Admissions – Visiting International Student Program

FALL & ACADEMIC YEAR ADMISSIONS

The application and admissions process is the same whether you are applying for fall semester only or for a full academic year. However, applicants not affiliated with one of Duke’s VIS Global Partners are advised to apply for fall semester only, as there is limited space available for academic year students. Spring semester-only applications will not be considered due to housing limitations on the Duke campus.

Students admitted to the Visiting International Student (VIS) Program may study at Duke for a period of one fall semester or one academic year (two semesters at four months each), but cannot extend the term or transfer into the four-year degree program at Duke.

For Duke Kunshan University students interested in studying at Duke, please contact the Duke Kunshan University Global Education Office.

For non-international visiting students requiring the inter-institutional approval form, please visit the University Registrar’s website for more information.

Requirements for Admission

Basic Requirements

Candidates must meet the following requirements for admission. Proof will be required as part of the application process:

Citizenship other than U.S.
A thorough knowledge of the English language, both written and spoken (see next tab)
Enrollment in a full-time, undergraduate course of studies at an accredited university based in a country other than the U.S.
A completed application for the Duke University Visiting International Student and Exchange Programs
Proof of sufficient financial support for the student’s year of undergraduate study at Duke
Global Partner applicants: Applicants from all partner institutions must submit a letter of nomination from their home institution.

English Proficiency

Students from abroad who do not use English as their primary language must demonstrate the ability to deal with idiomatic English as spoken in an academic setting. The students must have the ability to express thoughts quickly and clearly in both spoken and written English. Candidates for the Visiting International Student and Exchange Programs, therefore, must be completely fluent at the time the application is submitted.

Accepted English proficiency tests are as follows:

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): The minimum required score on the TOEFL is 100 on the iBT (or 600 on the paper based test). To register for the TOEFL, contact Educational Testing Service.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): The minimum required score on the IELTS is 7.0. To register for the IELTS, contact IELTS.

Please submit a scanned copy of your test results with your application.

Global Partners

The first step to applying is to determine whether your university is considered a ‘Global Partner’ by reviewing the list of Duke’s partners schools. The admissions process will vary slightly depending on your home institution’s partner status.

Admissions requirements are the same for all VIS applicants, including students from partner universities. In addition to the normal application materials for the VIS Program, all partner institution students must submit a letter of nomination from their home institution.

What is a Global Partner?

Duke University has varying agreements with sponsored institutions.

Students sponsored by institutions with which Duke University has a signed undergraduate affiliation agreement may be admitted for a semester or academic year of studies according to the terms of the agreement.

List of Global Partners

Special agreements exist at the undergraduate level between Duke University and the following institutions and organizations:

Freie University (Berlin)
Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris)
Japan Study Abroad Foundation
International Christian University (Japan)
Westlake University (China)
Wuhan University (China)

Don’t see your university on the Global Partner list? Applicants not affiliated with one of Duke’s VIS Global Partners are advised to apply for fall semester only, as there is limited space available for academic year students.

APPLICATION

You will need to establish a login to start the application. If you do not attend one of our partner institutions (listed above), please choose “Other” from the institution menu. After you have begun an application, you can access your profile in the MyGlobalEd online application portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit Accompanying Documentation?

Submit any accompanying application documentation electronically to valerie.cullen@duke.edu.
Where necessary, please obtain and submit official translations of all documents (transcripts, recommendations, etc.) that are not prepared in English.

Paper materials may be mailed to:

Duke University Visiting International Student Program
Global Education Office for Undergraduates
Duke Box 90057
114 S. Buchanan St.
Durham, NC 27708-0057, U.S.A.

What is the deadline for applying?

Non-partner student deadline: February 1
Global Partner student deadline: March 1, or by arrangement.
- Partner students needing to apply after the March 1 deadline should start an application, then email valerie.cullen@duke.edu to request an extended deadline.

Complete the application and submit it and other required materials by the appropriate deadline above for academic year and fall semester admissions.

When will I be notified about my application?

For applications completed by February 1, notification of a final decision will take place by March 15. For applications submitted later, final decisions will depend on the availability of the selections committee.

How do I get a copy of the Duke annual security report?

Under the Campus Security Act (20 U.S.C. 1092f), prospective students may obtain a copy of the University’s annual security report by visiting the Duke University Police Department at 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708 or by calling 919-684-4602. This report includes campus crime statistics and the University’s safety and security policies.