ECE Graduate Program Quick Help Guide - Admissions
Applying to More Than One Program
English Proficiency Requirements & Waivers
Location Preference, Residential Programs
Notice of Intent (International Students)
Professional Master's Program (PMP)
Required Documents for Application
Shuttle Service Between West Lafayette and Indianapolis
Veteran and Military Success Center
What to Bring (and Not Bring) to Campus
Academic Statement of Purpose
The academic statement of purpose is a required part of the Purdue ECE application.
Information on the academic statement of purpose
Admissions Criteria
See the ECE Graduate Admissions Guide for information on admissions criteria for our graduate programs.
Admissions Decisions
Please see this information about when admissions decisions can be expected: Admissions decisions
Announcements
See the ECE announcements page for job postings, events, funding opportunities, and other information.
Application Information
See these resources:
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines for our graduate programs can be found here: Application deadlines
Application Fee Waivers
See this information about available fee waivers.
Applying to More Than One Program
Purdue allows you to apply for up to two different campuses and/or majors with a single application and fee payment.
More details here: How to Apply
Bursar
Contact the Bursar for all questions related to your tuition bill.
Calendar, Academic
Car Registration
See this information for details on how to register your car and obtain license plates: Indiana BMV, Registration & Plates
Career Account
Your Purdue Career Account allows you access to specific services at Purdue: Career account
Clothing Shopping
See this information: Clothing shopping (linked with permission from Purdue ME)
CV/Resume
ECE requires students to submit a CV or resume as part of the application.
See the information under Required Supporting Documents on this page: ECE Graduate Program Requirements
Deferring Admission
- International graduate students: May request to defer their admission for up to one year.
- Domestic graduate students: Have up to three terms to begin their studies but must request a deferral their admission a full year.
See the information under Admission Deferral Requests on this page.
Disability Resource Center
Contact the Disability Resource Center for to discuss any accommodations you may need related to a disability. These accommodations may include extended testing time, accessible course content, or use of specific technology.
Division of Financial Aid
Contact the Division of Financial Aid for questions related to financial aid.
Driver’s License
See this information for details on how to register your car and obtain a driver’s license: Indiana BMV, Learner’s Permits & Driver’s Licenses Overview
ECE Contacts
Please see this information about when admissions decisions can be expected: Admissions decisions
Contact Purdue IT for assistance with your Purdue email.
English Proficiency Requirements & Waivers
International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency for admission.
Ways to meet English proficiency requirements
Funding
Top applicants may be offered funding at the time of admission.
Students not offered funding at the time of admission can see this webpage for information on finding GTA or RA funding or hourly positions: Finding funding
GRE
The GRE is optional for all ECE graduate program applicants. See additional information under GRE here.
Grocery Shopping
See this information: Grocery shopping (linked with permission from Purdue ME)
Housing
West Lafayette: Purdue West Lafayette does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students. However, numerous housing options exist in the community:
- Purdue Off-Campus Housing Site
- Boiler Apartments
- Apartmentguide
- Zillow (purchase or rent)
Plan and secure a place early, as there is limited housing available. Most grad students live either in Lafayette or north of campus, near Walmart, in West Lafayette. The closer you are to campus, the more expensive it will be. Most big apartment properties away from campus are on the CityBus route, which offers free rides to Purdue students.
Indianapolis: See this resource: Housing & Relocation Information
How to Apply
See these resources:
Health Insurance
Health insurance is available through Purdue for:
- Domestic students
- International students (insurance is mandatory)
- Students with a graduate assistantship (GTA or RA)
Immunizations
Purdue residential students must meet Indiana State requirements for immunizations: State Immunization Requirements.
Online students are exempt from this requirement.
International Students
International students admitted to Purdue graduate programs will receive an email to their Purdue email account from Purdue International Students and Scholars (ISS) with information about completing the NOI. This email will be sent within a week of admission.
See this information on setting up your Purdue email: New to Purdue? Get Started Here
Additional information for international students:
- Prepare to be WOWed: A Guidebook for Incoming International Students
- Purdue ISS website
- Contacting ISS, F-1 students
IT Help
Contact Purdue IT for assistance with your Purdue email, two-factor authentication, and other IT services.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required for applications for ECE graduate programs. See this information: Recommendation Letters
Note that you can submit and pay for your application without the letters of recommendation having been received. However, we do not review applications until three letters of recommendation have been received.
Location Preference, Residential Programs
ECE offers residential programs in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis.
See this information: Location preference, residential programs
Medical Treatment in the U.S.
See this information: Medical treatment in the US (linked with permission from Purdue ME)
New Student Checklist
See this information: Admitted student checklist
Notice of Intent (International Students)
International students will receive an email to their Purdue email account from Purdue ISS about starting the NOI process.
See the information here under Graduate Application > Three-Step Admissions Process: Admitted Students: Pre-Arrival Information
Orientation
Both ECE and the University hold orientation events for incoming students. Information will be provided by email.
For residential students starting in the Fall term, orientation typically begins the Monday before classes begin (one week before the start date of classes).
Orientation is not mandatory but highly recommended.
Parking on Campus
Purdue students are eligible to purchase on-campus parking permits. See this information: Purdue University Parking, Students
Free street parking is available around campus, but many of these spaces have time limits, and these time limits are enforced through ticketing. See this for additional information on street parking: West Lafayette street parking.
Personal History Statement
The personal history statement is a required part of the Purdue ECE application: Personal history statement
Professional Master's Program
While all Purdue ECE students earn the same degree - the MSECE - most master's students will be admitted to our professional master's program (PMP). The PMP is designed to deepen both the student's technical and professional skills. Aside from technical courses, students can also choose coursework in communication, leadership, entrepreneurship, and other professional development topics.
West Lafayette location students in the PMP can choose between two options:
- Ideas to Innovation (project) track: Students in this track will take specific Ideas to Innovation coursework, in which they will complete a project that has the same scope and ambition as a nine-credit MS thesis. Some professional development coursework is required.
- Implementation track: Students in this track can choose both ECE courses and professional development courses.
Indianapolis location students in the PMP will follow the implementation track.
Students in the MSECE PMP are not eligible to receive funding but may transfer to the thesis track or course-only option and accept funding under the conditions outlined in the student's admissions decision letter.
Purdue ID Card
Required Documents for Application
See the information under Required Supporting Documents on this page.
Research Areas
Purdue ECE includes seven research areas: ECE research areas
Research Centers
Purdue and ECE have multiple research centers. See this information:
School Spirit
See this information: School Spirit (linked with permission from Purdue ME)
Social Media Recommendations
Check out these ECE social media websites:
Specialty Stores
See this information: Specialty Stores (linked with permission from Purdue ME)
Student Organizations
See this information: Graduate Student Organizations
Students with Families
See this information: Students with Families
Transferring Credits
- For MSECE students: See the MSECE Handbook, Section 6.3: Undergraduate, Transfer, and Excess Course Credits
- For MSSWE students: See the MSSWE Handbook, Section 4.3: Undergraduate, Transfer, and Excess Course Credits
- For PhD students: See Section 5 of the PhD Handbook for information on transfer credits
Transportation
Public transportation in West Lafayette:
Public transportation in Indianapolis: IndyGo
Shuttle Service Between West Lafayette and Indianapolis
Indianapolis and West Lafayette shuttle services
Tuition
See this information for tuition rates: Purdue Bursar, Tuition
Undergraduate Background
ECE graduate programs desired undergraduate background
Veteran and Military Success Center
The Purdue Veteran and Military Success Center provides comprehensive services for veterans, members of the military, or benefit-using family members.
Virtual Campus Tour
See this webpage for a virtual tour of the West Lafayette campus: Purdue Virtual Tour
Weather Information
Indiana is cold in the winter (with snow) and warm to hot in the summer. Fall and spring vary between cold and warm.
West Lafayette weather information:
Indianapolis weather information:
What to Bring (and Not Bring) to Campus
See this information: What to Bring (and Not Bring) to Campus (linked with permission from Purdue ME)