Graduate admission

Test codes

Applicants, please note these codes: the University at Buffalo institution code is 2925. Our department code for TOEFL is 64; our department code for GRE is 1001.

Overview

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering offers three graduate degree programs:

• Master of engineering (MEng) – primarily intended for practicing chemical engineers who desire advanced professional training and for those who desire to enter the workplace with a technical specialization beyond that of the bachelor's degree.
• Master of science (MS) – primarily intended for students desiring to acquire some research experience in addition to formal training in chemical or biological engineering fundamentals at an advanced level through graduate coursework.
• Doctor of philosophy (PhD) – intended to prepare outstanding students to become future leaders in the field through an emphasis on the development of students' ability to perform independent, creative, and in-depth research.

For more information, such as degree requirements, areas of concentration, and specific course descriptions, see Graduate Degree Programs .

Applications for admission are evaluated by the graduate committee on the basis of criteria reflecting academic quality and probable success in advanced study. These criteria are:

1. undergraduate and (where applicable) graduate grades
2. GRE exam scores
3. letters of recommendation
4. a statement outlining past accomplishments, professional objectives, special interests, and educational plans

Superior grades and exam scores are, of course, important for admission. However, cases exist where students not having the highest grades were admitted partly on the basis of strong letters of recommendation clearly indicating superior ability and dedication in undergraduate research. It is advantageous to request letters from individuals who have significant knowledge of your abilities-for instance, professors who have taught you in more than one course or with whom you have carried out an independent study project or research. You should give these individuals as much lead time as possible so that they will not be not rushed and will be able to write detailed and thoughtful letters about you.

How to apply

Applicants, please note these codes: the University at Buffalo institution code is 2925. Our department code for TOEFL is 64; our department code for GRE is 1001.

Main application form

There are two ways to submit the main application form for graduate admission:

• Online – The preferred way is to use UB's online application. In this case, only the supplementary materials need to be sent via regular mail. Completion of the form in this fashion will allow us to more easily respond to your queries on the admission process.
• Paper – As an alternative, you may download the main application form in Acrobat Reader (.pdf) format and mail it to the department along with the supplementary materials. The software for reading the acrobat reader (.pdf) files is free and can be obtained from Adobe . Under rare circumstances, when applicants do not have ready access to the Internet (e.g., if they work for a company located in a rural area of a country that has a limited Internet network), the department's graduate admissions office will mail out paper copies of the forms. These forms are identical to the downloadable files; please do not make duplicate requests for the paper version. Students from all major universities around the world are expected to have Internet access and can use it for the application process.

Supplementary materials

In addition to the main application form, all of the following supplementary materials must be submitted before your application will be considered:

All graduate applicants

1. Complete a brief (1-2 page) statement outlining your past accomplishments, professional objectives, special interests and educational plans. If you are applying online, you may use the space provided in the online main application form-there is no need to complete a duplicate version. If you are using a paper application, however, you must attach this to the main application form.
2. Arrange to have official transcripts sent directly to the department from every institution previously attended, along with all completed degree certificates.
3. Arrange to have three individuals familiar with your education and research background to complete letters of recommendation. This should be done using the recommendation letter form (.pdf). You should download this form and provide a copy to each recommender, who should then complete the form and send it directly to the department.
4. Take the General Aptitude section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange to have your results sent directly to the department.
5. Submit the $50.00 application fee. This fee is required in order to process the application forms. The fee can be submitted online, by credit card, or by check or money order (checks should be made payable to "State University of New York at Buffalo").

International applicants

1. Regardless of financial ability, complete and return the International Applicant Financial Form. International students are also encouraged to read the Special Instructions and Information for International Applicants, which will provide information on the amount of funds needed for your study and other necessary application information.
2. Send a photocopy of the biographical page of your passport to the department.
3. If you are an international applicant applying from a non-English speaking country, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and arrange to have results of the test sent directly to the department.

All application materials must be sent to:

Graduate Admissions
Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
303 Furnas Hall
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York 14260-4200

Deadlines

The primary season for admission is fall. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is February 1 of the year in which admission is sought. You should make sure that all documents pertaining to your application are received by the graduate office on or before this date.   All applications are reviewed by the graduate committee on the basis of the information received at the time of evaluation. Applications arriving late are never ignored, but you should be aware that the chances of admission on the basis of a late application are reduced because some offers may already have been made by the time your application is complete.

You may apply for admission in the spring semester, but you should be aware that offers of admission in spring are quite rare. The deadline for receipt of applications for spring admission is October 1 of the preceding year.

Frequently asked questions about admission

• Will individual faculty be able to review my credentials prior to the application process?
  No, individual faculty will not be able to comment on your application or chances of admission since the decision for admission is made centrally by the graduate admissions committee only. Admission to the graduate programs is competitive and the outcome depends on the quality of the applicants that we have each year. As a result, it is impossible for individual faculty to provide an "appraisal" of a candidate's chances of getting admitted to a program.
• I am applying for a PhD. Will my chances of admission be reduced if I cannot demonstrate financial support?
  Admission to the PhD program is by merit only. Typically all students admitted to the doctorate program are supported by teaching or research assistantships or fellowships that provide stipend support and cover tuition costs. On rare occasions, however, students with very good credentials who did not make the cut, but have convincingly demonstrated their ability to support themselves financially, may be admitted to the PhD program without financial aid. These are typically Fulbright Fellows and Government sponsored applicants.
• I am applying for the PhD program. Do I need to send in the financial aid form?
  Yes. This is necessary to complete your application.
• I am applying for an MS. What are the chances of financial aid?
  Master's students are offered full financial support only under rare circumstances.
• Can I pursue a PhD immediately after my B.S. without a Master's degree?
  Yes.
• When will the graduate admissions committee review my application for admission to the fall semester?
  The graduate admissions committee begins sending out offers of admission after February 1. This process continues until the end of April.
• On what basis are admission decisions made?
  The graduate admission committee makes all admissions decisions. An evaluation of the applicant's academic qualifications is the only basis for admission. These evaluations are based on the applicant's academic record, GRE scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation, not on specific scores alone. The criteria for evaluation varies each year depending on the pool of applicants.
• What is the minimum TOEFL score accepted?
  The Graduate School suggests: 550 (paper) / 213 (CBT) / 79 (IBT). The department admission committee's criteria may be different.
• What is the minimum GRE score accepted?
  There is no specific minimum for GRE.
• What is the minimum GPA accepted?
  The Graduate School suggests GPA equivalent to 3.0 for PhD and 2.75 for Master's. However, the department admission committee's criteria can be different and varies from year to year.
• What is the best way to send the letters of recommendation?
  We prefer to receive hard copies of the letters that have been sealed and signed. If they are in sealed envelopes, you may submit them with the application package. We do accept emails from recommenders.
• Can I choose an advisor when applying?
  We admit students centrally, into the department as a whole, and then students select their research advisors within the first two months of their studies here.
• I have a question about the status of my application. To whom should I write?
  Please write to cegrad@acsu.buffalo.edu to enquire about your application. Individual faculty will be unable to respond. Because of the number of applications, we cannot answer questions about the receipt of documents. We will notify you of missing documents.

Graduate Admissions

Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
State University of NY at Buffalo
303 Furnas Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-4200 USA
(716) 645-2911 - Phone
(716) 645-3822 - Fax