Graduate Admissions

Nursing student talking to a client.

The University at Buffalo School of Nursing offers a range of graduate level programs of study, including a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and a Masters Degree (MS) in Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines by Program
Program Fall Deadline* Spring Deadline* Summer Deadline*
MS Nurse Leadership 7/15
1/5

N/A
BS to DNP: FNP, AGNP, PMHNP  
Priority: 4/1
Final: 6/15
(Fall start: part time only)		 N/A 4/1
(Summer start: full time only)
BS to DNP: Nurse Anesthesia
 N/A N/A

10/15
DNP Early Assurance: 
FNP, AGNP, PMHNP		 4/15
(Fall start: part time only)		 N/A 4/15
*RN to BS students only
(Summer start: full time only)
PhD
Preferred International: 1/10
Final: 4/15  		 N/A N/A
MS to DNP 7/1 1/5 N/A
Advanced Certificates (Family, Psych/Mental Health, Nursing Education) N/A 1/5
 4/1
Nursing Leadership Advanced Certificate 8/15 1/15 N/A
Non-Degree 1st day of class 1st day of class 1st day of class

*Due to available space in our programs, deadlines are subject to change and may close early.

Important

All application materials are submitted online through the application portal, except for official transcripts and test scores.  

Please have official transcripts mailed to:

UB School of Nursing
Beck Hall-Graduate Admissions
3435 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14214

Admissions Requirements

The School of Nursing reserves the right to change admission and program criteria to meet prevailing accreditation and registration requirements.

Students who have been dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible for admission.

Master's Program

MS in Nursing Leadership

Before you can apply, you must have:

  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree
  • An active U.S. RN license
  • Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 preferred

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges ever attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references
  • Official GRE or MAT scores if your overall undergraduate GPA is below 3.0

Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs

Post-BS to DNP

NOTE: STUDENTS WHO WANT TO STUDY FULL TIME SHOULD APPLY FOR SUMMER. PART-TIME STUDENTS SHOULD APPLY FOR FALL.

Before you can apply, you must have:

  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • An active U.S. RN license
  • Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • One year of full-time RN experience
  • Nurse Anethesia: At least one year of experience, excluding the orientation period, working full-time in an ICU in the U.S.

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae highlighting months/years as an RN and months/years in ICU. Include current contact information of most recent nurse manager
  • Personal statement
  • Three references
  • Official GRE or MAT scores
    • Preferred minimum GRE: 50% on each section 
    • Preferred minimum scaled score for the MAT: 400
  • Proof of all additional certifications achieved (e.g., CCRN, BLS, ACLS, PALS)

*This does not apply to current BSN students applying for Early Assurance. (See Early Assurance page for details.)

Post-MS to DNP

Before you apply, you must have:

  • The equivalent of a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree
  • Active U.S. RN and NP licenses
  • An active national certification in the specialty to which you are applying (ex. CRNA, FNP, etc.)
  • MSN GPA of 3.25 or higher

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references
  • Official GRE or MAT scores if your MSN GPA is below 3.5

Minimum GPAs are strictly enforced in the application review; no rounding and no exceptions. 

Early Assurance Program

PhD Programs

Post-BS to PhD

Before you can apply, you must have:

  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree
  • An active U.S. RN license or active foreign nursing license
  • Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher

 To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Two scholarly writing samples
  • Three references
  • Official GRE or MAT scores

Post-MS to PhD

Before you can apply, you must have:

  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree
  • An active U.S. RN license or active foreign nursing license
  • Overall MSN GPA of 3.25 or higher

 To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Two scholarly writing samples
  • Three references
  • Official GRE or MAT scores

Advanced Certificate Programs

Family Nurse Practitioner

Before you can apply, you must have:
  • The equivalent of a Master of Science (MS) degree in advanced practice nursing
  • Active U.S. RN and NP licenses
  • Active national certification in your specialty area (ex. PMHNP, AGNP, etc.)
  • MS GPA of 3.0 or higher
To apply, you must submit:
  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official copies of transcripts from ALL colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references

Nursing Education

Before you can apply, you must have:
  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree
  • An active U.S. RN license
  • Acceptance to one of UB’s graduate nursing programs OR a graduate degree in nursing from another institution

To apply, you must have:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Copies of transcripts from all colleges ever attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references

Family/Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Admissions evaluations and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. The Nursing Core courses may or may not be waived based on admitted student’s work experience and/or time since completing his/her previous nursing program(s).

Before you apply, you must have:
  • Copies of master's transcripts for review
  • The equivalent of a Master of Science (MS) degree in advanced practice nursing
  • Active U.S. RN and NP licenses
  • An active national certification in your specialty area (ex. FNP, AGNP, etc.)
  • MS GPA of 3.0 or higher

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official copies of transcripts from ALL colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references

Nursing Leadership

Before you apply, you must have:
  • The equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree (3.0 GPA preferred)
  • An unencumbered U.S. RN license

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Copies of transcripts from all colleges ever attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • 1 letter of reference

Additional requirements specific to each program may need to be met should the student wish to continue on to enroll in a Master’s program in Nursing or in Management.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation will be uploaded directly to the online application by your recommender after s/he receives the online links. Letters of recommendation should be written by a masters or doctoral prepared professional. 

GRE & MAT Scores

GRE code: 2925 | MAT code: 1514

Although the admissions committee does not have a minimum GRE score, the average verbal score is 151 and the average quantitative score is 150. We recommend either a 4, 5 or 6 in the analytical writing section. All three sections are required for admission. If you have taken the exam more than once, only the higher verbal and quantitative combined score will be accepted. We do not average scores together, and there is no waiver of the analytical writing section. The average MAT score is 410 which is equivalent to 70%. We do not average MAT scores together if taken more than once. 

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

  • If you do not have a US RN license, you must contact the state board of nursing to apply.
  • SPEAK Test, TOEFL or IELTS scores (minimum scores and more information); UB TOEFL code: 2925.
  • International Credentials/Transcripts/Proof of Degree/Translations.
    (Upon admission to the program, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degrees/translations in a sealed envelope to the International Admission Office.) 
  • Immigration and financial documents.
International Student Information

Additional Information

Graduate Programs
Graduate Finances
Technology Requirements
Statement of Non-Discrimination

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to its programs and activities. The entire notice of non-discrimination can be viewed here: www.buffalo.edu/equity.html