Applyi= ng=20 to Duke: How To=20 Apply: International Applicants

Students from around 85 countries have found a home at Duke.=20 Innovative, restless, and driven: these are qualities not confined = by=20 geography. A Duke student is as likely to live across the globe as = right=20 here in North Carolina.

There is no separate or different international application. = Please=20 also check out other resources on our site including information = on=20 Interviews and the Application Essay and Short Answer = Questions.

Below you will find additional information on the = following:

How to Apply=20
Testing and Language Requirements=20
Credit and Advanced Placement=20
Academic Curriculum=20
Financial Aid=20
Visa Information

HOW TO APPLY

The application process can sometimes feel like a maze of = forms,=20 personal statements, and test scores. So we've tried to make the = process=20 as clear as possible. We want to give you the chance to tell us = about=20 yourself in the most straightforward and effective way, allowing = you more=20 time to focus on why you would be a valuable addition to the Duke=20 community.

Duke uses the Common Application or the Universal College = Application=20 plus the Duke Student Supplement.

Applying= =20 On-line=20
Applying=20 On Paper=20
Th= e=20 Application Essay and Short Answer Questions=20
Optional=20 Artistic Material

TESTING AND LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Standardized Testing

All applicants for the first-year class, whether = educated in=20 the United States or abroad, are required to take the entrance=20 examinations given by the College Board (SAT) or the American = College=20 Program (ACT) and arrange to have official test scores sent to=20 Duke. Results of national examinations such as the GCSE = cannot be=20 substituted for these examinations. These tests are given = throughout the=20 year at testing centers all around the world, though students = outside the=20 United States will generally find that the SAT is available in = more places=20 than the ACT. Score reports from these examinations may be sent = directly=20 to any American university at the student's request. Please note = that we=20 will not have access to your test scores unless you designate Duke = as a=20 score recipient. If you did not designate Duke at the time you = took the=20 test, please do so as soon as you decide to apply to Duke.

We encourage qualified applicants from all countries to apply = to Duke,=20 yet understand that some students do not have access to a testing = center=20 in their home countries (e.g., mainland China). These students = are, of=20 course, exempt and are not disadvantaged in the evaluation = process. If you=20 would like to ask more specific questions, please send us a = message and we=20 will respond as quickly as possible. To send a message, you'll = first need=20 to register on our site. Just click the =E2=80=9Clog in=E2=80=9D = button in the footer and=20 you'll be directed to your home page, where you can register. The=20 directions on that page will take you through the process step by = step.=20 Then, you can revisit that portion of our Web site to communicate = with our=20 office.

Please be aware that in Duke's application process, SAT-I and = ACT=20 scores are not viewed as the sole measure of a student's academic = ability.=20 We also recognize that test scores from bilingual students, or = students=20 outside of a United States high school system, may reflect a = student's=20 lack of familiarity and experience with this type of standardized = test.=20 This is taken into account when applications are considered.

Testing Requirements

All candidates for admission must complete either the College = Board Scholastic=20 Assessment Test (SAT) or the test of the American College=20 Program (ACT). Applicants taking the SAT should take the = three-part=20 SAT Reasoning Test plus two SAT Subject Tests. Applicants to the = Pratt=20 School of Engineering must take one SAT Subject Test in = mathematics.=20 Applicants who choose to take the ACT should plan to take the ACT = with the=20 new writing portion.

Our school code for the SAT is 5156. Our ACT school = code is=20 3088.

Testing Deadlines

We strongly recommend that Early Decision = applicants=20 take either of these sets of standardized tests no later = than=20 October of their senior year. While we cannot guarantee = receipt=20 of November testing for Early Decision candidates, reports will = usually=20 arrive in our office in time to be used in our decision. = Regular=20 Decision applicants should complete standardized tests = no=20 later than January of their senior year.

TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)

All candidates whose native language is not English are = encouraged, but=20 not required, to sit for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign = Language)=20 or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). A = minimum=20 score of 100 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT)=E2=80=94or 250 on = the=20 computer-based TOEFL (CBT) or 600 on the paper-based TOEFL = (PBT)=E2=80=94or an=20 overall band score of 7 on the IELTS is expected for all = applicants to=20 Duke. The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) cannot replace = the=20 TOEFL. We will use all the test information that you send to us = with your=20 writing samples in the application to evaluate your proficiency in = English. If you take tests more than once, we will use your = highest=20 scores.

CREDIT AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Students who receive superior scores on the International = Baccalaureate=20 Higher Level examinations or the College Board Advanced Placement = Tests=20 (usually a 4 or a 5) may be eligible for course credit or higher = placement=20 upon enrollment at Duke. Similarly, students who present superior = results=20 on the British "A" levels, the French Baccalaureate, the German = Arbitur,=20 or Swiss Maturite Certificate may also be eligible for such credit = and=20 placement. Such placement would make it possible for the recipient = to=20 complete an undergraduate degree course leading to a B.A. or B.S. = degree=20 in less than the customary four years. Advanced standing is not = granted,=20 however, until the student has been admitted and until the = official report=20 of exam results is received and evaluated by our Registrar's = Office. Since=20 this process is handled outside the Admissions Office, a credit = evaluation=20 cannot be made until the student arrives on campus.

For specific information about scores required to qualify for=20 international placement credit for the Trinity College of Arts and = Sciences, please click here. For specific information about = scores=20 required to qualify for international placement credit for the = Pratt=20 School of Engineering, click here.

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM

Prior to the anticipated date of enrollment at Duke, students = should=20 have completed an academic program that would enable them to = enroll at a=20 university in their home countries. For example, students from = British or=20 British-based education systems should have completed their "A" = levels=20 before enrollment, students from the French or German education = systems=20 should complete the Baccalaureate or Abitur, and so on. For most = students,=20 this means that they will begin the application process during = their final=20 year of study in a pre-university program.

All students, including those for whom English is not their = first=20 language, must demonstrate the ability to undertake a rigorous = academic=20 program in English. Duke's academic program is fast-paced and = demands that=20 students have the ability to read quickly and to express = themselves=20 clearly both orally and in writing. Applicants must, therefore, be = fluent=20 in written and spoken English at the time the application is = submitted.=20 The TOEFL = (Test of=20 English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing = System) is=20 recommended for all students who are not native speakers of = English.

FINANCIAL AID

Foreign Nationals

Duke University encourages ALL qualified foreign nationals to = apply for=20 admission. The university will meet full demonstrated financial = need for a=20 limited number of international students applying for first-year=20 admission. Because financial resources for these students are = limited,=20 each year Duke expects to enroll 20-25 first-year foreign citizens = who=20 receive need-based financial aid. Please note there is no=20 need-based aid for international transfer applicants.

There are two applicant pools for foreign nationals: those not = applying=20 for financial aid who will be considered for admission along with = US=20 citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, and those applying for = financial=20 aid who will be considered in a separate process for a limited = number of=20 places in the entering class. Also, foreign citizens who do not = apply for=20 financial aid initially may not subsequently apply for financial = aid=20 during their time at Duke unless they become U.S. citizens or = permanent=20 residents.

Applicants living outside the United States who are requesting=20 financial aid will be required to complete and submit the = International=20 Student Financial Aid Application along with a copy of their = family's most=20 recent national tax forms. This application is available on the Financial Aid = Office Web=20 site. These forms should be submitted together with the = admissions=20 application. Applicants living with their families in the United = States=20 should submit the same financial aid materials Duke University = requires=20 for US citizens except the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal = Student=20 Aid). All foreign nationals, including winners of Duke merit = scholarships,=20 must document the available funding for their education by = completing and=20 submitting the Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) which = is sent=20 when you are admitted.

For complete information about applying for financial aid, be = sure to=20 visit the Financial=20 Aid Office Web site.

United States Citizens and Lawful Permanent=20 Residents

(Lawful Permanent Residents are those holding an I-551 = stamp in a=20 passport or in possession of the Form I-551 Alien Registration = Card=E2=80=94"Green=20 Card")

Duke University's admissions policy is "need-blind" for all US = citizens=20 and Lawful Permanent Residents, which means that applying for = financial=20 aid does not affect the admissions decision for these students. = Current=20 country of residence has no bearing on eligibility for financial=20 assistance.

For more information, visit the Financial Aid Office Web site..

VISA INFORMATION

To obtain an F-1 visa for study in the United States, a foreign = citizen=20 must furnish his or her home country's U.S. consulate with proof = of=20 ability to meet educational expenses, along with a certificate of=20 eligibility for a visa application (the I-20 form). I-20 forms for = incoming foreign students are issued only after a student has been = admitted, paid the enrollment deposit, and returned a completed=20 Certificate of Financial Responsibility. Visa services and advice = on=20 federal regulations concerning non-U.S. citizens are available = through=20 Duke's International Office.

Quick Links

College Board (SAT)

American=20 College Testing Program (ACT)

TOEFL

IELTS

Visiting International Students and Exchange = Program=20

Services for International Students

The=20 International House

International Association

For frequently asked questions about admissions for = international=20 students, click=20 here.

Nations represented by undergraduates include the = following:=20

Afghanistan=20
Albania=20
Argentina=20
Australia=20
Austria=20
Bahrain=20
Belarus=20
Belgium=20
Bermuda=20
Bolivia=20
Brazil=20
Bulgaria=20
Canada=20
Chile=20
China=20
Colombia=20
Costa Rica=20
Ecuador=20
Egypt=20
El Salvador=20
France=20
Germany=20
Ghana=20
Greece=20
Guatemala=20
Haiti=20
Hong Kong=20
Iceland=20
India=20
Indonesia=20
Iraq=20
Israel=20
Italy=20
Jamaica=20
Japan=20
Jordan=20
Kazakhstan=20
Kenya=20
Korea=20
Lithuania=20
Malaysia=20
Morocco=20
Myanmar=20
Nepal=20
Netherlands=20
New Zealand=20
Nicaragua=20
Nigeria=20
Norway=20
Pakistan=20
Panama=20
Peru=20
Poland=20
Qatar=20
Romania=20
Russian Federation=20
Saudi Arabia=20
Scotland=20
Singapore=20
South Africa=20
Sri Lanka=20
Switzerland=20
Taiwan=20
Tanzania=20
Thailand=20
Tibet=20
Trinidad=20
Turkey=20
United Arab Emirates=20
United Kingdom=20
Venezuela=20
Zimbabwe