About Duke University
Durham, North Carolina is home to many prestigious educational institutes but the absolute best that triumphs over the rest is Duke University. This university has a lineage of producing alumni that impact society, like Astronaut Charles E. Brady, Jr, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon to name a few. Duke is a private research university founded by Methodists and Quakers in the year 1838. Duke University admission provides student access to a campus that spans over a massive 8,600 acres with nothing but gorgeous gothic architecture, academic buildings and lush greenery.
The university has a reputation for academic excellence, with a rigorous curriculum that challenges students to think critically and creatively. Duke spends more than $1 billion per year on research and therefore Duke University provides students with the opportunity to access state-of-the-art research facilities, literature, and technology, and also be part of new innovations. The university’s heavy emphasis on research has not only originated new innovations and ideas but also research centres in every department.
Duke University comprises ten schools and colleges: Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, the Pratt School of Engineering, the Graduate School, the Sanford School of Public Policy, the Nicholas School of the Environment, the School of Law, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Fuqua School of Business, and the Divinity School. The university also has a number of research institutes and centres, including the Duke Global Health Institute and the Duke Cancer Institute.
With Duke University being one of the best in the USA, corporates and employers are also keen on recruiting graduates from here. The employment rate for Duke is around 84% for recent graduates in top companies like IBM, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, etc. The average salary that a graduate receives is $75,000 annually. The university also aids a student through placements and supports through career guidance.
Admission Deadlines 2023
Most of the admission at Duke University are done as part of the Early Action or Regular Decision. It goes without saying that the application and documents need to be submitted within the time frame. Early Action is a binding commitment and the student has to proceed with the admission if accepted when compared to a Regular Decision. The table below mentions the deadlines for undergraduates. Duke University admission deadlines for graduate courses vary according to departments/schools.
| Intakes | Deadlines | Financial Aid Deadline | Decision Released |
| Early Action | November 1st | November 1st | Mid-December |
| Regular Decision | January 3rd | February 1st | Late March/Early April |
Eligibility Criteria For Duke University Admission
When applying to a highly acclaimed university like Duke, all applicants would be glad to receive a set of cut-off criteria however here Duke University does not focus on minimum requirements alone. Key advice would be that these criteria are general guidelines, and the admissions committee evaluates each applicant on a case-by-case basis. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee Duke University admission, and the institute looks for applicants who stand out as exceptional individuals with unique talents and experiences. Below are the general requirements for different programmes but each department can have specific requirements too.
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
- A non-refundable application fee of $80.
- Fee waiver (If applicable).
- First Quarter Grades, Midyear Grades, and Final Transcripts.
- Standardized tests (Minimum scores SAT – 1525, ACT – 34).
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency).
- Three letters of recommendation (One from a counsellor and two from teachers).
- Extracurricular activities (To be filled in the application).
- Long essay and a short essay (On application).
- One-on-one interview (Optional).
- Art supplements (If applicable as per department).
Graduate Entry Requirements
- A non-refundable application fee of $95.
- Completed application.
- Unofficial transcripts of preceding education (Official transcripts after graduation).
- Three letters of recommendation (Submitted by recommenders).
- Strong statement of purpose.
- Resume/CV.
- GRE, GMAT, and MCAT scores (Previous aggregates, GRE – 165, GMAT – 670, MCAT – 500).
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo).
- Undergraduate grade point average (UGPA).
- Writing samples (If required by department).
- Interview (If applicable)
MBA Entry Requirements
- Non-refundable application fee of $225.
- Unofficial transcripts of every university/college.
- One short answer and two longer essays.
- Business Resume.
- One letter of recommendation.
- GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment (EA) scores. (Minimum score GMAT – 713)
- Interview.
- English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS).
English Proficiency Test Scores
An English proficiency test is designed to assess a non-native speaker’s ability to use the English language effectively in academic or professional settings. Duke University’s admission process requires the applicant to submit any test, primarily TOEFL and IELTS with provisions for other tests too. Preparing for an English proficiency test can require a significant amount of time and effort, but achieving a high score can open up many opportunities for academic and professional advancement. The table below mentions the minimum score for different programmes –
| English Proficiency Test | Minimum Test Scores | ||
| Undergraduate | Graduate | MBA | |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 | 90 | 90 |
| IELTS | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Duolingo | 130 | 125 | NA |
| PTE | 70 | NA | NA |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 180 | NA | NA |
Application Process
The application process for Duke University admission is suggested to be done online through the mentioned portals. This provides easy tracking of the application and any document submissions too.
Undergraduate Application Process:
- Applicants can either of the three websites ‘Common Application’, ‘Coalition Application’, or ‘QuestBridge Application’. The university is unbiased in these options.
- Create a new account with a suitable username and password and fill in the other details.
- Submit the documents (LORs, transcripts, test scores, etc).
- Pay the application fee of $85 or submit the fee waiver form.
- Submit the application.
Graduate Application Process:
- Candidates need to start the application process through the Graduate School application system.
- Create a new account and fill in personal and background details.
- Different departments can have different procedures but general documents like LORs, Grades, resumes, test scores, and essays have to be submitted.
- The application can be submitted after paying the application fee of $95.
MBA Application Process:
- After deciding on the programme, applicants can use the Fuqua School of Business online application system for their application process.
- Create a new account or log into an existing one.
- Submit the required documents and fill in the details accurately.
- Once completed, pay the application fee of $225 or provide a fee waiver form.
- Submit the application.
Courses Offered
As part of Duke University admission, the establishment offers over 50 majors and 52 minors and numerous doctoral programmes as well. Additionally, Duke is committed to interdisciplinary learning and offers a number of interdisciplinary courses and programmes. With small class sizes and world-class faculty, students at Duke have the opportunity to explore a wide range of academic interests and prepare for careers in a variety of fields. Some of the university’s popular courses –
- Master of Science [M.S] Data Science
- Master of Engineering Management
- Master of Science [M.S] Biomedical Engineering
- Master of Business Administration [M.B.A] Accelerated
- Master of Science [M.S] Environmental Management
- Bachelor of Science [B.S] Psychology
- Bachelor of Science [B.S] Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Arts [B.A] Global Cultural Studies
- Bachelor of Science [B.S] Biology – Genomics
- Doctor of Medicine [M.D]
- Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] Immunology
Most of the university courses are highly valued and are also ranked by some prestigious ranking boards and publications:
| Courses | 2023 | |
| US News & World Report | THE (Times Higher Education) | |
| Engineering | #3 (UG Biomedical Engineering) | #52 (Engineering) |
| Science | NA | #23 (Psychology) |
| Humanities | NA | #31 (Arts & Humanities) |
| Medicine | #2 (Graduate Nursing) | #23 (Clinical and Health) |
| Business | #10 (MBA Business Analytics) | #17 (PG Business and Economics) |
| Computers | #19 (Computer Engineering PG) | #52 (PG Computer Science) |
| Law | #11 (Graduate Law) | #28 (Law) |
University Admission Decision
Duke University has been a culmination of high-standard academics, exceptional facilities and innovative research. It is therefore likely that the university would also admit the best of the best students. For Duke University admission the acceptance rate is 9% indicating the process will be highly selective. The institute has an elaborate process during review and considers the entire application along with additional supplements when evaluating. The departments manage the specific/initial assessments and the graduate schools are responsible for the final call. The university declares the results in about a month’s time from the initial application date.
The next likely step after receiving admission is to acquire a student visa. The general list of documents required for a visa is –
- A valid passport.
- An acceptance letter from Duke University.
- Completed Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form (Form DS-160).
- SEVIS I-20 Form provided by Duke University.
- Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee.
- Financial documentation demonstrating the ability to pay for tuition, living expenses and other related expenses in the US.
- Standardized test scores (e.g. TOEFL, SAT).
- Recent passport-size photographs.
FAQs
1) Is the Duke University admission process difficult?
The university has an acceptance rate of 11% which falls even lower depending on the intake. This should be a good enough indicator of the difficulty level.
2) Does Duke University offer scholarships?
There are multiple scholarships and financial aid that the university offers.
3) What is the cost of tuition at Duke University?
The average tuition fee can be around $80,000 but this varies according to course/department/degree.
4) Minimum GPA required for Duke University admission?
The minimum GPA required is around 4.14 and this data is from the previously accepted candidates.
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