Information for Degree Applicants

The following information applies to all degree applicants. Additional requirements for International Degree Applicants can be found at Information for International Graduate Students.

Application and Fee

All applications currently require receipt of a non-refundable application fee and Application Fee Payment Form. Upon receipt of the form and fee, applicants are assigned an application number. Once you have received your application number, you may view your application status online.

Whether you submit your application Online or by Mail, please make sure that you have completed the entire application prior to submission. It is currently not possible to save your work in the online application and return to it later. If you have any questions during the application process, you may contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at graduate@uamail.albany.edu or by calling 518-442-3980.

Requirements and Deadlines

Transcripts, Letters of Reference, specific Standardized Tests and other requirements, as well as application deadlines, vary from program to program. Those particular to your program can be found at Graduate Degree Look-Up. Note: Application materials can neither be returned nor forwarded to any other address under any circumstance.

Credentials

In order to process your application efficiently and to maintain confidentiality, applicants must obtain required credentials in sealed envelopes, which must not be opened by the applicant. Please place all credentials within one large envelope — submissions in separate envelopes will impede your application’s processing — and send to the address below:
Office of Graduate Admissions
UAB 121
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12222

Obtaining and Submitting Standardized Tests

Applicants cannot submit photocopies of test results. Most official test results are obtained from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The ETS code for the University at Albany is 2532. A listing of other test services and procedures is available on our FAQ page.

Transcripts  

Please obtain official transcripts from each institution you have attended outside the University at Albany. Request that the institution's Registrar's office mail the transcripts directly to you. Do not open envelopes containing transcripts from your previous institutions. Mail these in with your other credentials. If an institution refuses to release a transcript to you, please arrange for the transcript to be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.

Letters of Reference

Applicants must include three (3) Letters of Recommendation, submitted in original sealed envelopes. You must complete the information requested on the top of the Recommendation for Graduate Study form and also provide your references with addressed, stamped envelopes. Evaluators should sign their name across the sealed flap of the envelope and return the sealed envelope to you. Do not open envelopes containing Letters of Recommendation.

If you wish to submit letters from an existing placement file, you may do so but they, too, must be sent in sealed envelopes from your college or university. If a reference is reluctant to provide you with an original letter, he or she may mail the letter directly to the Graduate Admissions Office, at the address listed above

Statement of Background and Goals

Most programs require the submission, on your own stationery, of a typewritten Statement of Background and Goals. Use whatever format is convenient for you. The statement should contain a brief description of your field of interest, related background, desired study and/or research emphasis, and your career goals. A resume may be required with your application, but cannot be substituted for the statement of background and goals.

Applying for an Assistantship

If you wish to apply for a departmental assistantship, please print and return an Assistantship Application.

Additional Requirements

Requirements vary from program to program. Those particular to your program can be found at the Graduate Degree Look-up