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Whether you are applying as an undergraduate or graduate student, the Department of Linguistics offers opportunities to deepen your understanding of language, culture and global communication. Explore application requirements, degree options and admissions information to find the path that fits your goals.
If you are applying to UB for the first time, you will complete the university’s standard undergraduate admissions process. If you are already a UB student, the process is different. Use the section below that matches your current status to find your next step.
New to UB?
Your first step is to apply to the University at Buffalo.
When completing your application, select Linguistics as your intended major (or the linguistics minor). For details about deadlines, requirements and application steps, visit the Undergraduate Admissions website. Once admitted, you will work with advisors to confirm or refine your major.
Already a UB student?
Want to add or switch to a linguistics major or minor?
Submit the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form to request one of the following changes to your academic plan:
- Add a major, minor, or certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Drop any major
- Drop any minor
With questions about the undergraduate application process, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
UB offers a flexible, research-focused graduate experience where students are admitted to a program rather than to an individual faculty member. This gives you the opportunity to work with different faculty, explore new research directions and refine your interests as you progress.
🎓 Expert mentorship
Work with faculty who conduct research across a range of linguistic fields and approaches. Because you are admitted to the program rather than to an individual advisor, you can work with different faculty, explore new research directions and identify the mentors whose expertise best fits your developing interests.
🌍 A city on the rise
Buffalo offers a vibrant, affordable environment with access to research institutions, cultural organizations and international connections. Discover the possibilities waiting in the Buffalo Niagara region.
💼 Career preparation
Graduate training develops advanced research, analytical and communication skills. Depending on your program and interests, that preparation can support careers in academia, language technology and research or further advanced study. Learn about Linguistics as a profession.
Choose the program that best matches your academic interests, research goals and career plans.
PhD in Linguistics: Pursue original research and advanced training across areas of linguistic theory and analysis while preparing for research-focused careers.
MA in Linguistics: Build advanced knowledge of linguistic theory and analysis while preparing for doctoral study or work that benefits from expertise in language and research. The MA also offers specialized pathways in East Asian Languages and Linguistics or Germanic Linguistics.
MS in AI and Natural Language Processing: Combine linguistics with computational methods to prepare for work involving language data, natural language processing, and related technologies.
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and have an academic record that demonstrates the ability to successfully complete graduate-level work in linguistics. A master’s degree is not required to apply to the PhD program.
Applications are evaluated based on your preparation for graduate-level training and research as well as how your interests connect with the strengths of the department.
For PhD applicants, the admissions committee pays particular attention to your potential for conducting professional research. Experiences that can help demonstrate your preparation include:
- Quantitative or other research methods
- Independent or collaborative research
- Research projects or publications
- Other academic experiences that demonstrate your development as a scholar
Your statement of purpose and letters of recommendation are important opportunities to show that preparation.
Finding your research fit
You apply to the program, not to an individual faculty member. If admitted, you are free to work with different faculty and your research interests may evolve as you progress through the program.
Your research fit still matters during admission. Applicants are evaluated in part on how their interests connect with the department’s areas of expertise.
Prospective PhD students seeking funding are encouraged to review faculty research interests and contact faculty whose work overlaps with their own before applying. Faculty can provide feedback on your plans for pursuing a PhD in linguistics at UB.
Research on Haudenosaunee languages
The Department of Linguistics recognizes that it operates on the territory of the Seneca Nation, a member of the Haudenosaunee/Six Nations Confederacy. The department places special priority on supporting research on Haudenosaunee languages that aligns with its broader mission, particularly research led by members of Haudenosaunee nations.
Applications are submitted through the UB Graduate School and reviewed by the Department of Linguistics.
Application deadlines
- December 15: PhD applicants seeking funding
- Prospective PhD students who want to be considered for funding are encouraged to review faculty research interests and contact faculty whose work aligns with their own before applying. Faculty can provide feedback on your plans for pursuing a PhD in linguistics at UB.
- March 1: International MA applicants
- April 1: Domestic MA applicants
- August 1: Fall MS applicants
- January 1: Spring MS applicants
All Linguistics graduate programs admit students for the fall term only, with the exception of the MS in AI and Natural Language Processing, which offers both fall and spring admission.
Step 1: Review application requirements
Application requirements vary by graduate program. Choose your program below to see what you need to submit.
Program application requirements
Electronic transcripts: Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for review. English translations are required when applicable.
Resume or CV: Highlight relevant academic and research experience. When applicable, show how you have applied ideas from coursework, developed research skills and prepared for graduate-level study.
Two letters of recommendation: Submit at least two to three letters. At least two should come from faculty members familiar with your scholarly and research abilities.
Statement of purpose: The following spells out the kinds of information that inform the Department of Linguistics faculty’s admissions decisions above all others. We recommend that applicants try to answer these types of questions in their statement of purpose (SoP) specifically, though succinctly (including as much relevant detail as can be fitted into a document of a total length of 2-3 pages for the entire SoP). It is not necessary (but could be helpful) to identify the questions individually.
- Please identify the areas and subfields of linguistics that you are most interested in and most eager to receive training in. We would encourage you to be specific here: if you are interested not only in an area or subfield, but also in a particular approach, school, or research tradition within an area or subfield, we’d encourage you to mention it.
- Please talk about possible career paths you are interested in and hope that a Master's in Linguistics will facilitate the pursuit of.
Electronic transcripts: Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for review. English translations are required when applicable.
Resume or CV: Highlight relevant academic and research experience. When applicable, show how you have applied ideas from coursework, developed research skills and prepared for graduate-level study.
Two letters of recommendation: Submit at least two to three letters. At least two should come from faculty members familiar with your scholarly and research abilities.
Statement of purpose: Describe your academic interests, training goals and career plans. Your statement should clearly explain:
- The areas and subareas you’re interested in studying (be specific)
- Possible career paths you are considering
- Whether you are interested in continuing to doctoral study
GRE scores: Upload copies of your GRE scores in your application, or request an official electronic score report from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Use Institution Code: 2925. Official electronic scores will be automatically linked to your online application.
Your application should demonstrate clear research interests and your preparation for independent scholarly work.
Electronic transcripts: Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for review. English translations are required when applicable.
Resume or CV: Highlight your research experience and other scholarly work. Show how you have developed the knowledge and research skills needed for doctoral study.
Three letters of recommendation: Submit three letters. At least two should come from faculty members who can speak specifically about your scholarly abilities, research experience and potential as a researcher.
Letters are most useful when they provide concrete examples of your accomplishments, growth and research aptitude.
Statement of purpose: The following spells out the kinds of information that inform the Department of Linguistics faculty’s funding and admissions decisions above all others. We recommend that applicants try to answer these types of questions in their statement of purpose (SoP) specifically, though succinctly (including as much relevant detail as can be fitted into a document of a total length of 2-3 pages for the entire SoP). It is not necessary (but could be helpful) to identify the questions individually.
- Please identify the areas and subfields of linguistics that you are most interested in and most eager to receive training in. We would encourage you to be specific here: if you are interested not only in an area or subfield, but also in a particular approach, school, or research tradition within an area or subfield, we’d encourage you to mention it.
- Can you identify for us one or two works in linguistics that have particularly impressed or inspired you, and can you talk about why they had that impact on you?
- Do you have any prior research or work experience that has prepared you for PhD study (e.g., a research assistantship, work in a lab, or something similar)?
- ‘Research aptitude’ is the ability to design and carry out research projects. It is perhaps the most important qualification for doctoral studies. If you have carried out original research in linguistics, for example as part of coursework, a capstone project, or work experience, please provide a brief summary. Please be detailed and specific here to the extent that you think your description will help the Department of Linguistics faculty assess your research aptitude. If you have not carried out research in linguistics, but have done so in another field, please discuss this work instead (again keeping in mind the goal of providing evidence of your research aptitude). If the research has resulted in a write-up, that document would be ideal as a writing sample to accompany your application. The summary in your statement could then highlight those aspects of the work that you consider most relevant as an illustration of your research aptitude. If the work has not resulted in a write-up, your statement of purpose should then provide sufficient information about the study for the faculty to be able to evaluate it.
- As part of your statement of purpose, please feel free to provide us with a short sketch (between a few lines and not more than one page) of a possible research project within linguistics that you might be interested in pursuing. Please note that it is not a requirement for admission that you have a plan for research, and you will not be expected to carry out the research you outline in your statement (while you would of course be welcome to pursue it, provided it is feasible). The objective of this research idea sketch is exclusively to further inform the assessment of your research aptitude. It may in particular be used as a possible way of compensating for lack of research experience.
- Can you name some active Department of Linguistics faculty members whom you’d like to work with, and can you tell us why you’d like to work with them? (Please note that the following members of the faculty have retired and no longer accept advisees: Matthew S. Dryer, Jeri Jaeger, Leonard Talmy, Robert Van Valin, Jr., Wolfgang Wölck, David Zubin.)
Academic writing sample: Submit a scholarly writing sample of 2,500 to 3,000 words that demonstrates your research and analytical abilities.
International Applicants
International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow time for student visa processing, which can take 1 to 4 months depending on your country of origin.
Please submit the following in addition to standard program requirements.
For admission review: (uploading unofficial versions is acceptable)
- Transcripts with English translations
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL 79, TOEFL iBT New Scale 4, IELTS 6.5, PTE 55, Duolingo 120 or higher)
- Passport biographical page (showing name, date of birth, and expiration date)
After admission (for visa processing):
- International Applicant Financial Form
- Bank statements showing financial support equal to or greater than the full cost of the first year of graduate study
- Additional documents based on the program's funding, visa status or dependents, if requested
Step 2: Start your Graduate Application
Apply using UB’s online application system.
- Create an account
- Choose your program and term
- Follow the instructions for the College of Arts and Sciences
- Returning users: Log in to check your status or update your application
Non-refundable application fee: $75
After you submit your UB graduate application, you’ll be prompted to make your payment online by credit card or ACH through Nelnet.
U.S. citizens or current permanent residents may request a fee waiver through the application portal after completing the graduate application and uploading all required materials.
Once you are admitted, you will work with faculty to shape your path through the program. Here are answers to common questions about what comes next.
Most students complete the MA in about two years. Some students take longer depending on their research focus and course planning.
The PhD includes both MA-level and doctoral-level study.
You will:
- Complete MA requirements first
- Advance to the PhD phase after meeting program expectations
- Continue into advanced research and dissertation work
Students who complete the MA phase but choose not to continue in the PhD may still earn the MA degree.
You may be able to transfer previous graduate coursework.
- Up to 36 credit hours may be considered
- All core UB program requirements must still be completed
- Transfer credit is evaluated on a case-by-case basis
No. You can apply directly to the PhD with a bachelor’s degree if you are prepared for graduate-level research.
You will work closely with faculty and have flexibility to explore different research areas before focusing your work.
Funding support
Students accepted to the PhD program who apply by the December 15 deadline receive a full graduate stipend and tuition remission. PhD applicants may also be eligible for additional fellowships and scholarships.
With questions about the graduate application process, please contact us!
