How to Apply

Application Process

application IMEP1

Click here to see the Requirements.

Please contact Admissions if you have any questions about the application.

Applicants to Duke Kunshan University’s graduate programs must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. If the degree was granted by an institution outside of the U.S., the institution must be accredited by the governing educational body of the country (such as the ministry of education).

Access the form here: Link

Submit your required resume electronically within the online application system. For employment and volunteer positions, include the location, title, date, and responsibilities, starting with your most recent position. The education section should include dates of attendance and degrees received.

Your resume should include:

  • Full-time and part-time employment
  • Volunteer work
  • Internships
  • Education

As part of your online application, you must upload a Statement of Purpose. The statement should be one to two pages and single-spaced. It should briefly discuss:

  • your purposes and objectives in pursuing graduate study;
  • your special interests and plans;
  • your strengths and weaknesses in your chosen field;
  • any research projects or any independent research in which you have actively participated and how they have influenced your career choice and desire to pursue graduate studies; and
  • any particular reasons you may have for applying to Duke Kunshan University (e.g., you would like to work with a specific faculty member).

We require two letters of recommendation. Request letters of recommendation from people best qualified to attest to your capacity for graduate work. Your recommenders must submit their letters of recommendation electronically via the online recommendation system.  

How to Submit:

In the Recommendations section of the online application, choose “Add Recommender” to enter the contact information of your recommenders, including their e-mail addresses. Each recommender will then receive an e-mail that includes a link to an online recommendation form. This is the form the recommender will use to upload a letter in support of your application. We ask that you provide professional email addresses for your recommenders if possible.

Transcript from each post-secondary institution attended is required (an uploaded unofficial transcript with degree posted and other transcripts for all colleges and universities attended).

UGPA Grade Scale and Conversion: if the GPA scale used on your transcript is not a 4.0 scale, please pick the following options for converting your GPA to a 4.0 scale.

  • Option 1: To self-calculate your GPA, please utilize the GPA Calculator from Scholaro Reports to create a line-by-line assessment of your UGPA.  Be sure to read the Important Reminders section below before you begin calculating your GPA.
  • Option 2: Purchase a credential evaluation from one of the following vendors and upload the official evaluation results: ECEScholaro Reports, or WES.

The Environmental Policy IMEP program does not require applicants to provide GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or other graduate entrance exam scores, but does allow you to provide test scores if you feel they enhance your application.

Ask Educational Testing Service to send an official copy of the scores to Duke Kunshan University, using institution code 7554. You do not need a department code. If ETS requires a department code, select any one of the department codes listed. Regardless of the department code entered, the scores will come to Duke Kunshan University as long as you use institution code 7554. Be sure to alert us if the name on your application is different from the name on your score report. Your scores must not be more than five (5) years old from August 1 of the application year regardless of when you submit your application during that timeframe. If you submit your application between August 2023 and May 2024, your score report must be dated August 1, 2018, or later.

TOEFL:  Ask Educational Testing Service to send an official copy of the scores to Duke Kunshan University, using institution code 5156. You do not need a department code. If ETS requires a department code, select any one of the department codes listed. Regardless of the department code entered, the scores will come to Duke Kunshan University as long as you use institution code 5156. TOEFL Mybest Score is accepted.

IELTS: IELTS is administered by Cambridge ESOL, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia. Please send scores via IELTS Results Service E-Delivery to:

Duke University Graduate School Graduate Office of Admission
2127 Campus Drive
Durham, NC 27708
USA

Duolingo English Test: There is no institutional code for Duolingo, but applicants will need to select Duke University Graduate Programs: Graduate School; Divinity; Engineering; Environment; Public Policy; Duke Kunshan as the institution to send scores to. Please Note: Make sure to include subscores when you select your institution. Score reports without subscores will not be accepted. If you are not sure how to include subscores in your score report, please contact Duolingo English Test support on the Duolingo English Test website.

Score Requirements: 

Your scores must not be more than two years old from August 1 of the application year. For example, if you submit your application between August 2023 and May 2024, your score report must be dated August 1, 2021, or later.

We do not accept personal copies, attested copies, or notarized copies of test scores.

Minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test:

The Duke Graduate School generally seeks scores no less than: 90 for the Internet-based TOEFL, 7.0 for the IELTS test, or 125 for the Duolingo English Test.

TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo Waiver Policy: To be eligible for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test waiver, you must have studied full time for two years or more at a college or university where the sole language of instruction is English and in a country where English is the primary spoken language. The two years of study must be completed prior to the start of the program.

If you believe you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test waiver based on the above criteria, indicate your eligibility in the Additional Academic Information section of the application under the Test Score Instructions for the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test exam. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not examine, confirm the status of, or grant any waiver requests prior to extending an offer of admission.

*The program’s language of instruction is English, and written and spoken English proficiency is required. Students who are not native English speakers must provide English language proficiency test scores with their application materials.

Application Deadlines

The application for 2024 admission is open.

RoundApplication DeadlineProgram Decision Release
Round 0Aug. 31, 2023Sep. 15, 2023
Round 1Oct. 31, 2023Nov. 15, 2023
Round 2Jan. 15, 2024Feb. 5, 2024
Round 3Mar. 31, 2024Apr. 15, 2024
Round 4May. 31,2024Jun.15, 2024

*for dates listed, the deadline is 11:59:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time

Early Bird Deadlines: August 31, 2023 and October 31, 2023 –Applications submitted by these dates will receive high priority consideration and applicants will be notified of admission status within two (2) weeks. All applications submitted by these dates will also receive priority consideration for scholarships.

Priority Deadline: January 15, 2024 –Applications submitted by this date will receive priority consideration for admission and scholarships.

Final Deadline: May 31, 2024 –After the priority deadline, applications will continue to be accepted and considered on a space-available basis until this date.

Request info about Master of Environmental Policy (iMEP) program.

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