Purdue College of Pharmacy
Programs
Admissions

Programs

  • With one of the oldest, most respected, and most comprehensive graduate programs in the U.S., Purdue College of Pharmacy prepares students for challenging, top-paying careers in the field of pharmacy. PhD degrees are available from each of the three departments of Purdue College of Pharmacy (see below); the Department of Pharmacy Practice also admits students for MS degrees.

    Students are encouraged to evaluate the College’s three graduate program so that they can determine which program best suits their interests and career goals. This is one of the most important decisions a prospective graduate student can make, since transferring between graduate programs usually involves starting one’s graduate career over again.

    Each graduate program has certain course, examination, and thesis requirements, but the length of time required to complete each graduate degree is tailored to meet the individual goals and interests of the students. The College of Pharmacy has established a maximum limit of 8 years for completion of any graduate program, although some programs in the College may have established shorter time limits for completion of certain degrees.

    These research-based degrees typically qualify graduates for work in the following research-related areas:

    • performing research
    • technical writing
    • technical marketing
    • research administration
    • regulatory affairs
    • government regulation

    Recipients of the PhD degree are additionally qualified for academic professorships. Students obtaining any graduate degree in pharmacy may simultaneously seek secondary education teaching certification through the School of Education and the appropriate state certification board.

Graduate Pharmacy Programs Admissions

The following are common eligibility criteria among the three graduate programs:

  • Completion of (as a minimum) a 4-year bachelors or professional degree
  • High quality performance as an undergraduate
  • Clear evidence of a serious commitment towards graduate study in the chosen discipline
  • Evidence that the applicant frequently displays initiative to learn

Some common elements to the application process are:

  1. Submission of an electronic application and application fee to the Purdue University Graduate School, which must be done online. There is a mandatory application fee.
  2. A transcript from each college or university that has awarded the applicant credit is required. Unofficial transcripts uploaded to your application are acceptable for the review of applications. The original transcripts are ONLY required if you are officially admitted. You will be contacted by the Graduate Administrative Assistant to submit if you are admitted. The Purdue University Graduate School requires original, official transcripts; photocopies, certified copies, and notarized copies are not acceptable. If the transcript does not show that the degree has been awarded, then you must provide official copies of your diploma, both in the original language and an official English translation.
  3. A Statement of Purpose uploaded into the application system that addresses the reasons why the applicant wants to continue their education and how they have prepared for graduate study.
  4. Three candid letters of recommendation that evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the applicant. The preferred method of receiving recommendations is to have the recommenders upload them into the application system.
  5. Demonstrated English proficiency for non-native speakers of English via TOEFL exam or the academic version of the International Language Testing System (IELTS). The English proficiency requirement will be waived for applicants who have been conferred for a baccalaureate, 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. A list of official English-speaking countries can be found at this web address: https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-toefl.html.

    If you are admitted under this waiver and are still finishing your degree, you must satisfactorily complete your degree and submit a final official transcript showing that this degree has been awarded BEFORE the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) can produce your U.S. immigration documents or before you can enroll in courses at Purdue University.

As stated above, the application and application fee are submitted electronically to the Graduate School. The official test scores are also submitted electronically to Purdue. Recommendations and the statement of purpose should be uploaded into the application system. Unofficial transcripts and/or academic documents (diplomas) from each institution attended should be uploaded into the application system for application review. All material not submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:

Graduate Admissions Committee
Purdue University College of Pharmacy
Heine Pharmacy Building, Room 104
575 Stadium Mall Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2091

If you have any questions about your application that are not answered in the graduate admissions FAQ you should contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator at pharmacy-gradprog@purdue.edu in the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs for the College of Pharmacy, or call 765-494-1362.