Graduate Admissions
The Department of Media Study offers several degree options for graduate students: Students wishing to pursue a master’s degree should consider the MS in Media Arts and Sciences (MS) or the Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts Production program (MFA). The department also participates in the College of Arts and Sciences' Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in the Humanities (MAH) program, which has a separate admissions process. For those who see themselves as artist–scholars, the department also offers an innovative practice-based PhD in Media Study.
On this page:
For PhD applicants
December 8: PhD applicants wishing to receive consideration for TA positions, the Presidential Fellowship, and/or the Schomburg Fellowship. See detailed information about the Schomburg Fellowship below to find out more.
All PhD applicants must submit their completed applications by December 8.
For MFA, MS, and MAH applicants
January 5: MFA, MS, and MAH students who apply by January 5 will be given priority for admission in the fall semester, but applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until May 1.
March 1: International applicants must submit their completed application no later than March 1 to allow time for student visa processing, which can take 1 to 4 months depending on your country of origin.
Step 1: Review application requirements
When completing your online application, include the following materials:
Electronic transcripts: Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required. Upload scanned copies of transcripts from all institutions attended. Include English translations when required. Official transcripts are required only if you are admitted and enroll.
Three letters of recommendation: Recommenders should know your academic or professional work well. Letters are requested after you submit your application for final review.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Include research experience when applicable. Your resume should show how you have applied ideas from coursework, developed research skills and built a foundation for graduate-level work.
Statement of Educational and Career Goals (Personal Statement). Please provide one to two pages. Applicants should discuss their reasons for pursuing this unique degree blending the quantitative procedures of STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and the qualitative practices of art and design. Describe the ways in which your background, experience, current skills and interests can contribute to your work toward this degree. What challenges or experiences have led you to apply to this degree?
Before you apply
Applicants for the Masters of Science in Media Arts and Sciences (MS) should have a Bachelor of Science degree and should have taken college-level linear algebra and statistics. Applicants should exhibit strong academic potential for success in both the Media Arts and STEM fields.
Electronic transcripts: Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required. Upload scanned copies of transcripts from all institutions attended. Include English translations when required. Official transcripts are required only if you are admitted and enroll.
Three letters of recommendation: Recommenders should know your academic or professional work well. Letters are requested after you submit your application for final review.
Curriculum Vitae: Include research experience when applicable. Your CV should show how you have applied ideas from coursework, developed research skills and built a foundation for graduate-level work.
Statement of Purpose (Personal Statement). This should be a one to two-page description of the student’s creative and research interests. Please be specific with regard to media, artists, areas of study, issues, and/or projects that you have completed or want to complete. In particular, what challenges or experiences have shaped your educational and artistic goals? Students should indicate particular courses they plan to take or general resonances and interests they may have with the DMS curriculum and any specific faculty whose research areas overlap with their own. To ensure full consideration for teaching assistantships, students should indicate their areas of expertise and media/technology skills relevant to the department’s wide-ranging curriculum.
Portfolio Materials. Students may include films, video, image files, audio files, written documents such as essays, theoretical or critical papers, poetry, fiction/nonfiction, software/algorithms (excluding executable code) or equations. Materials must be viewable across multiple platforms and operating systems (win/mac/linux). The department supports the newest versions of the following browsers: Firefox, Explorer, Chrome and Safari.
Before you apply
Applicants for the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree should have strong artistic goals as well as strong academic ability. Although most successful applicants will have a creative portfolio of work samples, students from all majors are encouraged to apply. A strong fit between the student and the department’s strengths is the most important criteria. Students are advised to visit the department’s faculty research page.
Electronic transcripts: Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required. Upload scanned copies of transcripts from all institutions attended. Include English translations when required. Official transcripts are required only if you are admitted and enroll.
Three letters of recommendation: Recommenders should know your academic or professional work well. Letters are requested after you submit your application for final review.
Curriculum Vitae: Include research experience when applicable. Your CV should show how you have applied ideas from coursework, developed research skills and built a foundation for graduate-level work.
Two academic writing samples: These texts should demonstrate the student’s ability to express and articulate ideas concisely. Recent publications or publication-quality papers are of particular interest.
Statement of Research and Creative Practices (Personal Statement) This document should outline the prospective student’s intellectual engagement with media and describe their creative practice. It should detail the applicant’s areas of interest, study, and accomplishment. Applicants are encouraged to reflect upon the issues, challenges, or experiences that have shaped their educational and artistic goals.
The statement should articulate specific research topics and questions the student might pursue in the program, including a description of a potential creative and scholarly project they might develop in the context of Media Study’s practice-led PhD program. Applicants should mention any specific faculty whose research interests, practices, and backgrounds overlap with their own, or with whom they have had contact regarding their plans. Applicants should also describe their particular knowledge sets, including software and technical skills, that might be useful for teaching assistantships and/or contribute to the variety of approaches to and concerns about media that distinguish our department.
Portfolio Materials. Students may include films, video, image files, audio files, written documents such as essays, theoretical or critical papers, poetry, fiction/nonfiction, software/algorithms (excluding executable code) or equations. Materials must be viewable across multiple platforms and operating systems (win/mac/linux). The department supports the newest versions of the following browsers: Firefox, Explorer and Safari.
Before you apply
Applicants for the PhD in Media Study degree should have strong artistic goals as well as strong academic ability. Although most successful applicants will have a creative portfolio of work samples, students from all majors are encouraged to apply. A strong fit between the student and the department’s strengths is the most important criteria. Students are advised to visit the department’s faculty research page.
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.
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, 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
Master's funding options
Most master’s programs are self-funded, and many students use a mix of financial aid, employment and scholarships to support their studies. Continuing your education is an important investment, and UB offers resources to help you explore available options.
PhD funding options
Academic year stipends of $23,690 and a full tuition waiver for all full-time, funded PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant, research assistant, or graduate assistant appointments.
- UB’s stipend levels are competitive among public Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions.
Additional Fellowship Opportunities:
- Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program: Candidates are required to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates must also demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities. Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility. This scholarship program is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria. Students may apply for the Schomburg Fellowship on the UB graduate application for their program.
- Presidential Fellowships: To be eligible for Presidential Fellowships, candidates must meet the criteria listed on the Presidential Fellowship page. Both domestic and international students are eligible, if they meet these criteria. For any questions regarding funding for academic year 2025–2026, contact the director of graduate studies or department chair.
For the PhD Program
Please check back in Fall 2026 for information on whether the program will be accepting applications for admission/funding in the 2027–2028 academic year.
For more information about Media Study Graduate programs, email mediastudy-grad@buffalo.edu