Deadlines and FAQs

You must complete your application by the listed deadline (including all supplemental documents and recommendations). Programs only begin in the semesters shown on the chart.

IF an application deadline is extended, it will be posted on the chart above.

The application fee is nonrefundable.

The application process is electronic. We cannot accept supporting documents by fax. Once you submit your electronic application form, you will be able to view your checklist. You will upload the required documents to your checklist. You are responsible for communicating the deadline to your recommenders.

You will receive an email notification after your application has been determined to be complete. This is a manual process so it can take up to a week after your checklist items are fulfilled for us to make that determination. 

You must select three academic or professional references who are best able to assess your potential for graduate-level study and for the profession of social work. This includes:

• faculty
• classroom instructors
• academic advisors
• current or past employers, supervisors or professional colleagues

Do not use friends, relatives, friends of the family or other personal relationship sources. Also, do not use clients you provide services to, or counselors or other individuals you receive services from.

PhD and MSW/PhD applicants should have at least two recommendations from faculty with earned doctorates.

You will send the recommendation requests to your three recommenders via the application portal. They will receive an email with a link to complete a brief evaluation form and AND upload a letter of recommendation. You should send the recommendation requests well in advance of the deadline (we recommend at least four weeks). All three recommendations must be submitted by the deadline in order for us to consider your application. 

You must upload copies of your transcripts when completing the electronic application. Unofficial or "student copies" are acceptable for the review process. You must upload one transcript for every school you have earned college credits from, regardless of whether a degree was received.

If you prefer to send official transcripts for the application review process instead of uploading copies, you may do so (see addresses below). Final official transcripts are required after students are admitted. It takes time for colleges and universities to process transcript requests, so make sure you are requesting them in advance of the deadline.

Official transcripts must be mailed to:

University at Buffalo 
School of Social Work- Admissions
685 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1050

or sent via secure and official electronic delivery to: swinfo@buffalo.edu. 

The School of Social Work does not require standardized tests or GRE scores to apply to any of our degree programs. 

If you are applying to one of the interdisciplinary dual-degree programs, you may need to take a standardized test required by the collaborating department or school. Contact that department for more details about their requirements. 

If you are an international applicant and English is not your first language, you must submit official English Language proficiency scores. You can view the test options and minimum score requirements here. 

The test must be dated no more than two years prior to the date you would start in the program.

You are considered a non-matriculated (or non-degree) student if you are enrolled in classes but not seeking a degree. If you have earned a bachelor’s degree, you can be approved to take elective credits as a non-matriculated student. You can view the non-degree application process here.

Up to 9 credits of electives can be applied to degree requirements if you subsequently apply and are accepted into our MSW degree program. Non-matriculated students pay tuition and fees per credit hour and may take up to 6 credits in a semester.

In addition to the traditional MSW application requirements, applicants to the advanced standing program must also have:

1. A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
2. No more than six years between conferral of the bachelor’s degree and start date of the MSW program
3. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
4. B- or better in ALL social work major courses

The advanced standing criteria is extremely strict, so if you do not meet ALL the requirements above, you do not qualify for advanced standing, regardless of work experience or other degrees earned.

All above advanced standing eligibility criteria must be met at time of application and at time of bachelor degree completion.

A maximum of 6 credit hours of elective coursework (3 credits for advanced standing) from an accredited graduate program in a field other than social work may be accepted from outside the School of Social Work as transfer credit to the MSW program. Such coursework must have been taken within the previous six years at an accredited institution; content must be social work related and have been graded B or better. Up to 30 credits earned in a CSWE-accredited MSW program may be transferred into the traditional program.

To have your transfer credits evaluated, you must email the following to swinfo@buffalo.edu:

1. Completed transfer credit request form(s) for each course. 
2. A full syllabus for each course (not just a course description).
3. An unofficial transcript showing all courses, semesters, and grades.

The University at Buffalo School of Social Work does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

As per SUNY policy, all admitted students will be deemed out-of-state residents for tuition billing purposes until sufficient documentation is provided to verify New York State residency in advance of class registration.

If you indicate on your application that you are a New York State resident, and you are not a continuing UB student, you will be required to upload three documents to verify your residency and obtain the in-state tuition rate. The list of acceptable documents can be found on the accepted student information page. 

The University at Buffalo School of Social Work supports the State University of New York Board of Trustees’ decision to remove application questions asking about prior felony convictions. Applicants to the University who have a felony offense in their background no longer have to report that information at the time of application. UB students will be asked to declare a prior felony conviction post-admission when they seek campus housing or participate in clinical or field experiences, internships, or study abroad programs.

Professional schools, such as the School of Social Work, are still obligated to inform field placement sites if a student has a felony in their background. All accepted MSW students, full and part time, traditional and advanced standing, and all dual degree, will be required to disclose any, and all, prior felonies when completing their field placement application. This will trigger a meeting with a field education staff member who will advise the student on how best to discuss their situation with prospective field placements.

Students who do have a past felony must understand that they may encounter challenges in securing a field placement, depending on the nature of the charge(s). If students are unable to successfully complete field education requirements it will result in dismissal from the program. 
 
Students are responsible for investigating the licensure requirements in the state in which they wish to practice. Please note that any past criminal conviction may result in denial of state licensure. Applicants should contact the governmental department that licenses social workers in the state they wish to practice.

The School of Social Work prepares professionals who often work with vulnerable populations. As a consequence, adherence to professional ethical standards is expected of all its students. All students will be expected to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics (1996; National Association of Social Workers; Washington, D.C.), which consists of detailed ethical standards and ethical principles. 

Each student must satisfy the Technical Standards for Admission, Promotion, and Graduation, in accordance with program requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations, to enroll in, fully participate in, progress through, and graduate from any UBSSW program. These requirements apply in the classroom, in field placements, in our school, in the university, and in the broader community and societal context.