Honors students stand out—and stand apart. Show us your intellectual curiosity; your commitment to diversity, inclusion and civic engagement; your resilience in the face of adversity; and your ownership of your own education, and you could be one of those selected to join the Honors College.
What We Look For
The Honors College aims to build a community that is diverse in its talents, interests and backgrounds. Successful applicants typically:
Represent the top 10% of incoming first-year students.
Are intellectually curious.
Demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement.
Have shown resilience.
Take ownership of their education.
If you’re interested in joining this highly talented community—if this is exactly the kind of extraordinary experience you’ve hoped to find in a college—your first step is to apply.
How to Apply to the Honors College
Apply to UB
Interested students must apply for
Coalition for College
If you’re submitting the Coalition for College application, you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.
Common App
If you’re submitting the Common Application (Common App), you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.
ApplySUNY App
If you’re applying with the State University of New York (ApplySUNY) Application, please complete the Honors College supplemental application.
Honors Essay
As part of the application process, we ask you to write an essay so we can learn more about you.
Early Assurance & Dual Admissions Programs
UB and the Honors College offer a number of programs that can help you earn multiple degrees, or get admitted to a specific program.
To be considered for a merit scholarship, the Office of Admissions encourages you to apply by November 1 for priority scholarship consideration.
Rolling Admissions
Offers of admission to the Honors College are made on a rolling basis. Space in our program is limited. Preference is given to applicants who apply earlier.
Applying After Your First Year
Some students start their first year at UB as non-Honors students, and then apply to the Honors College after their first year. While this is always an option, we encourage you to apply to the Honors College as you’re applying to UB, so you have all of the opportunities available to Honors scholars.
If you are transferring to UB from another college or university, or you're currently attending UB, we welcome you to apply for the Honors College. Transfer students and current UB students follow the same application process for the Honors College; the only difference is that transfer students must also be admitted to UB.
Deadlines
Oct. 1 for fall admission.
March 1 for spring admission.
Application Requirements
Completion of at least 30 credit hours (including transfer and alternative exam credits) and at least one full semester as a matriculated undergraduate student.
Transfer students: you must be already admitted to UB when applying.
Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher.
At least one year remaining of undergraduate studies (i.e., if a student is planning to graduate in spring 2026, the last semester they can apply for Honors is spring 2025)
There is more to being a UB Honors scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors scholar outside of academic achievement and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
One of the hallmarks of the UB Honors College is our students' intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one current topic/issue that interests you and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
One letter of reference from faculty submitted to honors@buffalo.edu. Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will only be accepted supplementally in addition to the required faculty letter.
Attend an Information Session
We welcome UB Singapore students to apply for the Honors College.
When to Apply
No incoming first-semester students (including transfer students) will be admitted immediately in the fall.
The application period will open after the end of spring semester to continuing students admitted in the Spring semester or prior. (For example, for Fall 2025 admissions, we will accept applications from students admitted in Spring 2025 or earlier.)
Application Requirements
Completion of at least 30 credit hours (including transfer and alternative exam credits) and at least one full semester as a matriculated undergraduate student.
Transfer credits are acceptable and students should submit a copy of their transfer work transcript with their application along with their UB transcript.
At least one year remaining of undergraduate studies (i.e., if a student Is planning to graduate in spring 2027, the last semester they can apply for Honors is spring 2026).
One letter of reference from UB faculty, including local instructors teaching for the SIM-UB program, should submitted to honors@buffalo.edu. Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will not be accepted.
Two short essays:
There is much more to being a UB Honors Scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors Scholar outside of academic achievement, and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
One of the hallmarks of a UB Honors Scholar is our students’ intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one topic/issue today that interests you, and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
Admissions Decisions
SIM-UB Honors applications will be evaluated by a committee that includes Honors College and International Education staff. Students will be selected by:
Overall GPA
Strength of schedule
Consistency, breadth, and depth of extracurricular activities
Demonstration of leadership potential
The quality of the essays
We look for students who are not just superlative in the classroom, but have demonstrated a commitment to learning beyond the curriculum.
Important Dates
June 1 – Spring grades can be taken into consideration
Aug 1 –Releasing decision by early August will allow students to plan their Fall courses to include HON255 before the start of Fall semester.
The Singapore application will be open from June 1 through July 1.
Please plan to attend an information session if you are interested in applying to the Honors College as a current UB student. Transfer students are also welcome.
Information sessions are typically held during the first week or two of each semester. You do not have to pre-register for in-person sessions (only for remote sessions.)
All aspects of the application process and requirements will be covered at these meetings.
Fall 2025 Information Sessions
Tuesday, September 2, 1pm-1:45pm in Capen 107
Wednesday, September 3, 1pm-1:45pm in Capen 107
Thursday, September 4, 12pm-12:45pm in Capen 107
Friday, September 5, 2pm-2:45pm in Capen 107
Monday, September 8, 10am-10:45am on Zoom (Register for Zoom link)
Thursday, September 11, 11:30am-12:15pm in Capen 107
Monday, September 15, 12pm-12:45pm in Capen 107
Tuesday, September 16, 10am-10:45am on Zoom (Register for Zoom link)