Duke Kunshan has recorded a record-breaking year for international applications with 3,300 received at the close of the university’s regular decision deadline.
The number of applications is a 77% rise on last year, with the largest numbers coming from the United States, India, Mongolia, Pakistan and Ethiopia, while Brazil, the Philippines, Mongolia and Uzbekistan represent the biggest increases.
DKU’s early decision deadline ended in November with 54 applications and 25 students already committed to joining the Class of 2026. Regular decisions closed in January with 3,246 applications. Decisions will be announced in March.
“We believe this growth reflects DKU’s growing reputation and early successes, as well an increasing desire among today’s youth to reimagine old models of higher education and to confront global problems with meaningful change,” said Jessica Sandberg, dean of international enrolment management.
The growth in applications follows a run of successes for DKU’s inaugural class, due to graduate in May this year. Ege Kaan Duman received a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship that will cover the expense of up to three years of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, while Wanying He was named a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most selective fellowship awards, which supports young leaders from around the globe to study at the Schwarzman College campus at Tsinghua University, Beijing. Two international students were also offered scholarships to study at the Yenching Academy, a graduate college at Peking University.
Most admission notices for European and American universities will be issued in April and May, but as of January, more than 50 students from DKU’s inaugural class had accepted places on master’s programs. They included offers from Duke University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.
Others have received job offers at leading domestic or international companies, including McKinsey, Microsoft, Deloitte, PwC, Huawei and Tencent.
“The significant increase in applications from across the globe is testament to Duke Kunshan’s growing international reputation,” said Scott MacEachern, vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“Our links to Duke University are a strong draw for students, who on graduating receive a degree from both institutions, as are the first class faculty and facilities at DKU,” he added.
Jennifer Francis, interim executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, noted the steady growth of student interest in DKU over the past four years.
“Prospective students who want to attend college in a globally immersed setting are becoming increasingly aware of DKU’s unique offerings,” Francis said.
“The world-class faculty, integrated curriculum, and diverse community are appealing to many students who seek a challenging and engaging global learning experience,” she added.
Chancellor Youmei Feng said, “We have had amazing success with our inaugural class, who have truly lived up to their potential, despite some challenging times.
“I look forward to welcoming a new intake of students from around the world to grow and learn, and enjoy life at Duke Kunshan,” she added.
