Apply to Our Program

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Political Science at Purdue University. We admit students to begin in the Fall semester each year. The Application deadline for entry in Fall 2025 is December 15, 2024.

Please follow the guidelines listed below for the fastest, most accurate way to apply to the Purdue Political Science Graduate Program. To inquire further about the admissions process, please contact polgradcoordinator@purdue.edu.

Steps for submitting an application

Submit your application through the Purdue University Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars. Click here to create your account and submit your application.

The materials you will need are:

1. Application

2. Application fee

3. An Academic Statement of Purpose and a Personal History Statement. Click for full instructions for the two statements.

The Academic Statement of Purpose is an opportunity for you to share information that will help reviewers understand your academic interests and objectives, assess your academic background, preparation and training, and determine if you are a good match to the program to which you are applying.

** The following research labs or research projects are seeking graduate assistants. Applicants with interests in either or both of these should indicate their interest at the top of their Academic Statement of Purpose. All applicants will be considered for general department assistantships, fellowships, and these special opportunity graduate assistantshps.

The Personal History Statement helps reviewers learn more about you as a whole person and as a potential graduate student. This may include relevant details on community service, leadership roles, participation in diverse teams, and significant barriers that you overcame to attend graduate school.

4. An academic writing sample
The writing sample should be an academic paper or research report that displays your writing and analytical skills.

5. Three letters of recommendation from those able to comment on your preparation for PhD level work.

6. English Proficiency for International Students - The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars will routinely waive the English Proficiency testing requirements for applicants who have received a baccalaureate degree or graduate or professional degree, within the last 36 months prior to the time of recommendation for admission, from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language. The Department of Political Science does not require a test of English proficiency for students who qualify under this waiver. 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 US immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) or before you can enroll in courses at Purdue University.

Please refer to this website for a list of the official English-speaking countries and locations.

International students who do not qualify for a waiver are required to submit English proficiency scores from one of the following:

Official TOEFL scores
Minimum scores for the internet-based TOEFL exam include an overall score of 100 or greater with minimums in each component of 22 (writing), 27 (speaking), 22 (listening), and 22 (reading).

The minimum for TOEFL Essentials is an overall score of 11 with a minimum of 11 in each of the components.

Duolingo
Minimums for the Duolingo scores are 130 overall, with a subscore minimum of 120 in each component of Comprehension, Production, Conversation, and Literacy.

IELTS
Minimum section requirements:

Reading 7.0
Listening 6.5
Speaking 8.0
Writing 6.0
Overall 7.0

Please submit official transcripts to the following address:

Purdue University
Office of Graduate Admissions
Purdue University Graduate School
155 South Grant Street, YONG 170
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: (765) 494-2600
Fax: (765) 494-0136
Email submission: gradadm@purdue.edu

Detailed instructions for submitting transcripts can be found on the Graduate school page by following this link: www.purdue.edu/gradschool/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-transcripts.html

Note: The GRE is not required by the Department of Political Science. Please be aware that some competitive fellowship programs in the College and University require GRE scores as part of the nomination materials, including the newly established College of Liberal Arts Dean's Graduate Fellowship program. Purdue's GRE code is 1631.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to receiving your application.