Purdue University Admission: Scholarship Guide for Saudi Students

Looking for Purdue University admission information? This guide covers what Saudi students need to know before applying: an overview of the university and its location in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, whether it is on the recommended lists of the Ministry of Education, the scholarship tracks and fields it is approved for, and the steps to apply. Every official detail here comes from the published lists (last updated in Mubta on 16 October 2026), so always check the official source before you decide.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, founded in 1869. It has about 59,000 students. Teaching is in English, so applicants are usually asked for proof of their language level. Official website: purdue.edu.

Is Purdue University recognised in Saudi Arabia?

• Ministry of Education: Purdue University is on the recommended list of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 cycle, in Research and Development Track and Emdad Track tracks.

Being on a list means the university is accepted for scholarships in the listed fields and degrees only, not in every subject it teaches. Check that your subject falls within the fields of the track you apply to, as set out below.

Purdue University scholarship: tracks and fields

If you plan to study on a Purdue University scholarship, these are the tracks that include it in the official lists, with the degrees and fields approved for each.

Research and Development Track (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program)

Degrees in this track: Doctorate. Fields approved for Purdue University and the ministry's rank in each:

Emdad Track (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program)

Degrees in this track: Bachelor's degree and Master's degree. Fields approved for Purdue University and the ministry's rank in each:

Studying at Purdue University

What it is like to study at Purdue University depends on your degree and subject, but a few things matter to every Saudi student before applying:

• City: the university is in West Lafayette, United States. To study in West Lafayette means planning early for housing and living costs, so check the student housing options on the university's website.
• Language of study: English. Most universities ask for a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL and set the score each programme needs.
• Degree level: bachelor's requirements differ from master's and doctoral ones; postgraduate programmes usually ask for recommendation letters and a research proposal or a statement of purpose.
• Visa and documents: once admitted, you need a student visa from the embassy or consulate of United States. Requirements differ from country to country, so check them on the embassy's official website well before you travel, and have your certificates attested and translated where needed.
• Subject: before applying, match the programme's name with the approved fields of your track, so that it counts for the scholarship.

International admissions at Purdue University

Start from Purdue University's official website and look for its international admissions page, which usually sets out the entry requirements, the grades and language score required, the documents and the application dates for each degree. If you cannot find what you need, write to the admissions office through the contact details on that page, and keep their answers in writing for when you apply.

How to get Purdue University admission

1. Choose your programme: decide on the subject and degree, and make sure both are within what the ministry's list includes for Purdue University.
2. Check the official entry requirements on the university's website: academic qualification and grades, language test, required documents and application dates.
3. Prepare your documents: transcripts and certificates (translated where needed), passport, statement of purpose, recommendation letters and CV.
4. Apply through the university's portal before the deadline, keep your application number and watch your email.
5. After admission: complete the scholarship procedures with the relevant authority under your programme's rules.

In Mubta you can follow your path to Purdue University admission in one place: the Purdue University page shows its recognition and tracks, and you can add it to your applications, track its dates, compare it with other universities and use the browser extension to fill application forms quickly. To learn about the scholarship programmes themselves, see the programmes page.

Other universities in United States on the scholarship lists

If you are weighing your options, these other universities in United States are also on the official lists, and you can compare them with Purdue University in Mubta:

• Indiana University Bloomington
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Georgetown University
• University of Washington
• University of Texas - Austin

Sources

• Ministry of Education: the official lists of recommended universities.
• Purdue University official website: programmes, entry requirements and dates.

This article is based on the official lists as published by the ministries and scholarship bodies; the lists and holds can change at any time. The official source has the final word.