EAPS Graduate Application Requirements
EAPS is a multidisciplinary department in the College of Science offering graduate research programs leading to the Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Our research uses mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, statistics, and computer modeling to address some of the most challenging interdisciplinary questions about the past, present, and future state of the earth and planetary systems. Many of our research programs include field work in the U.S. or abroad. Our department is equipped with state of the art computer and laboratory facilities for calculation, visualization, and experimentation. Our former students are now employed by major research institutions, liberal arts colleges, government agencies, and industry.
Individuals who have not completed a Master's Program acceptable to the EAPS Graduate Committee will normally be considered for initial admission to the Master's Program. However, individuals may apply for direct admission to the Doctoral Program. The MS degree is not a prerequisite for the PhD degree.
Application Deadlines
Applications may be submitted at any time. However, to be admitted in the desired semester, please follow the guidelines below:
- For domestic applicants, all materials should be sent so as to be received not less than three (3) months prior to the desired starting semester.
- International applicants should send their material to be received not less than four (4) months prior to the desired starting semester.
- Fall semester applicants desiring consideration for financial aid, a fellowship, a research assistantship (RA) or teaching assistantship (TA), are advised to submit all application materials before January 2.
- Spring semester applicants are advised to submit all application materials before September 1.
To Apply:
The following information must be submitted online for an applicant to be considered for admission:
- Completed Graduate School electronic application form.
- Application fee - to see if you qualify for a fee waiver, check both sites below.
- Statement of research interest and personal goals
- The statement of purpose should be a one or two page statement describing your professional objectives and his/her academic and research interests. If possible, the statement should indicate how you see your own research interests overlapping with programs or projects in EAPS. If you have previous research experience we would like you to write about your experience, and what you accomplished. We are also interested in hearing about any area of your life where you have excelled. Please upload this document through the online application system.
- Three letters of recommendation; the preferred method is to have letters supplied through the online application website.
- You must upload to the online application transcript(s) and/or academic document(s) for every institution of higher education you attended. If a transcript is not in English, you must upload an English translation certified by the college or university which issued it.
The uploaded transcript and/or academic document must be from the official version of the document. An official transcript bears the original signature of the registrar and/or the original seal of the issuing institution. An unofficial transcript printed from your current/previous institution(s) student system is not an acceptable document. All transcripts and/or academic documents uploaded to the online application system are considered unofficial. If personal identifying information, such as a student identification number, or social security number appear on the document, remove this information from your electronic version of your document or mark out the information in black ink before scanning your document. .
You will need to provide official transcripts and/or academic records if you are admitted and choose to enroll. For more information, please see http://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/index.html.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test is not required by the EAPS Department, but will be viewed if submitted. Purdue University's code is 1631.
English Proficiency Requirements (for International Applicants Only; Original Required)
International degree-seeking applicants, who native language is not English, are required to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores for Purdue University Graduate School Admission. The Graduate School will routinely waive the English Proficiency testing requirements for applicants who have received a baccalaureate or graduate degree within the last 36 months from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language.
To be valid for admission, English proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) must be no more than two years old at the time the recommendation for admission is received at the Graduate School.
TOEFL iBT
Only official TOEFL scores received directly from Educational Testing Service are acceptable. Purdue University West Lafayette's code is 1631.
Required minimum test scores of the four test areas are:- Writing – 18
- Speaking – 22
- Listening – 14
- Reading – 19
An overall minimum score of 81 is required for admission by the Department.
IELTS
Have IELTS scores sent to "Purdue University – Office of International Students and Scholars". Note: IELTS scores can also be sent digitally.
Required minimum test scores of the four test areas are:- Reading – 6.5
- Listening – 6.0
- Speaking – 7.0
- Writing – 5.5
An overall minimum band score of 7.0 is required for admission by the Department.
Note that in addition to required minimum scores in each section, the department also requires a minimum overall TOEFL and overall iBT Band score that is higher than the minimums for each of the four area tests combined. Applicants must meet or exceed each of the five scores (listed above) for admission by the Department to the Graduate School.
Failure to achieve all required minimum scores is an automatic denial of your application. There is no waiver of the above requirement.