PhD Program in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

1. Online application. (Graduate Application)
   • Statement of Purpose.
   • Curriculum Vita.  This is an optional field in the application system but is recommended by the department.
   • Writing sample. (Optional, submit under Supporting Documents)
   • List of 3 recommenders. 
     
2. Application fee. (Application Fee Information)
   
3. Official transcripts from all institutions attended. Please upload copies of your official transcripts to the application system. The Purdue Graduate School will use these documents for admission purposes. International transcripts must be uploaded or submitted in their original form and in translation, along with copies of any diplomas awarded. Any transcripts sent electronically through an approved e-service (e-SCRIP, etc) must be sent to the Graduate School at gradadm@purdue.edu. This delays the receipt of the transcript to the department, so uploaded copies of official documents or official hard copies are preferred. Please send any paper transcripts to the SLHS Graduate Program Secretary.
   
4. For those whose first language is not English, we require official test scores less than 2 years old from one of the following: TOEFL iBT or IELTS.

PLEASE NOTE: GRE scores are no longer being required for the SLHS PhD program.

Below are some helpful hints about writing a statement of purpose to accompany your graduate school application.

1. The individuals reading your application for the PhD program will want to know how you can contribute to the program. Therefore, the focus should be on how you’ve spent your time as an undergraduate and/or graduate student preparing for your PhD journey.
2. Do not include too much personal information. You need to prepare a professional document — something that will convince the admissions committee that you are serious about doing PhD-level work. Anecdotes about how you got interested in the field or how you’ve always wanted to help people or make a difference are not a good idea.
3. The document should be well-written, concise and free of typos. A sloppy document will send the wrong kind of message (e.g., it might send a signal to the admissions committee that you’ll be just as sloppy about your graduate work).
4. If you can, be specific about how you fit into the program — in other words, tailor it to the school. Talk about the work of specific professors at the university to which you are applying. This provides yet another way to demonstrate your professional maturity.

To be eligible for departmental funding as a PhD student, all international applicants must meet the following department standards:

• English proficiency test scores are required of all international applicants whose first language is not English.
• TOEFL iBT: a minimum total score of 100 with minimum individual scores of 28 for speaking, 22 for writing, 22 for listening and 22 for reading.
• IELTS: a minimum score of 7.5 with no single band score lower than 7.0.

International transcripts must be uploaded or submitted in their original form and in translation, along with copies of any diplomas awarded.  Please send any paper transcripts to the SLHS Graduate Secretary.