Freshman Academic Requirements
Admission to UB’s freshman class is selective and is based in part on the quality of your secondary school academic record and the number of spaces available in the class.
Academic documents by country
We will need to evaluate your academic performance in secondary school. We do this by reviewing your transcripts (mark sheets, grade sheets, report cards) or state exam results. Listed below by country of education are the specific documents you should include in your application.
In addition, before you can start your studies here, you will need to show that you have earned the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma. Also included in the below list are the credentials we recognize for each country and type of academic curriculum.
If you have already completed secondary school, we ask that you submit your graduation document along with your transcripts when completing your application.
If you haven’t graduated yet, don’t worry. You can bring proof that you completed secondary school with you when you arrive on campus for orientation. In the meantime, you will just submit copies of your transcripts.
China
Must be submitted with application
Transcripts including most recent 3 years of secondary school work
Must be submitted before enrollment
Graduation Certificate from Senior Middle School
Freshman Test Requirements
The University at Buffalo uses a holistic review process to determine admissibility to the freshman class. Standardized test scores play an important part in how we select students for admission and award scholarships.
Here’s what you need to know about SAT/ACT scores:
The SAT or ACT, while not required for admission to all programs, is encouraged and strongly recommended for all freshman applicants.
Freshman applicants educated in the U.S. are required to take the SAT or ACT and have official score results sent to UB (SAT school code 2925 / ACT school code 2978).
Freshman applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships must submit an SAT/ACT score.
UB accepts the best section score from multiple SAT tests.
UB converts the ACT Composite score to an equivalent SAT score on the 1600 Math and Critical Reading score.
The SAT/ACT is required* for direct admission as a freshman to:
Engineering
Biological Sciences/Dental Medicine Combined BS/DDS
Architecture
*If SAT / ACT are not offered in your country, this requirement may be waived if you have earned high marks in relevant high school subjects.
Freshman English Requirements
All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English in one of the following ways.
English requirements for Standard Admission
|
TEST
|
MINIMUM SCORE |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (IBT) |
79
with no section score below 15
|
| TOEFL (PBT) |
550
with no section score below 50
|
|
IELTS
|
6.5
with no subsection score below 6.0
|
|
PTE Academic
|
55
with no subsection score below 50
|
|
ACT (English AND reading sections)
|
20 |
|
SAT I (critical reading section)
|
500
|
| CAEL |
70
with no subsection score below 60
|
| CanTEST |
4.5
with no subscore below 4.0
|
| Cambridge EnglishProficiency (CPE) |
Old Scale: 60
New Scale: 185
|
| Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) |
Old Scale: 65
New Scale: 185
|
| IB Higher Level English A1 or A2 | 4 |
| AS Level or A Level English or English Language Subject | C |
Scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission; older scores will not be accepted.
Official scores must be sent directly to UB from the testing agency.
Photocopies and scanned documents may be submitted for initial review.
Exceptions
The following applicants are not required to demonstrate English language proficiency with a standardized test:
Native speakers of English who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, the UK, or Ireland who were also educated entirely in English
Citizens of Singapore who were educated entirely in English and who achieved a grade of at least “D” in English on the O-Level examination
Transfer applicants who have completed at least two terms (semesters or quarters) of English composition with grades of “C” or better at an accredited U.S. college/university. ESL classes and foundation-level classes are excluded.
Transfer Academic Requirements
Admission to the transfer class at UB is selective. Your admission is based in part on the quality of your academic record and on the number of spaces available in the class.
UB uses a 4.0 grading scale, and we expect transfer students applying here to have the equivalent of a 2.5 on that scale. That is the same as a grade of B- or 78 on a 100-point scale in the U.S.
You do not need to obtain an evaluation of your transcripts. Just provide your official transcripts with an English translation and we will make the grade conversions in our office. Our admissions counselors are experts in the many education systems around the world and they know how to translate your country’s grading scale into the one we use here at UB.
If you have completed fewer than 24 credits at your previous college or university, we will also review your secondary school transcripts.
Admission to your intended major
Some transfer students will be admitted to their intended major directly at the time of university admission. All other students are evaluated by their departments during their studies at UB and are admitted only after all requirements have been met.
Each academic department can have different requirements for admission to their majors and degree programs.
Additional supplemental materials may be required by certain departments or schools.
Arts and Sciences
Students with 60 or more transfer credits and minimum grades in prerequisite courses may be admitted to majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, with the exceptions of programs in the arts (media study, art, theatre and dance, and music) which require a portfolio or audition.
Engineering
Admission to engineering as a transfer student is competitive and minimum grades in prerequisite courses are required. Students will be notified about admission to engineering when they receive the university’s admission decision.
Architecture, Biomedical Sciences, Management, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Health Professions
Admission to these professional programs is competitive. Their excellent reputation makes them popular with many students and admission is selective.
All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English in one of the following ways.
English requirements for Standard Admission
|
TEST
|
MINIMUM SCORE |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (IBT) |
79
with no section score below 15
|
| TOEFL (PBT) |
550
with no section score below 50
|
|
IELTS
|
6.5
with no subsection score below 6.0
|
|
PTE Academic
|
55
with no subsection score below 50
|
|
ACT (English AND reading sections)
|
20 |
|
SAT I (critical reading section)
|
500
|
| CAEL |
70
with no subsection score below 60
|
| CanTEST |
4.5
with no subscore below 4.0
|
| Cambridge EnglishProficiency (CPE) |
Old Scale: 60
New Scale: 185
|
| Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) |
Old Scale: 65
New Scale: 185
|
| IB Higher Level English A1 or A2 | 4 |
| AS Level or A Level English or English Language Subject | C |
Scores must be less than two years old at the time of admission; older scores will not be accepted.
Official scores must be sent directly to UB from the testing agency.
Photocopies and scanned documents may be submitted for initial review.
Exceptions
The following applicants are not required to demonstrate English language proficiency with a standardized test:
Native speakers of English who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, the UK, or Ireland who were also educated entirely in English
Citizens of Singapore who were educated entirely in English and who achieved a grade of at least “D” in English on the O-Level examination
Transfer applicants who have completed at least two terms (semesters or quarters) of English composition with grades of “C” or better at an accredited U.S. college/university. ESL classes and foundation-level classes are excluded.
