Applying
(1) Apply on-line, using the Graduate School's interactive form. Supporting material still must be submitted by mail.
Note: international students must use this form.
(2) Mail a request or phone us (716 645-2575 x1010), and we will send you information about our programs. You then mail us the required supporting material.
The materials listed below should be sent to:
Director of Graduate Admissions,
Department of English
306 Clemens Hall
State University of New York at Buffalo,
Buffalo, New York 14260.
The deadline for applications to the Ph.D program is January 2. Since we will begin processing applications during the first week of January, meeting the deadline is especially important if you wish to be considered for the enriched fellowships offered through the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences. (See FELLOWSHIPS.)
For the M.A. program, we have a February 1 deadline for all applicants.
We have no spring semester or mid-year admission. International applicants are urged to complete their applications as early as possible to allow extra time for meeting immigration requirements. All applications must include the following:
Completed application form. International applicants must include the International Applicant Financial Statement. Grad Financial Forms can be downloaded from International Admissions.
Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate or graduate coursework.
Three letters of recommendation and a waiver form for each letter.
Results of the GRE general aptitude test (institution code 2925, department code 2501). Please note that in order to be eligible for nomination for additional fellowship support from the College of Arts and Sciences, you need to achieve a combined score on the Verbal & Quantitative sections of the GRE of 1270. We accept, but do not require, the results of the advanced test in English.
Results of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for international applicants whose native language is not English (institution code 2925, department code 14).
A personal statement of two to three double-spaced typed pages.
A substantial sample (15-20 pages) of critical writing on a literary topic. Creative writing is welcome in addition but since our degree is given for critical thinking and scholarly research, we must see what a student can do in those areas.
The application fee of $50 payable to SUNY at Buffalo. Payments can be made on-line by program:
M.A. Program Application Fee,
Ph.D. Program Application Fee.
Under extraordinary circumstances this fee can be waived.
Any exceptions to these conditions must be approved by the Director of Graduate Admissions.
We include an information sheet titled "How to Approach This Application" with every application packet. It provides an insight into how our own procedures work, as well as some generalized ideas about what goes on behind the scenes in admissions offices. Material can be gotten from, and questions answered by, this e-mail address: eng-grad@buffalo.edu
