English Proficiency
Standard Admission English Proficiency
- All applicants who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency in English with one of the following exams and the minimum score indicated.
| Internet-based TOEFL Test (iBT) | 79 |
| Paper-based TOEFL Test (PBT) | 550 |
| SAT I Verbal (Critical Reading) | 450 |
| IELTS (with no subsection score below 6.0) | 6.5 |
Conditional Admission English Proficiency
- Conditional admission may be permitted if your score falls within the ranges shown below. If you are conditionally admitted, you will be required to register for and successfully complete at least one additional English course during your first semester of enrollment and you will be limited to taking four courses.
| Internet-based TOEFL Test (iBT) | 70 - 78 |
| Paper-based TOEFL Test (PBT) | 523 - 547 |
| SAT I Verbal (Critical Reading) | No conditional allowance |
| IELTS (with no subsection score below 5.5) | 6.0 |
Conditional Bridge Admission Proficiency
- Conditional Bridge Admission may be permitted if your score falls within the ranges shown below.
| Internet-based TOEFL Test (iBT) | 60 - 69 |
| Paper-based TOEFL Test (PBT) | 500 - 520 |
| IELTS (with no subsection score below 4.5) | 5.5 |
| SAT I Verbal (Critical Reading) | No conditional allowance |
- Students who have no TOEFL / IELTS score or scores below the above ranges cannot be admitted.
- Applicants who are offered Conditional Bridge Admission (CBA) will meet the terms of their conditions through a two-step process.
First, they must successfully complete the Intensive English Program in UB's English Language Institute. Length of study in the Intensive English Program will range from 12 weeks to 28 weeks; the Office of International Admissions will determine the program length requirements based on your TOEFL / IELTS score at the time of application. Successful completion of the Intensive English Program is defined as:
- Overall B average in the IEP classes with no individual grade below C, and
- Overall B average in IEP attendance with no individual attendance grade below C.
- IEP students with Conditional Bridge Admission are also required to sit for the ELI Institutional TOEFL exam at the end of the program (while a minimum “exit” score is not required, the test data will be used for the purposes of institutional analysis).
Students who do not successfully complete the Intensive English Program will be required to enroll in another session of the IEP and may not begin credit-bearing degree study until successfully completing the program.
Second, students who successfully complete (described in the above paragraph) the Intensive English Program as part of their Conditional Bridge Admission, will be permitted to begin credit-bearing degree study in the next regular academic semester (fall or spring semesters only; initial summer study is not permitted). In the first semester of degree study, students must enroll in and successfully complete:
- ESL 411 or ESL 412, Advanced Spoken English, and
- ESL 407, Advanced Written English I, plus
- Two additional academic courses.
Successful completion of the first semester of study is defined as:
- Minimum grade of C in each of the ESL courses.
- Overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 (out of 4.0) in the four classes taken in the first semester.
- Meeting all of the minimum attendance requirements in each class (set by the individual instructors).
Students who do not meet these requirements may be required to repeat the semester with the same conditions. Students who still do not meet the requirements in a repeated semester may be dismissed from the university.
Application Process: Complete the regular UB Application Form for International Undergraduate Applicants. Write your TOEFL / IELTS score and the test date in the appropriate question; next to this question please hand write: “Applying for Conditional Bridge Admission.” A separate application for the bridge Intensive English Program is not required. If you have already applied to UB and been offered Conditional Bridge Admission (CBA), you must e-mail intadmit@buffalo.edu agreeing to accept the terms of CBA; include your full name in the e-mail. If we do not receive an e-mail, we will assume you are not interested and we may withdraw your application.
Cost: If you are admitted to UB with Conditional Bridge Admission, your degree studies may require one extra semester at the regular cost. If you also require a summer session, this may add $5,000 - $7,000 to the first year of study.
Conditional Bridge Admission I-20: If you are admitted to UB with Conditional Bridge Admission, the University will issue one I-20 for both the academic degree program (your intended major) and for the bridge Intensive English Program.
- Only scores from tests taken within two years prior to the time of enrollment are acceptable. An official TOEFL score must be sent from the testing agency. Certified true copies may be submitted for initial review.
- Please note:
For the paper-based TOEFL test, the UB School Code is: 2925