The Graduate School welcomes applicants to its graduate degree programs and also to graduate courses as non-degree students. Through the menu below, you can access program and application information, links to supplemental and specialized sources and direct access to application materials. If you have any questions about requirements, application or admission, please contact The Graduate School.
Binghamton University is strongly committed to affirmative action. We offer access to services and recruit students and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or national origin.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit a complete application packet and provide B#, major code, name and date of birth on all materials submitted. We ask that you not indicate Social Security numbers on documents submitted but use the above mentioned indicators instead.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required application materials in one complete packet or envelope. Official transcripts, letters of recommendation & other outside credentials should be requested to be delivered to the applicant’s personal address (in sealed/signed envelope) in order to be added to the complete application packet mailed to The Graduate School. Any credentials received separately must include a cover sheet (application checklist) with the student’s name, Binghamton ID (B#), major program code, and date of birth clearly marked in order to properly match to the correct application record. Please do not include your SSN on credentials submitted.
Former Name - Name change process:
Students who are applying under a different name than what is on credentials (transcripts, etc) must request a name change with their prior universitymust file a name change form with Binghamton University’s Registrar’s Office prior to applying to the Graduate School under a new name. Credentials that cannot be matched or properly identified cannot be used to process applications or forwarded to the department for review. before requesting to have transcripts sent to Binghamton University. Students who have applied and or taken courses at Binghamton University under a different name
A $60 application fee must be paid by all applicants. The preferred method of payment is online by credit card with your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. You are required to submit your Binghamton student ID# (B#) and PIN to complete this payment. B# and PIN are emailed to you in two separate emails within 2 business days of submitting your online application. You will need to wait to receive this information before completing the online fee payment. Please note that if you are a current Binghamton University undergraduate (or recently graduated as an undergraduate) you will not be issued a new PIN through our current process. If this is the case and you do not know your Binghamton PIN, contact the Graduate School at (607) 777-2151 or the Help Desk at (607) 777-6420 to request assistance. Students are currently unable to log-in to pay the graduate application fee using PODS.
If you are unable to pay by credit card and must pay by check or money order, print out and complete the Application Fee Payment Form and send with your payment to The Graduate School. We cannot accept cash payments.
As a public institution supported by the state of New York, we are required to charge an application fee for every applicant. Exceptions may be made for former McNair, EOP, HEOP, SEEK or Project 1000 students only. Students eligible for this waiver must complete the Application Form and check the indicative box located near the bottom of the form and also obtain and attach verification of this status from their undergraduate institution.
Your application is considered received on the date the application fee is received, and no action will be taken on your application until that time. Your canceled check or credit card billing is your receipt. Per SUNY policy, application fees are non-refundable.
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION:
Include the following on each document you send to The Graduate School:
Please do not indicate SSN on documents submitted. Further supporting documentation includes:
Please include the application checklist as the cover sheet to your application packet. This document will help you organize your application materials prior to their submission to Binghamton University's Graduate School. Failure to include the application checklist may delay processing of your application.
You must provide an official transcript from each of your undergraduate degree-bearing colleges or universities, and if it applies, from each of your graduate degree-bearing colleges or universities. If you have undergraduate or graduate studies coursework that is pertinent to the degree program you're applying for, you should submit those transcripts as well. Binghamton University students are not required to submit official transcripts for undergraduate or graduate education received from Binghamton University. The Graduate School will obtain these on your behalf. However, if you attended Binghamton University prior to 1994, we are unable to access records prior to that date and you must request official transcripts from the Registrar's Office.
Transcripts from some international institutions do not specifically state that a degree has been conferred. If your official transcript (mark sheet) does not specifically state that a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent has been conferred, you will also need to submit an official (attested) diploma showing conferral of the degree. For students from India, we will accept a Provisional Certificate of Degree as final.
If you are in the process of completing a degree, please send an official temporary transcript that shows your progress to this point. You will need to send an official final transcript once your degree is conferred. Please note that temporary transcripts that do not show degree conferral are adequate for the application process and processing of your application will not be delayed because you have submitted temporary transcripts. We understand that some international institutions may not issue transcripts for as much as one year after completion of the program. You will be permitted to register for your first semester without an official transcript; thereafter, however, you will not be able to continue to register without providing proof that you have completed your degree.
All applicants are encouraged to request official transcripts be mailed to their personal address in a signed sealed envelope which can then be included (unopened) in the complete application packet that is mailed to the Graduate School along with all other credentials. Submission of all materials in one packet is strongly encouraged and will help ensure that there is not a delay in application processing.
Letters of Recommendation
The Letter of Recommendation form consists of two pages. Two letters of recommendation are required, therefore print two copies of each page. While this form is preferred, it is not mandatory and you may simply request that your recommenders prepare letters. Applicants are encouraged to request to have letters mailed to their personal address in signed, sealed envelopes in order to have them included (unopened) with the complete application packet mailed to The Graduate School.Recommendations should be written by people who can authoritatively comment on your academic achievements at schools you have attended; applicants who have been out of school for more than five years may use other references.
Provide each of your recommenders with a copy of the Letter of Recommendation form and a postage-paid envelope addressed to you. Ask them to complete their recommendation, seal the envelope, write their name across the seal and return the recommendation to you in the envelope you have provided. Make sure you provide enough time to your recommenders to allow you to meet your application deadline. When you receive the recommendations, do not open them. The seal must not be broken. Include them unopened in your supporting documentation envelope.
Your recommenders may choose to send their letters directly to The Graduate School rather than to you. Therefore, please ask that they include the letter of recommendation form and that they clearly identify your name in addition to your B# or date of birth in their letters. In such cases, you may wish to provide your recommenders with envelopes addressed to The Graduate School instead of to you.
The Graduate School cannot accept emails as letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must contain the recommender's signature in order to be considered official.
Your Personal Statement should describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your special interests within your field and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to an admissions committee in your discipline. This application requirement has a 500 word maximum, but one page may be sufficient. You may choose to write your personal statement on the Personal Statement form or use your own paper. If you choose not to use the form, or if you require a second page, place your name and B# on each page of the personal statement. Include the personal statement in the supporting documentation packet. The personal statement must be typed.
Applicants to some programs are to address specific questions in the Personal Statement. Refer to your program's website for additional details.
When writing your Academic Statement of Purpose, be sure to indicate your reasons for pursuing this particular degree and program, how you feel your academic preparation applies, and your career aspirations. This application requirement has a 500 word maximum, but one page may be sufficient. You may choose to write your Academic Statement of Purpose on the Academic Statement of Purpose form or use your own paper. If you choose not to use the form, or if you require a second page, place your name and B# on each page of the Academic Statement of Purpose. Include the Academic Statement of Purpose in the supporting documentation packet. The Statement of Purpose must be typed.
Include an up-to-date copy of your resume or curriculum vitae. This should include your name, B# (Binghamton ID), contact information, educational degrees and certificates, and your work and volunteer experience listed in reverse chronological order. In addition you are encouraged to include any research or teaching experience you may have, as well as any published works, grants or fellowships received, awards, professional associations and licenses and any other information you feel is relevant to the program of which you are applying. The resume must be typed and no more than two pages.
Before you apply, you must take the appropriate tests for your program. GMAT scores are required for all applicants to the School of Management. GRE scores are required for virtually all programs in Harpur College of Arts and Sciences (except the MM in Music program), the Decker School of Nursing, the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, and for many programs in the School of Education.
GRE
In those fields where GRE advanced tests are given, scores for the advanced exam should also be submitted. Year-round computer-based testing (CBT) is now available at test centers worldwide. Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call 1-800-GRE-CALL. You may take a CBT once per calendar month. This is true even if you canceled your scores on a previous CBT taken within the same month. Educational Testing Service will report your scores to Binghamton University if you specify our code number, R2535, as a recipient.
GMAT
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) is available year-round at test centers throughout the world. For a complete listing of the locations where the GMAT is offered in your area and for registration procedures, visit the GMAT website. Specify our code number, R2535, to request that your GMAT scores be reported to Binghamton University. A minimum score of 580 is required.
TOEFL
Citizens of foreign countries must show proficiency in English on the college level. Depending on your location, the test may be either computer-based or paper-based. A minimum score of 79-80 on the internet based version, 213 on the computerized version, or 550 on the paper version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for admission. The Graduate School will accept IELTS in lieu of TOEFL scores with a minimum requirement of 6.5 with no band below 5.0. For complete details, visit the TOEFL website.
The TOEFL/IELTS score is not required if you have received a degree from a U.S. institution or if you have received a degree from an institution in a country whose native language is English.
The Graduate School at Binghamton University is unable to accept electronic submittal of TOEFL scores. Please be sure to request to have a paper copy sent to us from ETS. We will also accept a student copy of official scores for review.
In addition to the above statements and documents, to complete your application, you will need to include:
Certification that you will have sufficient funds for each year of study using the International Student Financial Statement if you are a citizen of a foreign country, whether you are currently enrolled in a U.S. university or not.
All necessary forms are available in PDF/.doc form and can be printed during the application process.
All supporting documents must be placed together in one envelope and mailed to The Graduate School at the address provided below. Preparing and mailing a complete supporting documentation packet will assure that your application reaches your program as quickly as possible. Incomplete packets will significantly delay review of your application, which could adversely affect your admission and/or funding. Please be sure to include your name, date of birth, Binghamton ID# (B#) and Major Code on all materials you submit.
The Graduate School
Binghamton University
PO Box 6000*
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
*For courier service, use: 4400 Vestal Parkway East, Couper Administration Building, Room AD-134.
Once your supplemental materials are received, The Graduate School will determine the completeness of your application, process your application and, if it is complete, immediately forward it to the program to which you are applying. You will be notified through the online Application Status Check when your application has been forwarded for review. You should continue to check your status online through each step of the application and review process. Any and all changes will be posted to your Status Check at the time that they are processed.
Admission decisions are made within the respective graduate programs; the time required for a decision varies by program and when the application is received. Applications are read and evaluated by committees of scholars in the respective field. Once the program has made a decision, that decision will be conveyed to The Graduate School. You will then receive an immediate e-mail notifying you of the decision; in cases of admission you will also receive a formal (paper) decision letter.
After submitting your electronic application, you will receive two separate e-mails within 2 business days containing your Binghamton student ID# (B#) and PIN. Your B# should be printed on all supplemental document forms and should be used any time you are corresponding with The Graduate School about your application. Your B# and PIN will be required in order to pay your Application Fee online and Check Your Application Status.
Many prospective students opt to apply to The Graduate School as non-degree candidates. Whatever your personal and professional goals, you may benefit from exploring a field of study at the graduate level to enrich your knowledge base and gain requisite background for a specific area of study before applying to a degree program.
Students who wish to take courses without being formally admitted to a degree program may take up to 12 credits, though some departments and schools further limit that number. No degrees or graduate assistantships are granted to non-degree students. Depending on the curriculum requirements of a program, courses taken as a non-degree student may be applied toward a degree, should the student later gain admission to a Binghamton University graduate degree program.
Any individual who has completed an undergraduate degree may take classes as a continuing education student at Binghamton University. Admission for non-degree status is an easy and quick procedure requiring the completion of a short online application, proof of a bachelor’s degree and a $25 processing fee. Permanent residents must also provide a photocopy of the Permanent Residency card. Undergraduate transcripts must state that a degree was awarded; however, it is not necessary to provide transcripts for undergraduate or graduate education received from Binghamton University.
Admission is automatic and enrollment can normally be obtained in a few days. Non-degree students are welcome in all areas at Binghamton University; however, some fields have such high demand from matriculated students that non-degree students might find courses already filled. Prospective non-degree students interested in taking courses in management should consult the academic departments in which they want to study to find out if they can be admitted to classes.
Within approximately one week, you will receive an admission offer letter, along with a health insurance form. Continuing education students taking fewer than 12 credits need to complete only the immunization portion of the health form (persons born prior to 1/1/1957 are exempt); if you intend to register for 12 or more credits, you will also need to submit evidence of a physical examination and proof of a PPD tuberculin skin test. The University Health Service provides tuberculin screening tests free of charge. The University Health Service has more information available on health requirements.
Use of Last Name:
In some countries, use of a last name (surname, family name, or given name) is not as common as it is in the United States. At Binghamton University, all student records follow the information from your application, and are based on the last name that you entered in your application. It is important that you use the last name you entered on your application on all other documents you provide to the university. It is also important that the last name you enter in your application match the name(s) that appear in your other identity and travel documents (passport, visa, etc.). If you obtain a visa and/or an I-20 after applying to Binghamton University, you should use the same last name that you entered in your application.These steps will help ensure that all of your travel and identity documents match, and that they reflect the same name as your Binghamton records.
Record Maintenance:
The Graduate School at Binghamton University does not maintain records for students who do not enroll. In these cases we are therefore unable to re-use credentials or materials previously submitted for a different application. This applies both to applicants who previously applied and were denied as well as to applicants who previously applied and were admitted, but did not attend.
Accuracy of Materials:
It is important that your application and the materials you submit be accurate and complete.
Property of Materials:
All materials submitted in support of your application become the property of Binghamton University. We cannot return these materials (or copies of these materials) to applicants.
Disclosure Requirements:
All applicants are required to disclose suspensions/expulsions from other colleges and universities as well as any felony convictions at the time that he/she submits the online application.
