Graduate Admissions

Ph.D. program:

• Applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from an accredited college or university, or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, but do not need to hold a master’s degree. 
• Applicants should possess strong analytical skills, a good background in economics and mathematics, and a serious commitment to producing research.
• Economics majors with a strong undergraduate record and a robust quantitative background are preferred. The Department will also occasionally admit applicants with strong quantitative skills who have minimal prior exposure to economics, but who have majored in analytical subjects such as mathematics, physics, engineering, etc.
• It is expected that applicants have passed a one-year course in calculus and are familiar with undergraduate intermediate macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis and with basic statistics. Familiarity with multi-variate calculus, linear algebra, and probability theory is desirable but is not required. Familiarity with computer programming tools such as MATLAB and SAS is valuable but is not required.

MS, a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) program (36 credits):

• Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from an accredited college or university or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• Economics majors with a strong undergraduate record and a robust quantitative background are preferred.
• Non-economics majors having some minimal exposure to economics but with strong quantitative skills in mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, etc., will also be considered.

MA program (30 credits):

• Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from an accredited college or university or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
• All undergraduate majors with a strong academic record with some knowledge of economics, calculus, and statistics, will be considered.

All deadlines are for the following Fall Semester. 

All international applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow time for the Student Visa process. This process can take anywhere from one to four months, depending on the country of origin. Please submit applications materials as early as possible. 

Use the button below to begin your application. You will be redirected to create an account, start an application, and then choose your program. Returning users can use this link to log in to their existing application(s).

• Personal Statement
  PhD applicants should upload a Personal Statement detailing why they wish to pursue Economics study at UB. Further instructions are included in the online application. (A Personal Statement is optional for Master's applicants.)
• Curriculum Vitae
  PhD applicants should upload a current Curriculum Vitae (CV). (A CV is optional for Master's applicants.)
• Academic Transcripts
  All applicants must upload an unofficial or official transcript or academic record for each institution indicated in the Educational Background section of the online application, even if a degree was not granted. These documents must be uploaded before the application is submitted. If an applicant applies before they have completed an undergraduate degree, transcripts and degree conferral certificates/proof of degree will be required as soon as they become available or upon arrival on campus. Admission will be considered “provisional” until the department receives the final official transcript and proof of degree.
  • Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. If possible, ensure the institution has put the applicant's name on the transcript/record. Do not mail in a copy of a transcript or academic record which has been uploaded to the online application, unless requested.
• Letters of Recommendation
  The online form will ask PhD applicants to submit names of their recommenders, who will then be prompted to submit recommendations through the online system. (Letters of Recommendation are optional for Master's applicants.)
• General Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
  The department recommends (not requires) all Masters applicants to take the general GRE for admission consideration. The GRE is required for Phd Applicants.(Subject tests are not required.) The exam must be taken within two years from the time an applicant wants to begin either the Master's or Phd program. (For example, applicants applying for Fall 2018 admission should submit scores no older than June 2016.) There are no exceptions or waivers. On test day, please make arrangements to submit official scores to the University at Buffalo. University at Buffalo code: 2925. Department of Economics code: 1801.
• English Proficiency Exams (International Students Only)
  In addition to meeting the standard academic criteria for the program, international applicants must also demonstrate English proficiency. PhD Applicants have additional minimums to meet to be awarded funding.

International Teaching Assistant (TA) English Speaking Proficiency Requirement for PhD applicants
In addition to the English language proficiency requirement (demonstrated with a valid score from one of UB’s approved English language proficiency tests), any international PhD student who will be awarded a teaching assistantship must also demonstrate English language speaking proficiency by achieving and submitting one of the following minimum Speaking test sub-scores:
Test Name and Minimum SPEAKING Sub-Score for PhD applicants
TOEFL IBT Speaking 25
IELTS Speaking 7.5
DET (Duolingo English Test) Speaking 145

Any international student awarded a Teaching Assistantship (TA), whose speaking sub-scores are below these thresholds but not lower than 22 on TOEFL iBT Speaking, 6.5 on IELTS Speaking, or 120 on DET Speaking is considered a candidate for TA responsibilities and must be approved for teaching assignment through a successful in-person teaching demonstration conducted by UBs English Language Institute (ELI) and home department faculty representative(s).  A student awarded a TA appointment, who upon arrival to campus fails an in person speaking or teaching demonstration, or whose speaking scores are lower than candidate minimums, must enroll in and successfully complete ELI 512, Oral Communication for International Assistantships prior to being assigned assistantship duties at UB.

Exams must be taken within two years from the time an applicant wants to begin either the Master's or Phd program. (For example, applicants applying for Fall 2018 admission should submit scores no older than June 2016.) On test day, please make arrangements to submit official scores to the University at Buffalo. University at Buffalo code: 2925. Department of Economics code: 1801. 

With questions about the graduate application process, please contact Jameson Yu, assistant director to the graduate programs in Economics:

• PhD Applicants: ecophd@buffalo.edu
• Master's Applicants: ecoma@buffalo.edu