Congratulations and welcome to Duke MIDP! Please review this page for information on the next steps you will need to take to join us at Duke.

Pre-Arrival

For International Students

If you are an international student, you will need to fill out the electronic visa request form, which will be sent to you by MIDP staff.  Visa documents CANNOT be issued until you have submitted proof of funding for the tuition, fees, and living expenses and proof of funding for any dependents who may accompany you. Please visit Duke Visa Services for more information. For the current academic year’s tuition, fees and living expenses, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

To help expedite the visa process, please prepare the following documents, which you will upload as an attachment to your visa application (see timeline below). Please note, these document must be uploaded as part of your visa application; our office is unable to receive/process them if they are sent as email attachments. 

Required documents to prepare ahead of time: 

  • Your letter of admission to the MIDP program (PDF format) 

  • Passport biographical page (Scanned into a PDF format) 

  • Copies of any previous U.S. visas (PDF format) 

  • Proof of funding to cover the cost of attendance (letter from your sponsor* and/or copy of available personal funds from your bank) 

  • If funding documents are not in USD, the student will need to submit a pdf showing the currency conversion for the date specified on the funding document. We recommend students use Onada or XE to provide the conversion. These are the most preferred sources for Duke Visa Services. 

  • Any Duke award offered will be deducted from the required proof of funding provided the award amount and disbursement plan (semester, academic year, program duration) is clearly stated in the admission letter. 

  • Your funding documents must include the following information:

 - Must be in English or have a certified English translation. We cannot accept English  translations done  by you. 
 - Must clearly identify the source (name of bank, etc).
 - Must show the funding amount or amount in account for bank statements.
 - Must show the type of currency (USD, Mexican Peso, etc.). 
 - Must show the dates of coverage. For example, “August 2024 – May 2025.”
 - Documentation must be less than one year old.
 - For scholarships, grants, etc, letter must state that funding is for studying at Duke University.  

*If your sponsor family member is your sponsor, you will need to provide a copy of their personal funds. 

Visa Application Timeline 

  • Soon after April 15th, enrolled students will receive a link by email to start their electronic visa application. 

  • Students need to complete their section of the visa application and upload required documents (listed above). 

  • Students will submit the application form in the visa portal. 

  • Duke Sanford admin will review/add any additional information required. 

  • Duke Sanford admin will submit your completed application to Duke Visa Services. 

  • Duke Visa Services will review your completed application and, once approved, the student will receive an I-20/DS-2019 form. This process will take up to 3 weeks AFTER your completed visa application has been submitted to Duke Visa Services. 

  • Once you receive an I-20 or DS-2019 form from Duke Visa Services, you can make an appointment with the U.S. embassy.  

  • Please review Visa Appointment Wait Times (state.gov)  for the current wait time for an interview.

Receipt of your I-20/DS-2019 from Duke Visa Services concludes the Sanford's role in your visa process. Once you have received your I-20/DS-2019, you will work directly with Duke Visa Services on any visa issues that may arise. For further details, please see the Duke Visa Services website.

IT, Student Account, ID Card & Health

Each matriculated* student will be assigned a Duke Unique ID, a Student Number, a Duke Net ID and a Duke email address. Duke University Office of Information Technology (OIT) will email you with your Student Number, NetID, start-up password, and information on how to reset a password and activate your account on DukeHub, the automated registration and student information system at Duke.

Once you have received your link from OIT, click on it ASAP before it expires, and follow the directions. Your Net ID is your email, so add @duke.edu to it for your email address. If the email from OIT is older than three days, you will need to request a new password by filling out Net ID password reset form and providing the required proof of identity. It should take less than 15 minutes to receive a new link.

Please contact OIT directly at 919-684-2200 or at help@duke.edu if you have not received your Net ID information or if you experience any problems attempting to log on to DukeHub (the automated registration and student information system at Duke).

Until you activate your student account on DukeHub with your Net ID and password, you will not be able to access or execute automated functions for new students.

*You will be matriculated once you accept the admissions offer. The students who have not secured funding and/or visas (international students) in order to begin the semester on time will be de-matriculated.

You will also need to set up the Multi-Factor Authentication system. This is an additional, security approval step that is required to access accounts.

There are instructions on the Multi-Factor Authentication System page for how to set up this additional security step to best suit your needs and devices. Please see their user-guide for detailed instructions.

A notification at the time of log in will require your response by a smart phone, basic cell phone, home or office phone, or a tablet. You will need to enroll your device online on the Multi-Factor Authentication System page by clicking the ‘Enroll in MFA now’ button at the bottom of the page. If your preferred device to receive notifications is a smart phone or tablet, Duke recommends using the app Duo to facilitate the process.

Prior to arriving on campus it is mandatory for incoming students to complete the online health history and immunization form. The preferred deadline* for Spring semester is December 15, and Fall Semester is June 15.

The Duke NetID is required to access this form. To review the health and immunization compliance requirements and access the form, as well as review information regarding the Duke Student Health Insurance Policy, which is required for international students, visit the Duke Student Health Center website.

* While the preferred deadline is June 15 for the Fall semester and December 15 for Spring Semester to ensure there are no delays with processing your paperwork, records will be accepted after this date. Immunization forms should be submitted before your arrival on campus. If you do not complete your required immunizations, you will be withdrawn from the university after 30 days.

Every member of the Duke community must carry a Duke Identification Card at all times.

This ID card gives faculty, students, and staff access to buildings and services and enhances campus security. Your card will be activated to allow access to buildings and facilities after hours during the week and on weekends. It also allows access to the Sanford School parking lot after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Another feature of Duke Card is the Flexible Spending Account, which will allow you to add funds and pay for meals and services on campus. Please review the Duke Card Website for more information about your Duke Card.

You will need to upload your photo before you arrive. We ask you to submit your photo through the DukeCard website by June 30 for Fall admits and November 1 for Spring admits. Photo specifications are found on the website. We strongly encourage you to use the Mobile DukeCard. You can use the Mobile Duke Card anywhere a physical one can be used. 

Housing

University-provided housing for graduate & professional students:

  • Lancaster Commons is an apartment complex reserved entirely for Duke graduate & professional students.
  • 301 Swift Apartments: Duke Housing & Residence Life has limited, on-campus apartments available for rent for graduate and professional students.

There will be 2 application windows for all Duke grad/prof housing (includes Lancaster Commons and 301 Swift). You will need your Duke credentials to apply to housing.

  • April 1-22: Priority Application Window
  • April 22-May 17: Priority Application Window 2
  • After May 22: Students may still apply. Assignments will go out on a rolling basis.

The website for grad/prof housing will go live with updated 2024-25 information on March 27.

Blue Light Living: Duke purchased the Blue Light Living apartment complex in Jan. 2024. For the 2024-25 academic year, the complex will continue to be privately managed, but all tenants will be Duke students (primarily graduate & professional students). Interested students can apply via the Blue Light Living website.

NearDuke.com is a local search engine to find housing close to Duke’s campus.

DukeList (Duke NetID required for login) allows Duke community members to post ads for housing and roommates, as well as items for sale such as furniture.

Learn more about off-campus housing resources.

Connections

Each year the Sanford School compiles a Graduate Student Directory. The directory includes photographs and short biographies of students in each Sanford School graduate program (MIDP, MPP, and PhD).

Please submit a picture (a color photo of your head and face only) and a one-paragraph biography by June 30 for Fall admits, and November 1 for Spring admits to the MIDP Canvas dashboard. (You will need to log in with your net ID and password.) 

The biography should contain the following information:

  • Last name, First name
  • Gender
  • Country of citizenship
  • A short paragraph is written in the third person (i.e., “Jay studied at…” instead of “I studied at…”), which tells us the degrees you have earned, where you have studied, places you have worked, and what you hope to accomplish during your MIDP studies. If you have fellowships or awards, don’t forget to include those in your bio!

Join the MIDP current students Facebook group and get to know your fellow classmates before arriving in Durham.

Check out Duke's virtual Summer Transition Series for Graduate and Professional Students. It will help you:

  • INTERACT: Meet knowledgeable members of the Duke community
  • COMMUNICATE: Ask direct questions to the hosts about topics relevant to Graduate & Professional students
  • CONNECT: Access all sessions online and review recordings throughout the summer

If you missed the live webinars, the recordings and slide decks are posted.

Join the immersive, in-person day experiences hosted by Duke Student Affairs for first-year incoming Graduate and Professional students.

Upcoming experiences include:

  • Duke Gardens & Nasher Museum
  • Downtown Tour & Durham Bulls Baseball Game
  • Duke Women’s Soccer Game
  • Museum of Life & Science Brunch

Assessments, Trainings & Academics

In order to determine proper placement in our economics core courses, all incoming fellows are required to take the Online Economics Assessment. The link to the assessment is located in the MIDP Canvas dashboard.

In order to determine proper placement in our statistics core and other courses, all incoming fellows are required to take the Online Statistics Assessment. Based on the result, you will either be exempt from Empirical Analysis (statistics) or you will enroll in it. The link to the assessment is located in the MIDP Canvas dashboard.

All incoming Duke students are required to complete Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students (SAPG), an online, science-based course. SAPG provides detailed information about the importance of values and the aspects of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The training also discusses decisions regarding sexual activity and sexual assault. Whether or not students plan to engage in sexual activity, the goals of the course are to help students make well-informed decisions about consent, relationships, and the behavior of peers.  

You will receive an email with a link to access the module on the day that SAPG opens for your start term.

Module 1 schedule (7 weeks to complete)

1) Summer Term 1 & 2: June 12, 2024 - July 31, 2024

2) Fall Term: July 10, 2024 - Aug. 28, 2024

3) Spring Term: Dec. 4, 2024 - 22January 22, 2025

Module 2 schedule (7 weeks to complete)

1) Summer Term 1 & 2: Sept. 4, 2024  - Oct. 23, 2024

2) Fall Term: Oct. 2, 2024 - Nov. 20, 2024

3) Spring Term: Feb. 26, 2025  - April 16, 2025

If you have technical difficulties with the modules, email Sapg@duke.edu. If you need support due to the content of the modules, please view these available resources.

Review the Duke academic calendar for course start and end dates as well as breaks and holidays.

MIDP-specific events and dates will be sent via email as needed.

More information about course registration will be sent via email.

After Arrival

Duke University policy states that all non-U.S. citizen Duke students must present evidence of immigration status to the Duke Visa Services (DVS).

All F-1 international students enrolled in an on-campus program must register within 30 days after arriving in the U.S. and before the first day of class.

The DVS Registration process involves 2 steps:

  1. Online: E-Registration in the Duke Visa Services portal
    • Follow the instructions in the online Portal: watch the presentation, complete all sections, and upload copies of the required documentation. You will need to log in with your Duke NetID and password.
  2. In-Person: Present your passport to Duke Visa Services by visiting the DVS office at 114 South Buchanan Blvd., Smith Warehouse, Bay 7, 1st Floor
    Durham, NC 27708.

Note: You must complete the steps in order - online E-Registration first, then present your passport to DVS.

For J1 visa holders, information may be found on the Registrations, Walk-Ins, and Appointments page.

Failure to comply will result in the inability to enroll in classes. Any students who are outside the U.S. and are unable to comply will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

MIDP Orientation for Fall 2024 incoming students will be August 19-23, 2024.

View Orientation schedule (PDF)

*The MIDP office will use the email address provided on your application until you officially start your classes. Please send any updates of your contact information to midpinfo@duke.edu.