Admissions

Admissions Policy

Admission to the University is based on academic potential without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, color, creed, religion, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, status as an ex-offender, arrest record, predisposing genetic characteristics or genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal or New York State law. (Please see “Institutional Policies” for the University policy on accommodation of students with disabilities.) Persons who desire application materials or wish to arrange for an interview and a tour should contact the Office of Admissions, Daemen University, 4380 Main Street, Amherst, New York 14226. Telephone: (716) 839-8225, admissions@daemen.edu.

Criteria for Graduate Student Admission

Applicants for admission must meet the following requirements:

  1. All requirements specific to the student’s intended program of study (see departmental sections of this catalog for details).
  2. Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from a foreign university or college. (For details on the accelerated R.N. to M.S. program, see the Nursing Department section of this catalog.)
  3. Letters of recommendation, as specified by the intended program of study, preferably including one from the last school attended.
  4. A written statement describing educational objectives and areas of personal interest, and/or a resume summarizing professional activities and continuing education, as specified by the intended program of study.
  5. An on-site or telephone interview with the graduate program director/department chair, if required by the intended program of study.

International Student Admissions

You can link here to our university’s full policy for international student admissions. The policy can also be found in our policy portal: policies.daemen.edu

Application Procedures and Requirements for International Students

  1. Submit the Daemen University online application daemen.edu/admissions/international/apply ($50 application fee is required)
  2. Transcripts: All international transcripts must be sent through a credit evaluation service that will evaluate your transcripts to the American grading system and course equivalencies. Please request a course-by-course evaluation from The Evaluation Company , World Education Services. , Josef Silny Associates or Educational Credential Evaluators but any NACES-accredited member will also be accepted. For first-year applicants, please ensure the service you choose performs course-by-course evaluation on high school-level coursework.
  3. English Proficiency: All students whose first language is not English must submit the DUOLINGO (110+), IELTS (6.5+), or TOEFL (77+) exam score. Daemen University Institutional code for the TOEFL exam is 2762.
    1. Students who meet one of the following criteria may be exempt from submitting an English Proficiency score:
      1. High school students who have completed 2+ years of study in the US or Canada (except Quebec).
      2. Students who completed 2+ semesters at the US, Canadian (except Quebec), Australian, Irish, New Zealand, UK, or South African University/College and have completed two English Academic Writing or Literature courses with a grade of a B or higher.
    2. Daemen University does not accept any alternative forms of proof of English Language Proficiency, including letters stating the mode of instruction. The Admissions department in consultation with Academic Affairs may choose not to waive English proficiency at their discretion. 
  4. Personal Essay: Graduate students should see their program requirements for instructions regarding essay requirements. Transfer students do not need to submit an essay as part of their application. 
  5. Proof of Financial Support must be submitted. You must show the ability to pay for the entire cost of the academic program and living expenses in order to be eligible for the I-20 form necessary for a student visa (F-1) application. Financial support documentation will also be necessary when applying for your student visa at a United States Consular Office.

Graduate Requirements (International)

  • The minimum GPA requirement for most graduate programs is a 3.0*
  • Nursing Education, M.S., and Nursing Executive Leadership, M.S. require a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or above (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Most graduate programs require a minimum of 77 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, or 110 DUOLINGO or ELS level 112
  • The MPH program requires a minimum 85 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS or 110 DUOLINGO or ELS level 112
  • GRE or GMAT score within the 50% percentile for Education majors

Application Procedure for Degree-Seeking Graduate Students (including Applicants to Advanced Certificate Programs)

  1. Graduate application materials may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, Daemen University.
  2. Completed applications for admission should be returned to the Office of Admissions.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis unless otherwise stated in departmental sections of this catalog.
  3. To be complete the application must include all of the following:
    1. Application for Admission form.
    2. Nonrefundable application fee of $25.00. (The fee is waived for online applications or Daemen University graduates.)
    3. Copy of current certification or professional licensure if applicable (consult departmental policies).
    4. Students should request an official copy of transcripts of all college-level academic work, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. (In the case of Daemen University graduates, a transcript will automatically be furnished to the Admissions office at no charge.)
    5. Official transcripts of graduate courses completed at other institutions should be submitted at the time of application, and will be evaluated for acceptability as transfer credit within the first semester by departmental faculty:
      1. Up to forty percent (40%) of Daemen graduate credits may be satisfied by transferring credits from another graduate program. Grades (and quality points) are not recorded for transferred credits. Any Credit for Learning from Life Experience (CLLE) or credit earned through the Challenge Examination would be considered transfer credit for this purpose. Ordinarily, no more than eight graduate credits may be earned through challenge or CLLE.
      2. Transfer courses must have been taken within the previous seven years.
      3. No transfer credit will be awarded for a course in which a grade lower than B was received.
      4. Students who believe that their requests for transfer credit have been inappropriately denied may appeal to the Graduate Committee on Academic Standards.
    6. Any additional materials as required by the program of study, such as letters of recommendation, personal statement, resume, and standardized test scores.
  4. The Application for Admission will be reviewed for completeness by each academic department. The student will be notified in writing if the application is incomplete. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete.

Application for Non-Degree Status

Students wishing to enroll in a graduate class without matriculating in a graduate degree or certificate program may do so on a space-available basis with the written consent of the graduate program director. Non-matriculated students must fill out a Graduate Application and Registration Form, Non-Degree Status, available on the Registrar’s website. Ordinarily, non-matriculated students may take a maximum of nine graduate credits at Daemen. To continue taking graduate courses, the student must apply for admission as a degree or certificate candidate and be accepted into the graduate program. Any exceptions to this policy are made by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standards.

Students with Disabilities

Daemen University is committed to ensuring equal access and full participation in programs and activities for students with disabilities in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and applicable state and local laws.  Accessibility Services is the department designated by the University to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations and services for students with disabilities.

All students must meet the academic standards of their curriculum and abide by the Student Code of Conduct articulated in the Student Handbook. Certain programs have additional technical standards relative to performance in clinical and similar experiential learning environments. Reasonable accommodations are determined on a case-by-case and course-by-course basis. Accommodations that would fundamentally alter the nature of a course, program, or activity cannot be authorized. If you are a qualified applicant who may need accommodation within the academic setting or the campus environment (student housing, dining, etc.) please contact Accessibility Services via email: access@daemen.edu or phone: 716-839-8228 to discuss your needs.

Students or applicants who have any questions concerning the university’s non-discrimination policy or policy on accommodation of students with disabilities should consult the institutional policy portal found at policies.daemen.edu.

Admission of Degree-Seeking Students to Graduate Study (including Advanced Certificate Programs)

  1. The completed Application for Admission is reviewed by the graduate admissions coordinator and graduate program faculty, with the director of the program notifying the student in writing of the admission decision.
  2. The acceptance letter will be accompanied by a packet of materials which should be read carefully.
    1. The Graduate Tuition Deposit Agreement reserves the student a seat in a subsequent semester. Tuition deposits will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and are not refundable. TUITION DEPOSIT:
      Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant – $500.00
      All other graduate programs – $200.00
    2. The Health Form should be filled out and returned to the Health Services Office as soon as possible since registration cannot be completed until this is done. All students taking four or more credits, whether full-time or part-time, must file the Daemen University Health Services Form before registering for classes. Failure to return the Health Form will result in a delay in completing registration. If applicable, the student must also meet any health-related requirements specific to his/her graduate program.

Please note: As soon as the student remits the tuition deposit and is health-compliant, he or she should contact the office of his/her graduate program to make an appointment to register for classes. Registration is carried out by individual appointment in the departmental office. At the time of registration, the student will be assigned an advisor.

Financial Aid

Information on eligibility for and availability of Financial Aid can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office (716-839-8254) and in the Financial Aid section of this catalog. In general, to be considered for financial aid, the student must be admitted to a graduate program and register for at least five credit hours.

Students are advised to check with their employers regarding the availability of tuition reimbursement for graduate coursework.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs by students and employees on University property or while engaged in University activities off the University campus is prohibited. A complete description of the University’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy, according to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, is published in the Daemen University Student Handbook.