The following list contains questions often asked about the Lilly Scholars program at Purdue. Additional questions can be directed to lillyscholars@purdue.edu.
| College of Agriculture | Biochemistry |
| College of Agriculture | Biological Engineering |
| College of Engineering | Engineering (All Majors) |
| College of Pharmacy | Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| College of Science | Biochemistry |
| College of Science | Chemical Biology and Biochemistry |
| College of Science | Chemistry |
| College of Science | Chemistry (ACS) |
| College of Science | Microbiology |
| College of Science | Biology |
| College of Science | Data Science (First-Year) |
| College of Science | Genetics |
One of the key benefits of being a Lilly Scholar at Purdue is the guaranteed internship during the fall or spring semester of the sophomore year or fall of the junior year.
Similar to the co-op program at Purdue, this experiential learning internship for Lilly Scholars at Purdue will be supported by the Office of Professional Practice. With securing this guaranteed, paid internship, Lilly Scholars will need to partner with their academic advisor to understand the plans of study in their intended major. Most co-op students at Purdue extend their graduation by 1–2 semesters to accommodate for their industry experience(s). And, as the Lilly Scholars at Purdue program is a pre-professional scholarship program with required programming and a required semester-long internship, Lilly Scholars will most likely take longer than four years to graduate.
In addition to the program benefits of being a Lilly Scholar at Purdue, students will be eligible to attain an industry co-op certificate and a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate. Even with a delayed timeline, Lilly Scholars at Purdue will not pay tuition during the semester-long internship at Lilly. This scholarship cover eight semesters of full-time tuition and does not apply to enrollment in summer courses.
NOTE: Students opting to enroll in online courses during the semester-long internship will need to contact the Division of Financial Aid prior to registering to discuss aid packages.
Yes. The Office of Professional Practice facilitates the industry co-op certificate that allows students to complete a minimum of 12 months of industry experience during their time at Purdue. Lilly Scholars will register for an internship course during the specific work term and can be credited toward the Purdue co-op program, which requires a minimum of three work sessions. Additionally, Lilly Scholars will be eligible to attain the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Certificate.
Yes. Lilly Scholars are eligible to pursue study-abroad programs and could also participate in the GEARE program, which allows students to complete study-abroad programs and take part in domestic and international internships. Lilly will not provide an international internship for Lilly Scholars as part of the program, and the Lilly Scholars at Purdue scholarship funding may not cover all required tuition for study-abroad programming. It is recommended that students partner with the Division of Financial Aid and the Purdue Study Abroad Office prior to enrolling in a study-abroad program as a Lilly Scholar.
NOTE: Opting for additional work-integrated learning programming may extend graduation timelines based on student academic progress.
Mentorship opportunities will be offered as part of the Lilly Scholars program. Group mentoring will begin during the student’s first year.
Interaction with Lilly leadership will begin the first semester on campus. There will be programming opportunities exclusive to Lilly Scholars that will engage the Lilly Scholars with Lilly leaders. Representatives from Lilly will support the ENGR103: Pharma Careers for Lilly Scholars curriculum as guest speakers for various lectures.
Full tuition includes up to the total cost of tuition. The actual amount varies depending on your residency and the number of credits enrolled in each semester. To understand the estimated cost of attendance at Purdue, click here.
The Lilly Scholars at Purdue program covers full tuition only. Program differential fees, housing and food, books and course materials, supplies and equipment, transportation, and other expected costs are not included in this scholarship.
Tuition will not be charged during the full-time internship at Lilly. This semester does not count towards the eight semesters of tuition Lilly Scholars at Purdue receive. The up to eight semesters of tuition can be applied towards an additional semester if graduation timeline is delayed.
Each student’s overall award is different, and the Division of Financial Aid can assist with overall award process.
The Lilly Scholars at Purdue program only applies to undergraduate studies at Purdue University.
This scholarship is for use in the fall and spring semesters only. A student can submit a summer appeal document to use a semester of scholarship funding during the summer. Summer appeals should only be used when a student will not be on campus for a total of eight fall and spring semesters. If the summer merit appeal is approved, the scholarship will reflect the summer cost of attendance, which will be different than the cost of fall or spring attendance.
Purdue offers a variety of different study-abroad programs and options. Students interested in studying abroad should connect with the Division of Financial Aid directly and review the Purdue Study Abroad website to determine if scholarships can be utilized for study-abroad programs.
The Lilly Scholarship only covers tuition. Some programs have additional fees, and the scholarship does not cover those additional fees. Please see this site for more information: Tuition and Fees – Undergraduate Admissions – Purdue University. The scholarship does not cover the cost of housing and food.
Any student who decides to take a gap year needs to abide by Purdue’s outlined Gap Year Policy and Request procedure. If granted, the student’s scholarship will begin during their first fall semester at Purdue. The student will join that incoming freshman cohort of Lilly Scholars.
Yes. The Lilly Scholars internships will be paid opportunities. In addition, students will receive paid time off during company-designated holidays that occur during the internship. Additional benefits include access to on-site gyms and on-site employee health services.
The guaranteed internships at Lilly take place during the fall or spring semester of the Lilly Scholars’ sophomore year at Purdue or during the fall semester of the Lilly Scholars’ junior year at Purdue. In partnership with the Lilly Scholars program manager and academic advisors, students will outline their plans of study as needed with the understanding that there will be few if any exceptions made.
NOTE: Internships during fall/spring of sophomore year are preferred, yet various programs of study may need special attention or alternative timelines, such as fall of junior year, due to course scheduling and sequencing.
Lilly internships will take place in person within Indiana. Lilly has manufacturing sites and its corporate headquarters in Indianapolis with future manufacturing sites under construction in Lebanon, Indiana.
The Office of Professional Practice team and Lilly resources will support students in arranging internships at Lilly. The Lilly Scholars program manager and Lilly human resources teams will work together to outline timelines, placement, and areas for each student during their first year at Purdue. Students will be expected to follow standard hiring practices, such as background checks, drug screenings, submitting resumes, and providing additional information to facilitate the process.
Preparation will occur during the student’s first year to help them improve their readiness for the internship. Lilly Scholars at Purdue will enroll in a professional development course, ENGR 103: Pharma Career for Lilly Scholars, during their first fall semester. In this course, students will develop their resumes, interview skills, and career readiness. In addition to professional-skills development, students will engage in mentorship and networking with Lilly representatives during the course. Lastly, additional programming will be available in partnership with Lilly to inform students about the company’s opportunities and culture.
Some students opt to take online courses during their internships or co-ops. If a student opts to take a class during their internship at Lilly, they should consult with the Division of Financial Aid prior to registration as it may affect the overall scholarship. They should also ensure that the course does not conflict with their work schedule.
Lilly will work to house and pair students regarding living arrangements and transportation needs. While it is not required to have a vehicle during the internship, it would be a benefit.
The Lilly Scholars program guarantees a one-semester internship only. The Office of Professional Practice and Lilly Scholars program managers will serve as resources for additional work-integrated learning opportunities and will provide support during each Lilly Scholar’s academic journey.
Housing information, including options such as stipends or subsidization, will be provided upon internship placement.
No. However, Purdue and Lilly hope that the opportunities, experiences, and connections gained during the Lilly Scholars program will open doors for students at Lilly and in the pharmaceutical industry.
The estimated time to complete the application is 30 min. You can review the application questions ahead of time here. You can also save your application progress and return at a later date.