3. Admissions

1. Slate is a cloud-based admissions application and review software for faculty and administrative staff who have access to review Graduate School applications. Applicants log into Slate to work on their application. Once it is submitted, the application will be immediately visible to departments. Applications must be reviewed and decisions must be recommended in Slate. Ultimately, applicants will view their final decision letters and financial aid awards (if any) in their Slate applicant portal.
2. To request access to Slate, please contact Chris Kizer, Slate Operations Manager, at chris.kizer@duke.edu. He will work with SISS to assist you in setting up your Slate account, and in providing any training you may require. Only SISS can grant access to Slate. Graduate Admissions simply facilitates the process for you.

The graduate admissions office requires self-contained applications. Applicants must upload all application documents prior to application submission (with the exception of official GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores, which are sent directly to The Graduate School from the appropriate testing agency). Except in the case of official test scores, applicants are instructed not to mail any application documents to The Graduate School. If The Graduate School extends an offer of admission, the graduate admissions office will let the applicant know what documents should be mailed to The Graduate School. Please do not direct applicants to mail any application documents to The Graduate School unless an offer of admission has been made. In exceptional cases where the mailing of application documents during the review process is deemed necessary, the graduate admissions office will contact the applicant directly to request the documents.

If any supporting documents are mailed directly to your office, bring them (with envelopes attached, as the envelopes help us determine whether items are official/confidential) to the graduate admissions office. We will add the documents to the applicant’s record in Slate. Please do not send application documents through Campus Mail. Application materials often contain confidential information, and lost documents may be difficult to replace.

Application Requirements

The requirements for a complete application are listed below.

1. Transcripts

Essential to the review of the application are unofficial transcripts from any institution where the applicant earned (or will earn) a degree, studied for one semester or more, earned 12 or more hours of credit, or took courses that relate to the applicant’s graduate study interests. The applicant is required to upload scanned copies of transcripts from each institution listed in the application. The applicant is also required to make certain all uploaded transcripts are legible. If you notice that a transcript is missing, illegible, or not accompanied by an English translation (if needed), contact the graduate admissions office and we will send the applicant an email requesting the missing information. This communication will appear in the candidate’s timeline record in Slate. Once the missing documentation is received, it will be added to the applicant’s file.

2. Statement of Purpose and Resume/CV

Each applicant must upload a Statement of Purpose indicating purposes and objectives in undertaking graduate study, special interests and plans, and strengths and weaknesses in the chosen field of study. A resume or CV is also required. If you notice that the Statement of Purpose or the resume/CV is missing or illegible, contact the graduate admissions office and we will email the applicant to request another copy. This communication will appear in the candidate’s timeline record in Slate. Once the missing item is received, it will be added to the applicant’s file.

3. Letters of Recommendation

Three official letters of recommendation are required for each application. The letters should come from persons best qualified to evaluate the applicant's academic potential. At least two of the letters should come from evaluators in the applicant’s chosen field of study. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online recommendation system (part of the online application system). An email containing instructions for submitting the evaluation is sent to each recommender. The recommendations automatically attach to an applicant’s file as they are received.

4. GRE Scores

The Graduate School does not centrally require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores from applicants; however some programs do require GRE scores. In addition to self-reporting scores, applicants must also request that ETS send official GRE scores to institution code 5156 (no departmental code is needed). Scores must not be more than five years old. While self-reported scores may suffice for departmental review purposes, official scores must be received before admission can be offered.

View a complete list of GRE testing requirements by program. Applicants to any programs listed as “GRE Optional” on our webpage may submit GRE scores if they feel the scores enhance their application.

Applicants who choose to submit MCAT scores will need to provide the AAMC ID and the Verification Code in the application. If the applicant is recommended for admission, the graduate admissions office will use this information to verify the self-reported scores and record them as official.

Alternate Test Scores accepted by programs will be listed on the GRE Scores webpage.

5. TOEFL or IELTS

Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required of any applicant whose first language is not English. The applicant must self report the TOEFL or IELTS scores (or state a future TOEFL or IELTS exam date) in the application.

• The TOEFL is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). In addition to self-reporting scores, applicants must also request that ETS send official scores to institution code 5156 (a departmental code is not needed). The Graduate School generally seeks total scores no less than 90 for the Internet-based TOEFL.
   
• The IELTS is administered by Cambridge ESOL, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia. More information about the test is available at www.ielts.org. In addition to self-reporting scores, applicants must request that official IELTS score reports be sent directly to the graduate admissions office. The Graduate School generally seeks total scores no less than 7.0 for the IELTS. 

The Graduate School accepts Duolingo English Test examination results as an alternative to TOEFL and IELTS. The Graduate School generally seeks total scores no less than 125 for Duolingo.

Scores for either test must not be more than two years old, and an official score report must be sent to the graduate admissions office directly from the testing agency. Personal copies are not acceptable, nor are “attested” or notarized copies.

6. Supporting Documents

The applicant may use the Additional Information section of the application to upload any miscellaneous items the applicant feels should be reviewed by the department. 

7. Application Fee

The application fee is $105. No application is processed without the application fee. Applicants pay the application fee by credit card at the time of application submission. Please see the Application Fee page for information about the application fee waivers. 

8. Ph.D. Degree Holders

Applicants holding Ph.D. degrees or their equivalent are generally not eligible for admission to Duke University for a second Ph.D. The Dean of The Graduate School will consider exceptions only if the department or program demonstrates that the proposed field of study is unrelated to the field of the first Ph.D., and that the educational experience afforded by the proposed doctoral field is essential for the applicant’s long-term research objectives. Please note that applicants who have not yet had the opportunity to benefit from a doctoral education will be prioritized in the admissions and financial aid process.

Application Submission

Within three business days of application submission, the applicant will receive an email with instructions on how to view the status of the application. The completion of the application file is the applicant’s responsibility.

During the regular admissions season, submitted applications will be made available to departments for review once the application fee has been paid. If an applicant claims to have already submitted an application and you do not see the applicant’s record in Bin 1 within the Department Workflow in Slate, please contact your assigned Department Specialist in the graduate admissions office.

Processing of Applications in the Graduate Admissions Office

Once an applicant submits the application, the application is sent directly to Bin 1 of the departmental workflow within Slate for review. To prevent any delay in departmental access to applications, all submitted applications, regardless of their fulfillment of the requirements, are accessible to the department at the time of submission. 

Therefore, it is possible that your department will be reviewing applications with illegible or missing transcripts, less than the required number of recommendations, and/or no official standardized test scores.