Our program offers training in a diverse array of subjects and a key component of the application process is to identify an EVS faculty member with whom you wish to work. We strongly encourage students to correspond with potential advisers before applying to the program to determine whether the adviser is accepting new students into their lab or group. Applications are reviewed by and must be accepted by both the Graduate Affairs Committee and the potential adviser. Admission is based on the strength of the student’s academic record, letters of recommendation, as well as language proficiency (for international applicants).
Accepted students will subsequently be required to submit official copies of these documents (transcripts and language proficiency scores, if appropriate) before enrolling.
Funding for students in the form of fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships may be offered to students when available from faculty research grants, the faculty member’s home department or other University and College of Arts and Sciences sources. In order to receive full consideration for Teaching Assistantships (TAs), you should complete your application and make sure all supporting materials (transcripts, letters of reference) are in our office by January 1st (for fall admissions). In general, TA’s are preferentially awarded to PhD applicants. Additional information about financial aid is available from the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions.
The graduate application fee is $75 U.S. (payable online or by check or money order made payable to the University at Buffalo). Applicants to master's-level tracks who reside in New York State are eligible to apply for an application fee waiver courtesy of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office, provided they have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and meet the admissions deadlines.
Application Checklist:
Applicants should have a CGPA* of 3.0 or higher (*cumulative undergraduate grade point average). The EEB program is competitive, and average GPA admission scores are generally 3.5 for MS, and 3.8 for PhD applicants. For international applicants with different grading systems (e.g., 0-100), submitted scores will be considered in relation to the top scores of the grading system in that country. Applicants will also be asked to list the names and email addresses of three individuals who are willing to write online letters of recommendation. They will be contacted after you have submitted your application for review. We no longer accept GRE scores for the Masters or PhD programs in EEB.
International applicants who do not speak English as their native language must take a language proficiency exam and upload their scores upon application. In line with the general UB grad school requirements, the EEB Program accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, CAE, and CPE scores. In order to be considered for funding through a Teaching Assistantship (TA), international applicants should have a TOEFL iBT score of at least 100, or higher, an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher, a minimum PTE Academic score of 55 with no individual section sub-score below 50, or a score above 200 on the Cambridge English Scale (=Grade A for CAE, Grade C for CPE).
Important dates:
Fall admissions:
EEB MS (Ecology and Sustainability track): May 1st
EEB PhD (Ecology and Sustainability track): January 1st for funding consideration, May 1st final application deadline (please see note about TA funding in the 'Funding' section above)
Spring admissions:
EEB MS (Ecology and Sustainability track): December 1st
EEB PhD (Ecology and Sustainability track): December 1st (no funding considerations for Spring admissions)
If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, contact us at evs-admin@buffalo.edu.