Graduate Admission for Master's and Ph.D. Degrees

While no single factor or score can characterize an applicant's probability for success, the following benchmarks may prove helpful.

GPA:

  • Typically, a 3.00/4.00 grade point average (GPA) is considered a minimum requirement
  • US applicants have an average GPA of 3.00 or higher.
  • International applicants are typically in the top 5% of their graduating class, or higher.
  • International applicants from India who have a 3 year Bachelors degree are required to complete a 2 year Masters degree before applying.

GRE:

The Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University requires all applicants to take the Aptitude Test (verbal, quantitative and analytical writing) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) regardless of their undergraduate records or of the accreditation status of their institutions. For information:http://www.gre.org
Subject Test is not a requirement, but will accept the scores for review if sent to us.

 

All PhD Applicants
Analytical Writing ≥ 3.5

Thesis Master Applicants
         Domestic
               Analytical Writing ≥ 3.5
         International
               Analytical Writing ≥ 4.5

TOEFL

(Required for all International applicants) 

  • There are no automatic waivers
  • Department Requirements:
    • Ph.D. Applicants
      • iBT overall score ≥ 80
        • Writing ≥ 18
        • Speaking ≥ 22
        • Listening ≥ 16
        • Reading ≥ 19
  •  
    • Thesis Master Applicants
      • iBT overall score ≥ 107
        • Writing ≥ 24
        • Speaking ≥ 26
        • Listening ≥ 22
        • Reading ≥ 22
  • IELTS minimum score ≥ 7.5

 

ALL APPLICANTS - Please ensure you meet all minimum requirements BEFORE you apply to our program

Additional important points:
Besides your GPA, GRE, and TOEFL scores, the Graduate Admissions Committee will pay considerable attention to two components of the application. First, the research experience of the applicants (e.g., time doing research, specifics on the research projects conducted, output of those projects in terms of oral and poster presentations, papers prepared, submitted, and published, etc.). Second, how the references explain the research skills of the applicant. One of the goals of the Admissions Committee is to determine the potential of the applicants to be excellent research students and think critically and independently. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants to address thoroughly the essay questions of the application related to research, and to ask for letters of recommendation to people who know well the applicants’ research background.