SUNY at Buffalo, USA

One of the two flagship academies of the State University of New York, UB has been ranked among America’s Top 40 public universities for five years consecutively by the US News & World Report, writes Reshma Ravishanker

The state University of New York at Buffalo (UB aka SUNY, Buffalo, estb.1846) is one of two flagship varsities of the State University of New York (the other is Stony Brook). A member academy of the Association of American Universities, an elite group of higher education research institutions, UB has been ranked among the country’s Top 40 public universities for five years consecutively by US News & World Report. Likewise, the Institute of International Education (IIE) ranks UB among America’s Top 30 higher-ed institutions for student diversity — 13 percent of its 21,467 undergraduate students are from foreign shores. Spread across three campuses in Buffalo city, 35 km from the globally-famous Niagara Falls, UB offers it 33,000 students mentored by 2,500 faculty over 450 study programmes across the faculties of architecture and planning, arts and sciences, dental medicine, education, engineering and applied sciences, law, management, nursing, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, public health and health professions, social work, and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The university also hosts over 150 research centres with an annual research budget of $422 million (Rs.3,460 crore). The incumbent president of UB is India-born Dr. Satish K. Tripathi.

UB traces its origins to 1846 when it was promoted as a private medical college to train and certify medical practitioners of the villages of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Over the next century, it transformed into the private University of Buffalo. In 1962, it was merged into the State University of New York public education system. Illustrious alumni include award-winning journalist Wolf Blitzer; Li Yanhong (Robin Li), co-founder of baidu.com, the largest Chinese language search engine; Khalil Mack, NFL football superstar and American television star John Walsh.

Buffalo. The second largest city of New York state, Buffalo (pop.278,349) is sited on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, at the head of the River Niagara, on the US-Canada border. The world-famous Niagara Falls is a mere 30 minutes by road and the Buffalo-Niagara counties host a population of over 1 million. Cafeterias and parks along the river are a hub for cyclists to explore the scenic region. Buffalo is also among three US cities with a radial street pattern with the Niagara Square at its epicentre.

The city’s cultural landmarks include the oldest urban parks system in the US, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Shea’s Performing Arts Cen[1]ter, and Buffalo Museum of Science. It also hosts several other higher education institutions with an enrolment of over 54,000 students. Outdoor recreation activities include hiking, ice biking, sailing, and fishing.

Buffalo has warm summers and cold, snowy winters, and receives above average rainfall. Temperatures are the lowest in January (-4°C) and highest in July (25°C).

Campus facilities. UB sprawls across three campuses in the city — North, South and Downtown. The largest of them and its “academic heart” is the expansive 1,192-acre green North Campus sited in the suburb of Amherst. Inaugurated in 1970, it hosts thoroughly furbished academic and research buildings, student residence halls and apartments, awards-winning dining facilities, the Student Union and athletic centres. Abundant green spaces, including a recreational lake and a 65-acre living wood, complement the built-up environment.

The South Campus is spread across 153 green acres housing paradigmatic ivy-coloured buildings. High rise residential complexes, research and teaching facilities dot the campus which hosts the schools of architecture and planning, dental medicine, nursing, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

The Downtown Campus hosts the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biometrical Sciences in addition to the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, and the Clinical and Translational Research Center.

UB’s 11 libraries collectively house 4 million print volumes and also offer access to a wide array of digital information resources. Moreover the university hosts two art galleries, eight theatres/performance venues, state-of-the-art sports and athletic facilities including stadiums, basketball and tennis courts, swimming pools, and five fitness centres, several cafeterias and restaurants. Membership of over 400 student clubs is also on offer.

Admission. The minimum eligibility requirement is successful completion of class XII and proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, PTE or Cambridge English test scores). Submission of SAT/ACT test scores is optional. Beyond class XII and standarised test scores, UB requires applicants to submit a personal essay and a teacher recommendation. “Admission to the freshman class at the UB is based on more than just your grades. We are looking for students who excel academically, engage in extracurricular activities, and maintain a good school-life balance,” says a university spokesperson. The last date for submitting applications for the fall term beginning September is February 1.

Admission requirements for entry into postgrad programmes include successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and English language proficiency.

For further information, contact Office of International Admissions, 115, Capen Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260- 1604; e-mail: intadmit@buffalo.edu; website: www.buffalo.edu.

Accommodation. Students have the choice of nine on-campus halls of residence and apartments. The Ellicott Housing Complex is the largest with options of single, double, triple or quad rooms. All on-campus housing is fully furnished and wi-fi enabled with laundry services. Students can choose from a wide range of meal plans.

Degree programmes. UB offers over 450 study programmes including 140 undergrad majors and over 300 postgraduate and professional certificate programmes.

SCHOLASTIC OPTIONS AT UB

SUNY at Buffalo offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgrad programmes in 13 schools and colleges. They
include: School of Architecture and Planning; College of Arts and Sciences; School of Dental Medicine; Graduate School of Education; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; School of Law; School of Management; Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; School of Nursing; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; School of Public Health and Health Professions; School of Social Work.

Study programmes include African-American studies, anthropology, social studies, chemistry, chemical engineering, communications, criminology, economics, English, film studies, electric/computer/civil/environmental engineering,
exercise science, geological sciences, information and technology management, mathematical physics, medical
chemistry, music, theatre, dance, fine arts, etc.

Fees & expenses