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Purdue University Graduate School
Prepare for Graduate School

Grad School Main > How to Apply

T

hank you for your interest in graduate studies at Purdue University! Applying to the Graduate School at Purdue University is easy! The following checklist (also available as downloadable PDF) will assist you in completing your Graduate School application and preparing your documents supporting your application.

Review the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for information regarding your graduate program requirements including application deadlines, admission requirements, and contact information.
Create an application account to start your Graduate School application.
Login to the Graduate School application using your account credentials.
Complete the following sections of the application based upon your enrollment objective:
Degree-seeking (Master's, PhD, and Professional degrees)
  • Applicant Information
  • Campus and Program
  • Education Background
  • Supplemental Form (if required by your graduate program)
  • Test Scores
  • Employment & Other History
  • Resume Upload (if required by your graduate program)
  • Fellowship Applicant Essay Upload (optional)
  • Statement of Purpose Upload
  • Recommendations
  • Acknowledgments
Graduate Certificate
  • Applicant Information
  • Campus and Program
  • Education Background
  • Statement of Purpose Upload
  • Acknowledgments
Non Degree or Teacher License
  • Applicant Information
  • Campus and Program
  • Education Background
  • Acknowledgments
Review the Technical Help Web page if you require technical assistance while completing your application.
Pay the nonrefundable application fee by credit card. The Graduate School application fee is $60 (U.S. dollars) for domestic applicants and $75 (U.S. dollars) for international applicants (non degree applicants are not charged an application fee).
If you are applying as a degree-seeking applicant, submit an official transcript for every institution of higher education attended to the graduate program to which you are applying. If you are applying as a Graduate Certificate or Non degree applicant, you must provide evidence of a baccalaureate degree. This may be a transcript, a copy of the diploma, or a letter from the college or university verifying the degree. Teacher License applicants must provide an official transcript from the college or university where your baccalaureate degree was received.
Unless otherwise noted on the Graduate Program Requirements Web page, three letters of recommendation are required for degree-seeking applicants. For recommendation providers who prefer to submit a paper recommendation, the recommendations should be mailed directly to the graduate program. Online recommendation providers will receive an email notification with instructions for accessing the recommendation system during the application process once you enter their names in the application.
Many graduate programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). If you have not done so already, request that ETS send your scores electronically to the Graduate School using the appropriate code for the campus to which you are applying.
International degree-seeking applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit proof of English proficiency. The Graduate School accepts the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic scores for admission. Some graduate programs may have higher score requirements than the Graduate School's minimum score requirements. The Graduate School will routinely waive the English proficiency requirement for applicants who have received a degree from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in one of the recognized English speaking countries. Note:  If you have not done so already, request that ETS send your scores electronically to the Graduate School using the appropriate code for the campus to which you are applying.
Submit any additional documents required to support your application to the graduate program to which you are applying.
You may check the status of your submitted application by logging into your online application account. The graduate program to which you applied updates your application status. If you have additional questions regarding your application status, you should contact the graduate program directly.