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NOTE: This page contains the official information regarding application requirements and deadlines. Information on this page supersedes any information posted on any other page or website.

Apply to the MA program through CSDCAS Services.  All materials must be uploaded or sent directly to CSDCAS.  Any admission documents or materials received in the department will be disregarded.  The components of the application are elaborated below.

1.  Submit the application to CSDCAS by January 15. Applicants who fail to submit the online application prior to January 15 will not be eligible to apply to the program until the following year.   It is the student's responsibility to meet this deadline and to ensure receipt of all materials by CSDCAS. Timely filing will further facilitate the admission process.   NOTE: There is approximately a one-month lag between the time application materials arrive at CSDCAS and the time that they are verified and subsequently made available to the department for evaluation by the Admissions Committee beginning in early February.  There is no guarantee that materials verified after early February would be reviewed by the committee.

2.  Applicants must obtain three academic/professional letters of recommendation. Recommendations must be submitted online through the CSDCAS web portal. CSDCAS website will provide detailed instructions on how to submit the letters.

3.  The GRE is not required for the 2023 application.  Additional information will be forthcoming summer 2023.   If you choose to take the GRE, scores are submitted electronically to CSDCAS directly from ETS using a special communication science school-specific CSDCAS GRE code. CSDCAS does not accept paper copies of GRE scores. GREs sent to the Graduate School at UB will not be accepted. Please use the following GRE ETS code: 0760 SUNY University at Buffalo CSDCAS. 

4. Unofficial TOEFL scores for international applicants who are not native speakers of English must be entered online. If admission is recommended by the department, an official TOEFL score must be received by the university before the student can be formally accepted (see below).

5.  Non-Canadian International applicants are required to have all foreign transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).  Transcripts and the WES evaluation report should be sent directly to CSDCAS at the address below (see point 6).

6.  Official transcripts should be sent directly to CSDCAS at the address below:
CSDCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9113
Watertown, MA  02471

7.  Personal statement. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement or essay as part of the online CSDCAS application.  The essay should address topics such as motivation for entering the field, professional goals and specific interest in attending the program at the University at Buffalo.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the essay to address any weaknesses in academic performance or a discrepancy between grades and GRE scores.

8.  Students have the option of uploading a current resume/curriculum vita.

Two required application fees must be paid prior to review of materials by the Admissions Committee:

1. For CSDCAS: You pay directly to them on your application.

2. For the University at Buffalo: A $75 USD non-refundable application processing fee is due before your application can be reviewed. Payment portal is through UB's Slate application when your CSDCAS application is officially submitted.  

If admitted to the department, international students will be required to submit the following information to the University. The department's offer of admission is contingent upon final review of the application by UB's International Office of Admissions and determination of eligibility to receive the official documents necessary for a Student Visa. 

• Official transcripts from your university program
• Official TOEFL test scores (see the Graduate School website for additional information)
• UB Financial Form
• Valid bank statement (see International Office of Admissions for more instructions).
  • I-20 Form

We acknolwedge the cost of graduate school, in terms of money and time. Please consider this as an investment in your long-term career. 

The Graduate School website at UB should be consulted for the most up-to-date information regarding cost of attendance, financial aid and assistantships.  In particular, they provide a table of Cost of Attendance to help you estimate your tuitition/fees and personal expenses. Please refer to the category Graduate in this table when determining cost of attendance for both in-state and out-of-state students.

Many students take out loans to support their graduate school studies and personal expenses incurred while attending our program. While we recognize that some students may seek out employment opportunities while attending our program, the expectation is that these employment positions will be scheduled around your program committments (not the other way around). 

Our department also provides several funding opportunities to support graduate students:

1. Graduate Teaching Assistantship:  The department has a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships to award each year to highly qualified students. All applicants are automatically considered for these assistantships when applying to the program through CSDCAS. No supplemental materials are required for consideration. Students selected for these awards will be notified during the Spring semester. Awards typically consist of a half-time tuition scholarship (i.e., equivalent of 4.5 credits) and modest stipend. Awards are typically a maximum of 2 years in duration.
2. Research Lab Assistants:  Paid positions may be available in department research labs.  Students should contact individual laboratory directors to inquire about these opportunities. Check out our Research Labs page.
3. Work study:  Students awarded work study monies through the Federal Student Aid program should contact the department at the email address below to secure a work study position in the department.

The academic profile of applicants admitted to the MA program during the past several years is as follows:

• Median overall GPA = 3.76
• GRE Verbal Median Percentile = 59
• GRE Quantitative Median Percentile = 45
• GRE Analytical Median Percentile = 56

1.  How many students apply to the MA program each year?

• We receive between 200-250 applications each year.

2.  How many students are admitted?

• Each year approximately 55 students are admitted to achieve a class size of 30 students.

3.  Can I arrange a tour of the department?

• The department is unable to accommodate requests for individual tours. Students admitted to the program will be invited to attend one of several small group tours offered during the Spring semester, typically in March and early April.

4.  Who do I contact if I have questions about the MA program?

• Email is the most efficient way for us to begin a conversation.  Please direct all questions and inquiries to cdsdept@buffalo.edu. 

5.  I have an undergraduate degree from another field.  Can I still apply directly to the graduate program?

•  Yes.  Follow the same application procedures as students with an undergraduate degree in speech and hearing.  If admitted, your program will be extended in length by approximately 6 months to 1 year.