III. Admissions

Purdue University’s graduate admission process seeks to select students whose applications document their outstanding ability, preparation, and potential for successful completion of graduate study. Purdue University’s Nondiscrimination Policy is found on the Purdue University Policy Office webpage - https://www.purdue.edu/purdue/ea_eou_statement.php

Inquiries about the need for academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services because of a disability should be directed to the Disability Resource Center at (765) 494-1247, drc@purdue.edu or http://www.purdue.edu/odos/drc/.

Within the broad, University‑wide framework authorized by the Graduate Council and the dean of the Purdue Graduate School, departments are primarily responsible for recruitment of students, the establishment of appropriate entry qualifications beyond minimum standards set by the Graduate Council, and initial evaluation and admission recommendation of applicants. Recruitment resources are available from the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Occasionally, pilot programs that deviate from standard policies and procedures are approved and administered by the Graduate School. These pilot programs are limited in scope and scale, help determine best practices in admissions and recruitment, and may impact future policies and procedures. Requirements and participating departments for these pilot programs are detailed in a proposal. Approved proposal documents are maintained by the Graduate School for the duration of the pilot program.

A. Graduate Student Recruitment

  1. Inquiries Purchased lists (such as from the GRE search service or Council of Undergraduate Researchers) and information from inquiries about admission received by the Purdue Graduate School are entered into Slate. Slate is the client relationship management system that includes unsolicited, inquiry, and application records. Once entered into Slate, inquirers receive communication from the Purdue University Graduate School and/or the appropriate department/interdisciplinary program[2]. As appropriate, inquiries are directed to the electronic application available at https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool.
  2. Recruitment Services Provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions The Office of Graduate Admissions provides a variety of recruitment services related to two primary missions: (1) to recruit graduate students through direct outreach to prospective students and (2) to promote assistance, collaboration, and sharing of best practices among graduate departments. Direct outreach to students includes attendance at key graduate recruitment fairs and conferences, on-campus recruiting events such as the Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition and the Midwest Graduate School Summit, presentations and online webinars, and the leveraging of social media outlets. The Office of Graduate Admissions also maintains prospective student and admitted student webpages including information on how to prepare for graduate school and Purdue factual information. An extensive communication plan is delivered to specific audiences throughout the recruitment cycle. Special initiatives, such as the formation of a graduate student-based Global Ambassadors program and strategic partnerships with organizations such as EducationUSA are developed by the Office of Graduate Admissions to support specific recruitment objectives of the Graduate School. In addition to direct student recruitment, the Office of Graduate Admissions is a resource for all graduate departments on the West Lafayette campus. The Office of Graduate Admissions offers consultations on recruitment, application, and admission opportunities and concerns. Many Graduate School brochures, displays, and other event resources are made available to departments free of charge. The Slate client relationship management tool is maintained for department use and includes access to purchased prospective student lists and direct inquirers for PWL graduate programs. The Office of Graduate Admissions also maintains a website detailing its services and helpful resources at https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/internal and http://www.purdue.edu/GRADSCHOOL/faculty/recruitment.html.
    *Departments/interdisciplinary programs will hereafter be referred to as departments in the remainder of this section.

B. Application Policies and Procedures

The following sections detail the various components of the graduate application. Because initial review of all graduate applications is done by the graduate department (See section III.C. Admissions Policies and Procedures), graduate departments should receive all supporting documents which may include transcripts, diplomas, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, diversity essay, resume, test scores, writing samples, digital portfolios and additional questionnaires. These documents may be submitted electronically through the online application system, Slate, or be sent directly to the department.

If the applicant is recommended for admission by the program, the approved application, uploaded transcripts, and proof of degree must be submitted electronically through Slate to the Office of Graduate Admissions for final approval. The Graduate School issues a formal letter of admission following review and approval of the application.

  1. Electronic Application
    Applicants are to be directed to the electronic application.
  2. Application Fee
    1. West Lafayette, Northwest, and Fort Wayne Campuses
      All degree-seeking applicants and graduate certificate applicants must submit a nonrefundable application fee. The application fee can be paid by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) at the end of the application process. The application fee is $60 for domestic applicants (including permanent residents) and $75 for international applicants for programs leading to a degree and certificate. Non-degree applicants do not pay an application fee.
    2. As an alternative to paying the application fee via credit card, Purdue University Graduate School has partnered with Western Union Business Solutions, a specialist in global business payments. This payment option allows applicants to pay the Graduate School application fee in the currency of choice and provides a simple and secure method for initiating payments electronically.

    Please note: A foreign currency payment is a “pending” payment and does not automatically update the application fee payment. Purdue University Accounts Receivable will post the U.S. dollar equivalent to the applicants’ Business Partner account, generally within two to five days after your local bank initiates payment. When this has occurred, the application fee will be updated.

    Departmental Paid Application Fees

    A list of approved department- or college-led fee payment programs that have been vetted by legal counsel is maintained by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Ad hoc application fee payments should be used cautiously. Fee payments are permissible as long as the selection process for granting the fee payment uses objective, neutral criteria and can carry the burden of proof for non-discrimination. In a review of applicants who received a fee payment, there should be a fair distribution of recipients across racial, ethnic, and gender categories. Departments may pay the application fee for an applicant through a journal voucher. Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for details.

    International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency at the time of recommendation for admission to degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate programs in one of the following ways 1 :

      Submit test scores from a Purdue Graduate School approved English proficiency provider. A complete list of proofs of English proficiency accepted by the Graduate School can be found on the Graduate School website in the How to Apply section. https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-toefl.html. Note: Individual Graduate programs may have different English Proficiency requirements. Graduate program requirements can be found here: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/prospective/gradrequirements/index.html

    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test), TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition, TOEFL paper-delivered test, and TOEFL Essentials .

    The Graduate School accepts valid TOEFL scores earned through internet-based testing. The former TOEFL paper-delivered tests were discontinued as of April 11, 2021. Scores from the discontinued tests up to two years prior to the date of recommendation for admission will be valid through April 11, 2023. TOEFL My Best scores are not accepted by the Graduate School. Applicants with disabilities or health-related needs should follow instructions found at https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/take/disabilities/.


    Note that in addition to required minimum scores for writing, speaking, listening, and reading, the Graduate School also requires a minimum overall score on the IBT test that is higher than the minimums for the four area tests combined. Applicants must meet or exceed each of the five scores (listed above) for admission to the Graduate School. Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores. Likewise, a growing number of graduate programs include English proficiency examination performance among the factors they consider during holistic reviews of applicants; typically, these programs may seek higher overall and writing, speaking, listening, and reading scores than the minimums established by the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for additional requirements.

    Only official TOEFL scores received directly from Educational Testing Service are acceptable and must be no more than 24 months old at the time the complete recommendation for admission is received by the Graduate School. For further information, visit www.toefl.org.

    Purdue University’s code for the TOEFL application is 1631.

    Purdue University Northwest’s code for the TOEFL application is 1638.

    Purdue University Fort Wayne’s code for the TOEFL application is 1336.

    IUPUI’s code for the TOEFL application is 1325.

    International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - IELTS Academic Module and IELTS Indicator. The former IELTS Indicator tests were discontinued as of December 31, 2021. Scores from the discontinued tests, up to two years prior to the date of recommendation for admission, will be valid through December 31, 2023.

    The Graduate School also accepts International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic scores. An overall band score of 6.5 is required for admission. Applicants with disabilities or special needs should consult https://www.ielts.org/en-us/for-test-takers/special-requirements The minimum section requirements, effective Spring 2019, are as follows:

    For more information, visit http://www.ielts.org.
    Note that in addition to required minimum scores for writing, speaking, listening, and reading, the Graduate School also requires a minimum overall score on the IELTS test that is higher than the minimums for the four area tests combined. Applicants must meet or exceed each of the five scores (listed above) for admission to the Graduate School. Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores. Likewise, a growing number of graduate programs include English proficiency examination performance among the factors they consider during holistic reviews of applicants; typically, these programs may seek higher overall and writing, speaking, listening, and reading scores than the minimums established by the Graduate School. Please check the Graduate Program Requirements Web page for additional requirements.

    1. Routine waivers of an English Proficiency examination are granted for applicants who have been conferred a baccalaureate degree or graduate or professional degree within the last 36 months from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language. Official English-speaking countries/location, in addition to the U.S., include: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcarin Islands, Republic of Ireland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Graduate School will waive the English proficiency requirement and admit international applicants who have met the following criteria from a country listed above. If the degree has been completed, the applicant must submit a final transcript that reflects this information. If the degree has been awarded, and degree information is not listed on the transcript, a diploma will also be required. If the degree has NOT been awarded, a letter from the Office of the Registrar or Graduate School from the current institution stating that all degree requirements have been met must be received in order to lift HOLDS placed because of conditional admission. If a letter from the Registrar or Graduate School is provided, the official transcript would be required to follow later that session or next session. Students who are using this option to meet the English proficiency requirement, but who are unable to provide such a letter, would be required to meet the English proficiency requirement using one of the other options in order to enroll in the Graduate School. Because of Homeland Security requirements, the Office of International Students and Scholars will not be able to prepare visa paperwork for applicants who have a HOLD as a result of not meeting the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement. Visa paperwork will not be prepared until the English proficiency requirement has been met and the hold has been released.
    2. Routine waivers of the English proficiency requirement are granted to current Purdue University graduate degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license graduate students. This is with the condition that students have previously met English proficiency requirements (via one of the ways listed in this section) and are being recommended for admission, within three consecutive sessions of their last registration, to a graduate degree-seeking, non-degree, teacher’s license, or graduate certificate program.
    3. Another alternative is available for international applicants who are non-native speakers of English transferring to Purdue from another graduate program (where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the official language) because they will be continuing to study with their major professor who has been hired in a Purdue University position and has the credentials to serve as the chair of the student’s doctoral or master’s advisory committee. These applicants must have no lapse in registration between the previous institution and Purdue University. In that specific situation, the applicant’s English proficiency may be confirmed and satisfied by a letter from the previous university registrar (or equivalent) or graduate school. This letter must attest that the applicant’s English proficiency requirements were met for admission purposes at that institution and must specify the test or other method which the applicant used to meet the previous university’s English proficiency standard. If this documentation is provided, no further English proficiency testing will be required for the applicant’s admission to the Purdue University Graduate School.
    4. The Graduate School will consider applicants who have (a) enrolled at one of the following intensive English programs and (b) satisfied the exit requirements established for the program as having met the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirement: • Purdue Northwest English Language Program (ELP) Exit Requirement: achieve a minimum of 80% (Level 4 examination) and pass an Exit Test (consisting of speaking and writing components) • Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Program for Intensive English (PIE) Exit Requirement: pass all classes with grades of at least B (82%), and pass the PIE Proficiency Exit Test at the Level 7 level.

    Applicants should upload to the online application system, Slate, transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education they attended. If a transcript is not in English, they must also upload an English translation certified by the college or university which issued it. Both the original language and English translation are required. Copies of diplomas or other official proof of degree must be included if the degree has been conferred and the conferral information is not listed on the transcript.

    The uploaded transcript and/or academic document may be from the official or unofficial version of the document. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. A print-out from the student information system will not be accepted.

    Graduate departments who receive hard-copy official transcripts and/or academic documents may also upload these documents to the appropriate application record in Slate.

    Uploaded/unofficial transcripts may be used to review and recommend an application for admission. The Graduate School will admit on official or unofficial uploaded transcripts.

    All final, official credentials are required during your second term of enrollment and you will not be allowed to register for subsequent semesters until all required documents have been received. University officials may contact institutions directly to verify official documents. If we are unable to verify the student’s transcripts or credentials, the University reserves the right to drop the student from active status and may refer the matter to authorities.

    Applicants will need to provide official transcripts and/or academic records at the request of the graduate program or if the applicant is admitted and chooses to enroll 2 . If colleges or universities attended do not provide transcripts in English, the official, original language transcripts must be accompanied by certified English translations. Both the original language and English translation are required3. Official documents must be received by the Graduate School before the applicant can register for their third session4.

    A baccalaureate degree received or its equivalent must be recorded on the corresponding transcript or documented by other official evidence. If an applicant is admitted and was studying for a degree at the time the application was submitted, the applicant will be required, during the second session of enrollment, to submit a final transcript. If completion of the degree is a condition for admission, the applicant will be required, during the second session of enrollment, to submit official evidence of being awarded the degree.

    The Graduate School welcomes applications from Bologna bachelor’s degree recipients. Bologna bachelor’s degrees are conferred in European countries listed on the following website.

    Applicants with three-year baccalaureate degrees from countries that are not part of the Bologna Process may also be considered for admission, on a case-by-case basis, using holistic review. Departments may recommend applicants from these countries with three-year baccalaureate degrees with or without conditions, depending upon the outcome of the holistic review of the candidate. Conditions for admission should be clearly communicated to students at the time of their admission.

    An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. Official documents should be submitted to:

    Office of Graduate Admissions
    Purdue University Graduate School
    155 South Grant Street, YONG 170
    West Lafayette, IN 47907

    Transcripts and/or English translations must be mailed directly from a Registrar’s office to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants can choose to send the transcripts themselves, but the transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the Registrar.

    The Office of Graduate Admissions also accepts electronic transcripts from accredited colleges and universities sent via Parchment Exchange, the National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from the accredited college and university. The transcript must be sent to gradadm@purdue.edu in order to verify the authenticity of the documents. If any departments receive emails stating that electronic transcripts are waiting for them, please notify that institution of the correct email address.

    1. Required Documents by Enrollment Objective

    The following is a list of applicant requirements for submitting transcripts and/or academic documents based upon enrollment objective:

    The Purdue University Graduate School reserves the right to require official transcripts and/or academic documents at any time during the admissions process.

    The Graduate School images into Banner Document Management Suite all official transcripts for admitted graduate students. After imaging and validating, admitted applicant transcripts are shredded. The Graduate School recognizes that, in rare and unusual instances, students have access to only one official transcript (or a very limited number of transcripts). In these rare instances, the Graduate School will retain these documents, after careful review, for applicants on a case-by-case basis until the end of the first session for which they are admitted. Applicant requests to preserve their paper documents must be submitted in writing at the same time the original documents are submitted to the Graduate School.

    1. Supplementary Information for International Students

    Federal regulations require that all international students provide proof of financial capability before they qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019). Each admitted international student (degree-seeking) is required to complete the online International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI) and submit it to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS). It must be accompanied by official documentation, showing full financial support. Copies of graduate assistantship/fellowship offer letters will be acceptable. All other sources of support must show original documents. Once the NOI is submitted, all the financial documents are in order, and any additional documents required by ISS are received, a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) will be issued by the Office of International Students and Scholars. https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/

    Each international student who applies for transfer to the West Lafayette campus while attending another U.S. educational institution must receive a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) from the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS). Students may not begin any on-campus employment at Purdue University until they receive their Purdue issued I-20 or DS-2019. To initiate the transfer process, the student must submit the completed online International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI), together with all required supporting documents, and must supply a completed International Student Transfer In request to the ISS office.

    Upon arrival at Purdue West Lafayette, the student must complete the Virtual Mandatory International Student Check-in (vMISCi) via myISS portal in order to maintain legal status. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with requirements to maintain legal status. https://www.purdue.edu/IPPU/ISS/Student/F1/legalStatus.html

    1. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

    The Graduate School does not require applicants to take the GRE, but an applicant’s department may request it.

    Official score reports are sent electronically by ETS to the Graduate School. These are available in Slate and the Banner myPurdue system.

    1. Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT)

    The Graduate School does not require applicants to take the GMAT, but an applicant’s department may request it.

    C. Admissions Policies and Procedures

    Graduate admission is granted to a specific department. Applicants are expected to hold baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges or universities prior to registration as graduate students. Three-year Bologna bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for admission. Applicants with three-year baccalaureate degrees from countries that are not part of the Bologna Process may also be considered for admission, on a case-by-case basis, using holistic review. Departments may recommend applicants from these countries with three-year baccalaureate degrees with or without conditions, depending upon the outcome of the holistic review of the candidate. Conditions for admission should be clearly communicated to students at the time of their admission.

    Applicants for a master’s or doctoral degree program should have achieved a 3.0 (or equivalent) grade point index or higher from the institution where a baccalaureate degree or higher was awarded to be admitted without conditions of continued enrollment. Some graduate programs have requirements for admission that exceed the general Graduate School requirements. Additionally, programs at Purdue University can have different deadlines and some have additional admissions requirements. For additional information concerning requirements and deadlines for admission, please consult specific departments/programs at the following website.

    Departments are responsible for the primary evaluation of applications. Departments have the authority to identify the set of applicants who can be adequately served by their programs and to select from this set the applicants to be recommended for admission.

    Departmental correspondence should make it clear to applicants that their admission will be official only if they receive an admission letter from the dean of the Graduate School. If, on review in the Graduate School, it appears that the applicant fails to meet the minimum academic requirements, the application may be returned to the department for re-evaluation.

    Departments must select from the following two statements the one that is appropriate for inclusion in their correspondence with prospective international students.

    For international students entering from foreign countries:

    “You should not apply for your visa, or make an appointment with the embassy, or make travel plans until you receive a formal letter of admission from the dean of the Graduate School AND your I-20/DS2019 Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Office of International Students and Scholars at Purdue University. The COE will be sent to you as soon as all admission procedures are completed and you have submitted the Notification of Intent (NOI) via myISS portal along with the required proof of financial resources and any other required documents via myISS portal. Please allow 10 business days for processing the Certificate of Eligibility upon NOI submission

    For international students entering from within the U.S.:

    “If you are transferring to Purdue University from another educational institution in the U.S., certain transfer procedures must be completed before you come to Purdue. After all admission procedures are successfully completed, you will receive official notification of admission from the Graduate School. With that notification, you will be requested to complete the International Graduate Student Notification of Intent Form (NOI).

    You must follow the directions on NOI and submit the completed form, together with official financial documentation via myISS portal. Purdue’s ISS office will then e-mail you a SEVIS Transfer e-form to be completed, this requires to provide contact information from previous U.S. educational institution. Purdue’s ISS office will need to receive the completed transfer e-form to prepare the transfer pending Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019). The COE may only be issued after the SEVIS release date listed on the e-form.

    As soon as you arrive at Purdue, you must complete the Virtual Mandatory International Student Check-in (vMISCi) via myISS portal in order to complete your SEVIS transfer to Purdue University.

    Questions concerning nonimmigrant status should be directed to the Office of International Students and Scholars.

      Departmental Recommendations for Admission The application of each student recommended for admission must bear the electronic signature of the head of the graduate program or designee. Complete application materials for each student should be electronically submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions at the earliest possible opportunity. This is particularly important for international students, due to the time required for processing and for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) by the Office of International Students and Scholars. The Graduate School and the Office of International Students and Scholars have established deadlines for submission of applications in order to provide sufficient time for an admitted student to plan for a timely arrival on campus. These deadlines are as follows:

    Fall Session July 15 if outside the U.S.
    Spring Session November 15 if outside the U.S.
    Summer Session April 15 if outside the U.S.

    1. Admission to a Degree Program
      Departments may recommend for consideration by the Graduate School, degree-seeking applicants for admission or admission with conditions for continued enrollment.
      1. Admission to a Degree Program without Conditions for Continued Enrollment
        Admission to a degree program without conditions for continued enrollment, a B (3.0/4.0) or better grade point average in prior study is required. Departments may set admission standards higher, but not lower, than those established by the Graduate School.
      2. Admission to a Degree Program with Conditions for Continued Enrollment
        Students may be admitted with conditions under three circumstances.
        1. Departments may recommend admission to a degree program with conditions for continued enrollment for a student whose background reflects some academic deficiency. The conditions placed by the department are not stated in the formal admission letter and are not monitored by the Graduate School.
        2. The Graduate School will place a condition of continued enrollment on an applicant’s admission if the applicant has not earned the equivalent of a 3.0/4.0 grade point average or higher at the institution from which he/she most recently graduated. In addition, the Graduate School may place a condition on the amount of prior coursework available for use on a graduate plan of study.
        3. The Graduate School may place a condition of continued enrollment on an applicant’s admission if a required supporting document is missing. Specific requirements for removing a condition will be provided in the admission letter.

        Failure to fulfill the conditions placed upon a student’s continued enrollment will result in the student’s inability to register. Students, generally, have one session to fulfill conditions. It is a student’s responsibility to satisfy a condition and to check with the appropriate office.

        1. Teacher License Enrollment Objective
          Individuals applying for the teacher license enrollment objective must submit an official transcript from the college or university where the baccalaureate degree was received.
        2. Nondegree and Graduate Certificate Classification Individuals who have earned the baccalaureate degree and wish to enroll in a graduate-level course on a non-degree basis must be admitted to Purdue University as a non-degree student. Evidence of a baccalaureate degree from a properly accredited institution of higher learning is required. Individuals who have earned the baccalaureate degree and wish to enroll in a graduate certificate program must be admitted to Purdue University as a graduate certificate student. An application to the Graduate School must be processed indicating the enrollment objective of graduate certificate. Evidence of a baccalaureate degree from a properly accredited institution of higher learning is required. Official transcripts are required for some graduate certificate programs. Students who may be interested in pursuing a degree program at a later date should discuss this prospect with a departmental graduate advisor or the departmental graduate committee chair as soon as possible to receive appropriate advising, including information on the limit of non-degree credits that can later be applied to a degree program. Students who later decide to pursue a degree program at Purdue need to submit a new application as a degree-seeking student.
        1. Individual Students With the approval of the department and the permission of the dean of the Graduate School, a student with a minimum of a 3.0/4.0 grade point average may be admitted to the Graduate School in the session in which the baccalaureate degree is being completed. A memorandum, from the head of the graduate program, justifying the request for early admission should be uploaded to the application in Slate. The memorandum should be accompanied by the usual Graduate School application and supporting materials. Although applications may be submitted for the session in which the baccalaureate degree is being completed, early admission to the Graduate School usually is required only if the student is to receive a graduate staff appointment. Otherwise, early admission is not required for undergraduate students wishing to begin graduate study, since they may do so by requesting designation, on Academic Record Change (Registrar’s Form 350), of graduate courses as excess of baccalaureate requirements.

        Baccalaureate and master’s combined and dual-degree programs formally approved by the department and the dean of the Graduate School (and in the case of combined degrees, approved by the Graduate Council) are designed to provide a seamless transition from the baccalaureate to the master’s curriculum. While the details of the specific program may vary, such programs are restricted to undergraduate students in high academic standing. Application and admission to the Graduate School are required and are detailed in the program document. The student must submit a combined degree request form (Form 27) with the application for admission to the Graduate School. The standard Graduate School application process is to be followed.

        Minimal requirements of students participating in formally approved baccalaureate/master’s degree programs:

        • ​​Students must be in high academic standing
        • The graduate student’s plan of study should be approved by the Graduate School by the end of the first session in which the student has dual enrollment
        • For combined programs, before the baccalaureate degree is awarded, any course and/or research credits taken to satisfy the graduate degree requirements must be designated as undergraduate excess credits
        • Students must meet all requirements for the baccalaureate degree

        ​The baccalaureate degree must be awarded at least one term before the graduate degree

        ​3. Simultaneous Admission at More Than One Campus (Same Department) A student wishing to take a graduate-level course at a Purdue campus other than the campus of admission and residence must apply for admission to the desired campus. Non-degree status is appropriate for such admission.

        4. Concurrent Graduate Program Status
        A student wishing to pursue two degrees in two different departments simultaneously must complete an application for admission to each department. This usually happens when a student currently is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in one department and wishes to pursue a master’s degree in another department. The student must submit a Notice of Concurrent Graduate Program Status (G.S. Form 18) with the application for admission to the second department. Students cannot be admitted to two graduate programs within first session of enrollment. They must wait until at least the session following initial admission to the first program before requesting/being granted admission to a second program. Students may only pursue concurrent graduate programs if both programs are offered within the same delivery method. For instance, a student pursing an online degree would only be eligible to apply to second online program for concurrent study.

        5. Admission Recommendation for Applicants from Sanctioned Countries:

        Due to U.S. Government economic and trade sanctions on certain countries, applications of students from those countries require additional scrutiny to ensure that their proposed plans of study and research do not violate U.S. Law. When a department is considering an applicant for admission who is from one of the countries listed at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx send the following to the Export Control Office with the Office of Research and Partnerships at exportcontrols@purdue.edu, noting the student’s name and the department in the subject line:

        • Curriculum vitae of the applicant
        • Proposed major professor
        • A brief statement summarizing the expected plans of study and research from the major professor (this information is provided to the State Department on the I-20 document and should be understandable by a layperson) and
        • The names of any dependents

        The export control review does take time, so it is important to complete the above step once the decision is made to recommend admission to the graduate school to avoid any unnecessary delay. Due to the variations in the sanctions requirements, in order to complete this review, the assigned export control administrator may need to ask additional questions.

        6. Notice of Admission

        When the Graduate School concurs with the department’s recommendation to admit a student, an email notification is sent to the applicant. This notification instructs the applicant to return to the Slate application system and view their admission decision. This decision includes the official admission letter from the dean of the Graduate School and an admission summary sheet. This information is available to departments through Slate. Since the final action and notification of such action comes from the dean of the Graduate School, care should be taken that no irrevocable department commitments are made until the dean has notified the student of his or her status. Any academic conditions (e.g., course and/or grade requirements) or technical conditions (e.g., final transcripts and diplomas) imposed by the Graduate School will be stated on the admission summary sheet, along with other important general information.

        Admitted students will need to complete an online enrollment form in MyPurdue to accept enrollment. Admitted students who decline their offer of admission will complete a Slate enrollment form. If enrollment is accepted on an offer and the student wishes to change the response they will need to email gradinfo@purdue.edu. If no enrollment response is completed the offers will automatically decline after the admission session starts. This will impact their eligibility to register and can be used by departments to anticipate enrollment

        Each successful applicant is admitted to a specific enrollment objective and a specific graduate program on a specific campus. Although each admission is for a specific academic session, the ability to register is valid for two additional sessions, unless otherwise restricted. (see Section V-A-4 ) However, the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019), issued by the Office of International Students and Scholars, is valid for only a single academic session.

        7. Applicants who are Denied Admission

        Official decisions, including denial notices, will be released through the Slate application system by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applications being denied by the department should be moved to the Pending Denial bin in Slate. The Office of Graduate Admissions will then assign the official denial decision and an email notification will be sent to the applicant, prompting them to return to their application and view the decision notice. No additional denial notice should be sent by the department. Admission decisions are final, and may not be appealed.

        8. Deferral of Admission and Re-application to Graduate School

        An applicant who, after being granted admission by the Graduate School, does not enroll for three or more consecutive academic sessions (including the summer session) must submit a new application and pay the application fee. The Graduate School will consider up to two deferrals for an admitted student - if requested by the department. Updated or additional admission information may be required. Conditions may be placed on admission, as described in Section III-C-1-a-(2).

        a. Domestic Applicants


        A request to defer admission for a domestic applicant is required only when more than three sessions will have elapsed between the original date and the new date of admission (e.g., fall 2022 to fall 2023). For Purdue West Lafayette only, The department must complete a GS-Form 45 Deferral Request (Deferral Request) in Slate, and upload a copy of the applicant’s request for a deferral. Regional campuses will use the appropriate deferral process outlined by the respective campus Office of Graduate Admissions. Approval of the deferral request will allow an applicant a fourth session in which to register without submitting a new application. Up to two deferral requests can be honored, and the request must be submitted before the end of the session in which the student was originally admitted.

        b. International Applicants

        Although an international applicant’s admission is governed by the same regulations as those of a domestic applicant, the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019), issued to international applicants by the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS), is valid only for the session specified on the document. For this reason, a deferral request is required for any session change. For Purdue West Lafayette only, the department must complete a GS-Form 45 Deferral Request (Deferral Request) in Slate and upload a copy of the applicant’s request for a deferral. Regional campuses will use the appropriate deferral process outlined by the respective campus Office of Graduate Admissions. A formal deferral request must be submitted to the Graduate School before the end of the session in which the student was originally admitted. The Graduate School will not require new/updated English proficiency scores for admitted international students seeking deferral requests.

        9. Readmission

        Students who have interrupted their graduate study must submit a new application if three or more consecutive academic sessions (including summer session) have elapsed since their last registration. Upon the recommendation of the department and on a case-by-case basis, special consideration will be given to students returning to continue their graduate studies after being called to active military service.

        Five-year Rule: Course credits earned by a student whose graduate study and/or professional activity has been inactive for five years or more cannot be used on a plan of study for an advanced degree. A plan of study approved prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid. A preliminary examination passed prior to such a period of inactivity is invalid. (See Section V-A-2 , , and VII-D-4 .)

        Readmission is granted by the dean of the Graduate School. The dean of the Graduate School will notify students who have been readmitted, and the readmission letter will be available to the department.

        10. Change from Nondegree Status to a Degree Program


        A student in non-degree status who wishes to be considered for admission to a degree program must submit a new application, accompanied by the same materials required of other degree‑seeking applicants.

        1. Graduate Study by Faculty and Staff Purdue employees who hold a Graduate Faculty appointment on a Purdue campus may take graduate courses but may work for advanced degrees at Purdue only under certain conditions and with prior approval of the dean of the Graduate School. (See Section I-E-3, and Appendix S ) Members of the administrative, professional, instructional, research, extension, and regular clerical/service staffs of the University who wish to register as graduate students should consult the appropriate staff handbooks concerning admission, academic loads permitted, and fee information.
        2. Admission to Study Toward a Second Ph.D.
          Admission to study toward a second Ph.D. degree is generally discouraged at Purdue, but exceptional circumstances may be considered by departmental graduate committees. No Graduate Council approval is required. (See Section VII-K-2 .)

        Footnotes:

        1 Heads of graduate programs which are fully delivered in distance, executive, or weekend formats may request, in writing to the dean of the Graduate School, that their applicants receive exemptions to the English proficiency examination requirement. If approved, these departments may recommend applicants without meeting the usual English proficiency requirements for Graduate School admission. Graduate program exemptions to the English proficiency requirement must be renewed by a new request to the dean of the Graduate School every five years. It is suggested that renewal requests coincide with graduate program assessments.