Language of instruction
Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University is a World Top-100 public research institution offering higher education at its highest proven value. Committed to student success, Purdue is changing the student experience, with greater focus on faculty-student interaction and creative use of technology. The moniker for the University’s athletics teams, “Boilermakers”, has become a popular reference for all things Purdue.
Lafayette-West Lafayette is a historian’s dream with beautiful turn-of-the-century architecture. The sister cities are ideally situated between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Semester dates
| UQ Semester | Host Semester | Dates |
| Semester 1 | Spring Semester | January–May |
| Semester 2 | Fall Semester | August–December |
Guides and additional information
Purdue has a number of online resources to help you get more from your exchange:
- University guide for international and exchange students
- Community guide and directory for Purdue students living in Lafayette
- Guidebook to prepare for your exchange
- Events, organisations and student clubs
- International Friendship Program (IFP)
- Disability support and resources
- West Lafayette campus map
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Student testimonials
- B Engineering/CommerceSemester 2, 2018
Sometimes the risk can return rewards better than you could have ever dreamed.
- B Civil engineering/CommerceSemester 2, 2018
Meet new people, have lots of fun.
- B Engineering/CommerceSemester 2, 2018
Exchange at Purdue was a great way to experience the joys and journeys of American college life.
Full-time study load
15 credits at Purdue is equivalent to 8 UQ units.
Minimum academic requirements
You will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.5 to study at Purdue.
Find courses
Search the Credit Precedent Database to find courses offered by your host university that have been previously approved for credit at UQ. The database should be used as a general guide only.
Search the Purdue course catalogue if courses do not appear in the database, or view the complete list of undergraduate programs.
Study areas taught in English
Course restrictions
Architecture, business and postgraduate courses are not open for exchange students.
HORT program is highly ranked and competitive. Prerequisites will be checked
Restrictions to engineering students:
- While possible to select courses across multiple schools within the College of Engineering (CoE), it is recommended to select all courses from a single school
- Avoid taking courses from both the CoE and the College of Technology (CoT). E.g. Mechanical Engineering courses are in the CoE, whereas Mechanical Engineering Technology courses are in the CoT - select all courses from one discipline, not both.
- Contact your Purdue academic adviser once you have received your acceptance notice to discuss course registration
Additional academic information
Course Numbering at Purdue:
- 000-099: Non-credit courses
- 100-299: Undergraduate Lower-Division Courses
- 300-499: Undergraduate Upper-Division Courses
- 500-699: Graduate Courses
- 700+: Postgraduate Courses
Purdue has online resources to help you understand their academic policies:
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Accommodation
Exchange students can apply to stay in Purdue's on-campus residences. Places are not guaranteed, especially during the fall semester, but students who apply by the deadline will usually be allocated a room. Additionally, Purdue provides guidance and support for students looking to live off-campus.
Further information on Purdue's housing options is available on pages 16–19 in the Exchange Student Handbook.
Cost of living
Purdue's Exchange Student Handbook provides a breakdown of average living costs which students can expect to encounter while on exchange in West Lafayette.
Additional Mandatory fees
Purdue University does not have any additional mandatory fees for exchange students.
Financial support
A range of funding for student exchange including scholarships, grants and loans are available to UQ students.
Insurance
Students approved to participate in the Student Exchange Program are automatically covered by UQ’s Travel Insurance for the country of their host university only.
For more information, read the Student Travel Insurance Policy Summary on UQ’s Travel Insurance web page (login required).
If you plan to travel outside of your host country, you should purchase additional insurance.
All exchange students studying at Purdue are required to maintain adequate health coverage throughout the duration of their exchange. Information regarding the Purdue Student Health Insurance Service, including costs and benefits, can be found on Purdue's website.
Exchange students may be eligible to waive the Health Insurance Plan if they have additional cover that meets Purdue University’s minimum waiver requirements. UQ’s Corporate Travel Insurance has previously met the minimum waiver requirements for Purdue University’s Student Health Insurance. However, waiver eligibility is assessed by the host university and is not guaranteed as requirements are subject to change.
Before purchasing an additional policy, students should confirm that the policy meets Purdue University’s minimum waiver requirements.
A waiver is not automatic. Do not assume that a waiver will be approved or that you will receive a waiver based on the experience of a friend from UQ who studied at the same institution on exchange.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.
Organise your visa
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa for the country where you will be studying. As the Global Experiences team is not a visa-issuing authority we cannot provide visa advice.
Contact the US Embassy and Consulates for visa information.
Travel risk levels
The University of Queensland cannot and does not allow students to travel to any country with a risk level of 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or above, as assessed by the Australian Government.
If a country's risk level changes to 3 or above, Global Experience programs to that country are suspended until the risk level improves.
Find out the risk level and travel advice for your host country on the Smartraveller website.
Register your travel plans
We recommend that you register your travel plans on the Smartraveller website so that the Australian Government can contact you or your family in an emergency.
Non-Australian citizens should register with their closest consulate.
Exchange deadlines
May 31 for Semester 1 of the following year.
October 31 for Semester 2 of the following year.