> Application Procedure and Requirements
> Guidelines for CD-ROM submissions
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Application information - Master of Fine Arts
Application deadlines
Application deadlines for all materials to be received in the department are as follows:
January 10 for CAS Dean's Fellowship consideration.
February 1 for Teaching Assistantship consideration.
Applications received after February 1 and before April 15 will be considered for admission but will not be considered for Teaching Assistantships.
Admission to the MFA program is in Fall semesters only. Applicants will receive notification of acceptance by the middle of March.
Application Procedure and Requirements
(1) Fill out and submit on-line application form
(2) Send the following materials by the deadline above to:
Director of Graduate Studies/MFA program
UB Department of Visual Studies
202 Center for the Arts
Buffalo, NY 14260-6010
- Work samples on CD/DVD or 20 slides (see guidelines below) with a printed checklist indicating date, title, medium/format and scale when appropriate, and any other pertinent information;
- A Statement of Intent that concisely and articulately discusses: the content/focus of your work as represented in the work samples; the proposed focus of your graduate study at UB; and expectations regarding your MFA study. Ideally your statement should demonstrate historical awareness of the field and your relationship to it. Your statement may also include mention of any unique interdisciplinary interests, motivations, accomplishments and/or future goals.;
- Official (original/no copies accepted) Transcript with degree conferral
- Resume of professional accomplishments;
- Minimum of three signed letters of reference may be enclosed (in sealed envelopes) or sent separately.
(3) Application fee of $50 per online application instructions for payment. GRE exams are not required for admission.
International Applicants
International applicants must complete the online application for international students and also provide the following documentation to the department before the application deadline:
- complete financial form with supporting bank documents - follow the instructions on the International Graduate Admissions Web site
- officially verified TOEFL score from ETS
- English translation of transcript and
- proof of degree.
Statement of Intent
To be considered for admission to the MFA, including consideration for a Dean's Fellowship and/or Teaching Assistantship, a statement of intent must be included. The statement should concisely and articulately discuss: the content/focus of your work to this point, as represented in the work samples submitted; the proposed focus of your graduate study at UB; and expectations regarding your MFA study. Ideally your statement should demonstrate historical awareness of the field and your relationship to it. Your statement may also include descriptions of your unique interdisciplinary interests/ motivations/ qualifications/ accomplishments and future goals.
If applying for a Dean’s Fellowship, keep in mind that your statement will also be reviewed at the College level by faculty from disciplines outside of visual art.
Guidelines for CD-ROM submissions
CD-ROM presentations are preferable to slides but only if we can view the work! Images should be on a browser/ Web site/ slide show or other interactive presentation where we can click through images easily. A JPEG/HTML cross-platform format is recommended. If providing Director movies or videos, these should also be cross-platform.
International Students
There are additional application requirements and deadlines for International students — please review guidelines on the International Student Admissions web site carefully and provide additional documentation requested.
TOEFL - The Test of English as a Foreign Language
Standard Admission Minimums for UB:
550 Paper Test
213 Computer Test
79 Internet Test
Conditional Admission Minimums for UB:
500 Paper Test
173 Computer Test
60-78 Internet Test
