Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I find information about your graduate programs?
Our graduate programs include Health Physics, Imaging Sciences, Medical Physics, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, and Toxicology. Information about our individual graduate programs can be found at hhs.purdue.edu/hsci/ or in the following locations:
- Where can I apply to your programs?
Please note all application materials must be submitted directly to the Graduate School through the application portal. The School of Health Sciences Faculty do not handle any application material. Further, it is the School of Health Sciences does not pre-review application materials prior to submission of the full application. Purdue University information regarding the application process can be found here.
Individual specific information for the School of Health Sciences Graduate Programs can be found in the following links:
- What are the application deadlines?
Application deadlines are program dependent and can be found within the links provided in the answer to question 2 under the heading of Application Deadlines for each program. Please note by this date all application material must have been obtained within the application portal. - Are Spring and Summer start dates available?
Our primary admission window is for Fall entry, however, we do occasionally admit student to the PhD program for spring or summer entry, as needed. Our graduate program coursework is established for Fall entry. Please see program specific guidelines regarding Spring and Summer start dates (links provided in answer to question #2 above). - What are the admissions requirements?
Any program specific requirements can be found in the links provided in answer to question #2 above. Please note, program required course work for admission to Medical Physics, and Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences programs can be found within the links for question #1. - Is the GRE required?
Each program has specific GRE requirements. Please review program specific requirements in the links provided in answer to question #2 above. - How can I receive an application fee waiver?
Information about application fees can be found here. Applicants can request an application fee waiver, policies regarding this waiver are found within the same link and require an email being sent to gradinfo@purdue.edu with an explanation of your situation. Additionally, prospective applicants can attend specific recruitment events that provide an application fee waiver. The website provided contains a list of these events that qualify for the waiver. - Is it required that I receive a commitment from a research supervisor prior to submitting my application?
It is not necessary to receive commitment from a faculty mentor prior to submitting your application. All submitted applications are reviewed by the faculty. You may reach out to individual faculty to discuss opportunities; however, a commitment is not necessary for application submission. Please note, many of our programs require endorsement by a program faculty member for an application submitted for Spring or Summer entry. This endorsement procedure is not necessary for Fall entry. - What is the policy regarding English Proficiency and how can I receive a waiver?
Information about Purdue English Proficiency Requirements and the waiver policy can be found here. Individuals who meet these guidelines will be provided with a waiver. - What funding opportunities are available?
M.S. students are typically not supported
financially and must fund themselves. Admitted PhD students will be offered a
research or teaching assistantship, or a combination. There are limited competitive funding
opportunities available for students, dependent upon faculty nominations and
University review. To be considered for these opportunities applicants must meet the deadlines set by each program found on each program’s individual requirements page (links found above in response to question 2). - If my application is denied, can it be transferred to the next application cycle?
Applications cannot be transferred to the next cycle. To be considered for enrollment for the next application cycle, a new application must be submitted. - What can I expect as a graduate student in the School of Health Sciences at Purdue University?
Information regarding graduate student expectations can be found in the School of Health Sciences’ Graduate Student Handbook. - Who can I contact if I have other questions?
For general questions please contact Graduate Program Administrative Assistant, Karen Walker (kwalker@purdue.edu) and/or Graduate Program Director, Jonathan Shannahan, PhD (jshannah@purdue.edu).
For program specific questions please contact:
Health Physics: Jason Harris, PhD (jtharris@purdue.edu)
Imaging Sciences: Ulrike Dydak, PhD (udydak@purdue.edu)
Medical Physics: Ulrike Dydak, PhD (udydak@purdue.edu)
Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences: Ellen Wells, PhD (wells54@purdue.edu)
Toxicology: Jonathan Shannahan, PhD (jshannah@purdue.edu)
Virtual Open Houses
We host virtual open houses for each of our graduate programs each October. Please visit the individual program sites found in response to question #1 for information and registration in the months leading up to the open houses. This information is found at the top of each page under the section “Open House”. Additionally, information from recent open houses may be available in the same place.