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Home > Degree Programs > Master of Science > MS in Accounting > Admissions Process and Deadline
Incomplete files will not be reviewed. It is expected that earlyapplications will be complete within 30 days of original online submission. Applications must be complete and all documents filed by the deadline date to be considered for a given round. These programs admit for the fall semester only, there is no spring admission.
ALERT! Due to very high demand for the MS MIS program for fall 2013, applications were closed as of Monday, February 11, 2013. No application fees or documentation will be accepted after that date and only files that are complete by that time will be considered for fall 2013 admission. The MS MIS application for fall 2014 will be opened in September. All other programs remain open at this time.
| Who may apply | Application due | Decision notification | Tuition deposit due ($500) |
| Accounting applicants ONLY | October 5, 2012 | December 7, 2012 | January 18, 2013 |
| All applicants | November 16, 2012 | December 14, 2012 | January 25, 2013 |
| All applicants | February 1, 2013 | March 8, 2013 | March 29, 2013 |
| All applicants - International final deadline | March 1, 2013 | March 29, 2013 | April 19, 2013 |
| U.S. applicants only | April 5, 2013 | May 3, 2013 | May 24, 2013 |
| U.S. applicants only | May 20, 2013 | June 7, 2013 | June 21, 2013 |
Please be sure to submit required documentation as instructed and do not send in multiple ways as this slows down your application processing. If you uploaded it, do not mail hard copies and do not e-mail it to the program office. The items marked with an asterisk (*) should be uploaded before you mark your application complete. If you failed to upload the documents you may send them as attachments to som-apps@buffalo.edu.
Graduate Programs Office
School of Management
University at Buffalo
203 Alfiero Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-4010
Electronic files may be sent to som-apps@buffalo.edu - be sure to include your name on all documentation as it appears in your official application.
If you have begun your application, you may view your checklist to find out what materials you are missing. Please give our office two to three weeks to update this list from the time you sent the documents.
A nonrefundable fee of $100 is required. Pay online by credit card at the end of the online application process. (If credit card payment is not possible, a $100 fee is payable in U.S. funds by check or money order to "State University of New York at Buffalo." Be sure to indicate your full name on the check or money order.) Cash is not accepted.
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the online application for admissions review. An official final transcript from every post-secondary institution attended must be submitted to finalize admission. If you are a domestic applicant, please ask all colleges and universities you have attended to send official transcripts in sealed university envelope. If you are an international applicant, further instructions will be provided with your I-20 materials and you will need to bring these documents to campus. All transcripts must be in English and Chinese applicants must also submit a transcript in Chinese. UB students may print their transcripts from the HUB system. The School of Management will not request transcripts.
MBA degrees cannot be conferred unless transcripts are on file from every school attended. Applicants who are currently enrolled in graduate or undergraduate courses must submit transcripts from the most recent semester completed, but will need to provide final and official transcripts to finalize admission. Indian applicants must also submit a copy of their proof of degree. Applicants from India please see additional information [PDF].
The GrAdMIT checklist has more than one line item for transcripts - if you only attended one undergraduate institution you may ignore the second item. If you attended multiple schools we must have transcripts from all schools attended.
As part of the online application process, you will be asked to supply the e-mail address of two recommenders. Once you complete your online application and pay the application fee, your recommenders will be sent an e-mail message asking them to submit an online statement of recommendation on your behalf. You will be notified by an automated e-mail when your recommenders have completed the submission and your checklist will be updated.
MS Accounting applicants: We require at least one letter from a professor in your undergraduate accounting program.
A calculus prerequisite is a requirement for all programs. The requirement is completion of one semester of college level calculus with a "B" grade or better, or completion of two semesters of college calculus with at least "C" grades. MS Accounting: this requirement may be satisfied by one calculus course with a grade of "C" or better.
If you have taken a course containing calculus concepts (functions, limits, continuity, derivatives, etc.) that is not specifically called calculus on your transcript, please forward a note indicating which course contained calculus content.
If you have not satisfied the calculus requirement you should plan to take a calculus course in the semester or summer prior to your intended enrollment date.
Briefly describe your career objectives. Be as specific as you can concerning the types of positions and responsibility levels to which you aspire. Include short-term and long-term goals. Describe how you expect the MS program to help you achieve your goals. (Approximately 700 words.)
All personal statements must be uploaded to the application. Be sure to include your full name identical to that used on the application site.
Submit a résumé showing relevant work experience and education. Your résumé must be uploaded to the application. Be sure to include your full name identical to that used on the application site. If you have full-time work experience please include telephone and e-mail contact information for the two most recent workplaces shown on your résumé.
You may upload copies of score reports to the online application for admissions consideration. If admitted, you will need to have the testing agencies send official score reports to the University at Buffalo.
Applicants for the MS in Accounting must submit a GMAT score. All other MS applicants must submit either a GMAT or GRE score. You must specify that the testing service report scores to the University at Buffalo School of Management. While the admissions committees do not have absolute minimums for admission it is unlikely that prospects with a percentile score below the 30th percentile in any section of the GMAT or less than a score of 152 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE will be admitted.
The GMAT institutional code for the School of Management varies by program. Be sure to use the correct code:
MS in Accounting - K6RQX67
MS in Finance - K6RQX45
MS in Management Information Systems - K6RQX87
MS in Supply Chains and Operations Management - K6RQX91
The codes for the GRE are:
Department Code - 4201 (General business dept. code) or 4303 (MIS)
Institution Code - 2925
See GMAT or GRE if you have not yet taken one of them. Download the GMAT Handbook [PDF]
Pearson Professional Centers-Williamsville (Buff)
Centerpointe Corporate Park
325 Essjay Road, Suite 104
Williamsville, NY 14221
716-565-9379
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. International applications are due by March 1 and domestic applications are due by May 21. It is advisable to apply early as some programs may be closed prior to the final application deadline due to limited seat availability. The admissions committee reviews applications according to the “critical dates” schedule provided at the top of this page. The committee will not review incomplete applications, so please be sure to submit all required materials by the deadline you select.
Please note that scholarships are not available for MS programs. General financial aid information for domestic applicants may be found on the university financial aid site.
Please Note: It takes approximately three to four weeks to process and prepare an international application for admissions review. The admissions committee reviews completed applications according to the schedule at the top of this page. You will receive a decision by e-mail followed by a letter sent via surface mail. Any international applications arriving close to the final deadline of March 2 will be reviewed in order of receipt. Therefore, it is prudent to apply earlier.
International applicants must have completed an academic program equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree prior to enrolling. Students may apply during the final year of such a degree program but must furnish proof of graduation before the end of the first semester of enrollment.
You may upload copies of score reports to the online application for admissions consideration. If admitted, you will need to have the testing agencies send official score reports to the University at Buffalo.
All applicants who are not native speakers of English, including those who are transferring from or who have completed degree programs at other U.S. colleges or universities, must prove their English language proficiency by taking a standardized test and reporting the score to the university. Scores expire two years from the date the exam is taken - please be sure to submit valid scores. Unofficial score reports may be submitted as the admissions office has the capability to verify scores. (Important - No Certificate of Eligibility will be issued until a satisfactory language test score has been submitted.) The following tests are accepted:
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report must be dated within two years of applying to this university. Further information about the TOEFL may be obtained from the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Information Service in your country or by writing the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08540-6151, U.S.A. The school code and department code for the University at Buffalo are 2925 and 02 respectively. The school generally requires a TOEFL score of at least 570 or 230 on the CAT TOEFL for admission. The IBT TOEFL is also accepted, with a preferred score of 95 or better and no section lower than 22. Visit the TOEFL
The Pearson Test of English is accepted for admission to the UB MBA and MS programs. The university has established minimum acceptable scores at a 73 total and a minimum of 68 on each of the individual sections. Students who enter the program with the PTE will be required to take an institutional TOEFL after arrival at the university - at no cost. The TOEFL score will be used for benchmarking purposes since the PTE is a newly developed test. See the PTE website for testing and reporting information.
The IELTS is accepted for admission to the UB MBA and MS programs. The university requires a score of 6.5 overall with no section lower than 6.0. Information on testing and reporting for the IELTS can be found on their website. [School code: 4454]
If your English skills are not strong, you may wish to consider the English Language Institute (ELI) at this university prior to applying. ELI offers intensive English language courses during the summer (six- and twelve-week sessions), fall, and spring semesters. Information and application forms for ELI may be obtained by contacting ELI, 320 Baldy Hall, North Campus, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260. See: UB English Language Institute
All international applicants must document their ability to meet all educational and personal expenses for the entire period of intended study before this university can issue an I-20 or IAP-66. It is essential that you read the International Applicant Financial Form carefully. Complete and return the form along with official supporting documentation as outlined in the instructions. Photocopies will not be accepted. No certificate of eligibility will be issued without satisfactory financial documentation. Financial documentation is required for visa issuance only but we recommend that you submit it with your application to avoid any delays.
The eduPASS Web site contains useful information about studying and living in the USA. We strongly recommend that you look it over if you haven't been to it before. Click on the logo below:
The Personal Privacy Protection Law
The Personal Privacy Protection Law requires this notice to be provided when collecting personal information from individuals: The information on this admissions application will be used by the School of Management at the University at Buffalo to evaluate your request for admission. Failure to provide the requested information could prevent your application from being processed. The authority to request this information is found in section 355 (2)(i) of the Education Law.
This application will be maintained in the Office of Academic Programs Administration. The official responsible for the maintenance of this information is the assistant dean, Graduate Programs Office, School of Management, University at Buffalo, 203 Alfiero Center, Buffalo, NY 14260-4010.
