Frequently Asked Questions

Follow this link and submit an official application through the Graduate School: https://gradapply.purdue.edu/apply/

For admission requirements, deadlines, and next steps, visit the How to Apply page.

*OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Yes. OPT is a benefit available to F-1 students to gain practical experience working off-campus in a job directly related to their major field of study. Graduates of the PMP are eligible for the standard 12-month OPT benefit, but they are also eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. This results in a total eligibility of 36-months of OPT, pending the graduate meets the requirements for the benefit, as determined by International Students and Scholars. More information about OPT can be found on the ISS webpage.

Yes. Students in the PMP are able to complete an internship, but they must first seek approval from the Director of the Professional M.S. Program to do so. Please note that completing an internship will delay your time to graduation.

As of September 2026, due to revisions from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we are no longer able to approve internships for international students. International students with questions can contact International Students and Scholars.

No. This is a non-thesis program.

Direct financial support from the ChE Professional Master's Program is not available. However, students can contact the Division of Financial Aid (DFA) to discuss available programs and other lending opportunities. Students interested in financial assistance should call the DFA at (765) 494-5050.

Yes. We consider applicants with a B.S. (or equivalent) from areas such as chemistry, materials science, biomedical engineering, or related disciplines. Additionally, students who have M.S. degrees in related (e.g., chemistry) fields, but NOT in chemical engineering, are encouraged to apply. A special plan of study will be tailored for these students to help them grasp core chemical engineering concepts. This extends the duration of the PMP to be 16 months rather than 12 months for students who enter with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.

A student with a previous degree in chemical engineering who is enrolled in the program full-time can finish the PMP within 12 months (three semesters, including the summer). A student without a previous degree in chemical engineering who is enrolled in the program full-time can finish the PMP within 16 months (four semesters, including the summer). Students who are full-time working professionals have an extended time period to complete the degree.

All Chemical Engineering Professional Master’s students receive the MSCHE degree.

*Professional Master's Program

The programs differ in two primary ways. First, a traditional chemical engineering M.S. program prepares students to perform research and complete a thesis-based M.S. degree. The Davidson School of Chemical Engineering does not have a thesis-based M.S. program. Instead, qualified applicants are admitted directly to the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. admission process is highly competitive and evaluates an applicant’s potential to conduct thesis research and complete a Ph.D. degree. The Professional Master’s Program (PMP) is a terminal M.S. program and awards a non-thesis M.S. degree. The PMP admission process evaluates an applicant on their ability to complete the rigorous M.S. curriculum, not their potential to conduct thesis research. This program targets recent STEM graduates and professionals who want to further their education in a specialized field and advance their careers in industry or government. All applicants who apply for the Chemical Engineering M.S. program will only be considered for admission to the PMP. If you wish to complete thesis research, you should apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Secondly, the PMP requires students enrolled in the program to complete three management-based courses in order to prepare them to be future leaders in the chemical process industry. This balance of advanced technical and management training better prepares graduates of the program such that they can rise up the managerial ranks faster in industrial settings.

Tuition and fees are listed in the Tuition section of the Professional Master's Program page.

Each student will be matched with an industrial mentor to work on a six credit hour project relevant to their concentration. The results will be presented in the form of a 20-page manuscript and an oral presentation to a panel of faculty and your industrial mentors.

Students enrolled in Professional Master's Programs at Purdue are not eligible for research assistantships, teaching assistantships, project assistantships, or other University appointments that grant waivers of tuition and/or academic fees anywhere on campus. Prof. MS students are eligible for hourly paying jobs on campus. Corporate tuition support and external funding sources are not included in these categories.

You may contact the Chemical Engineering Graduate Office via email at chepmp@purdue.edu. We appreciate your interest in the program.