only)
- TOEFL (IBT): minimum score 79
- TOEFL (PBT): minimum score 550
- IELTS: minimum score 6.5 (with no sub-score below 6.0)
- PTE Academic: minimum score 55 (with no subsection score below 50)
- Scores must be less than 2 years old
Application Materials
Detailed information on what to include in your online application packet is outlined below.
All items should be submitted electronically with your online application. Please login to the UB application system frequently to ensure that all of their supporting documents have been received. Login information below.
Application Form
All domestic and international students must apply online for the PhD program. Please note that the online application process will require you to upload supporting documents.
Application Fee ($85)
A nonrefundable fee of $85 is required to apply to the PhD program. You may pay the application fee online with a credit card or e-check.
College Transcripts
Copies of transcript(s) for all post-secondary schoolwork must be uploaded with the online application for initial review. Upon an offer of admission, accepted applicants will be required to submit official transcripts and proof of degree(s).
Letters of Recommendation (3)
Three letters of recommendation are to be requested through the online application by providing the names and e-mail addresses of recommenders. While we will accept letters from professional sources, we strongly prefer letters from professors who are acquainted with your academic interests, achievements, and abilities.
Resume/CV
An account of your education and experience that describes your qualifications for the program.
Statement of Purpose
As part of the application, the department requires a statement of purpose briefly describing your background and your academic and career goals.
GRE Scores
To be considered for financial aid, you must have at least a combined verbal and quantitative score of 300 on the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). We typically place more emphasis on the quantitative section, looking for candidates that score in the 80th percentile or above.
It is university policy that all PhD applicants provide GRE scores. Arrangements to take the exam can be made through the Educational Testing Service.
Note: the University at Buffalo Institutional Code is 2925.
English Proficiency Scores (for international students only)
International applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency via the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score, or Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). All applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide proof of English proficiency. Please use Institution Code 2925 to provide your scores to us.
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The University at Buffalo has the following minimum admission requirements for these tests:
- Minimum TOEFL score: 79 internet-based test, 550 paper-based test. A competitive TOEFL score (internet-based test) is at least 90.
- Minimum IELTS score: 6.5 (with no individual sub-score below a 6.0)
- Minimum PTE score: 55 (with no individual sub-score below a 50)
The exam results must be dated within 2 years from your proposed date of admission and remain valid upon entering the term for which you applied. For example, Fall 2017 begins in August 2017; therefore, your exam results must be valid until August 2017.
Information and arrangements to take the exam can be made by contacting the Educational Testing Service at www.ets.org/toefl. It is strongly recommended to make test arrangements early in the year so sufficient time can be allowed for the results to be reported before our application deadline.
Financial Form
Fill out the International Applicant Financial Form. You will need to fill out the form labeled "Standard Graduate" for the appropriate academic year. The Financial Form and supporting bank documents may be uploaded to your application after an admissions decision has been made.
All international applicants must submit a completed financial statement. Answer all questions thoroughly. An I-20 cannot be issued without this statement documenting necessary funds for each year of intended study (five years for a PhD program).
Please note that original financial documents must be brought to the school in person upon arrival at UB orientation.
Take me to information about:
Spring enrollment:
Apply by October 1
Fall enrollment:
Apply by February 15
We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, but encourage all prospective students to submit their applications by the deadlines noted above.
