Buffalo, New York, US
University at Buffalo: English test requirements
Buffalo (SUNY) sets one university-wide English minimum for international undergraduates and a higher one for graduate applicants. Graduate departments may ask for more. SAT and ACT are optional for first-year entry and GMAT or GRE is optional for the School of Management MBA.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 6.0
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 70 or 4
PG 4 / 79
PTE Academic
UG 50
PG 55
Duolingo English Test
UG 105
PG 120
Undergraduate
One set of minimums for all undergraduate programmes. Scores must be under two years old at the time of admission. Self-reported scores can be used for the first review; official scores must come from the testing agency. SAT, ACT, IB, AP and GCSE or A-level English results can also prove English. The page also has exemptions for native speakers from listed countries.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (including MyBest scores) | 70 or 4 | AcceptedPrinted on the page as 70 or 4 with no scale names. | |
| PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online | 50 | Accepted | |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 | Accepted | |
| ACT (English and reading sections) | 18 | Accepted | |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 500 | Accepted | |
| IB English A: Language and Literature | grade 5 | Accepted | |
| AP English Language and Composition | score of 4 and/or a grade of B in the class | Accepted | |
| (I)GCSE English First Language and GCE AS/A level English | result of C | Accepted |
“Below are the minimum scores to be eligible for consideration for admission to UB's undergraduate programs.”
International first-year: English proficiency
Graduate
University-wide minimums set by the central graduate pages. Departments may require higher scores. Scores must be dated within two years of the review and sent directly by the testing agency. Applicants may retake a test to reach the minimum before starting. Citizens educated in English in a long list of countries are exempt.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (including IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake) | 6.5 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home and Paper editions) | 4 (new 1-6 scale) / 79 | AcceptedMyBest totals are also accepted at the same figures (79, or 4.0 on the new scale). | |
| PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online | 55 | Accepted | |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Accepted | |
| TOEFL Essentials | 8.5 | Accepted | |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency or C1 Advanced | 185 | Accepted |
“Although departments may require higher scores, the university's official minimum score for the IELTS is 6.5”
Graduate admissions: requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · International first-year applicants
Optional
Test scores are not required for admission or scholarship consideration. The page says most admitted applicants who submit scores have an SAT of 1170 or above or an ACT of 25 or above.
“The University at Buffalo has adopted a test-optional policy.”
GMAT / GRE · School of Management MBA programmes (Full-Time MBA listed)
Optional
The page says GMAT and GRE are optional and applicants may choose to submit scores.
“GMAT and GRE tests are now optional.”
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency (graduate, 185)
- TOEFL Essentials (graduate, 8.5)
- TOEFL MyBest (graduate, same totals)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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