Master’s Admissions FAQ
Below is a collection of answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the application process.
If you do not find the answers you are looking for here, you can also review the Graduate School’s comprehensive admissions FAQs, join an upcoming online info session, or contact us directly at scienceandsociety@duke.edu
Application Deadlines
Applications Open: August
Spring Admission Deadline: October 1st, 2026
Fall Admission Deadlines:
- Early action – January 21, 2027
- Regular admission – March 18, 2027
- Rolling admission – May 31, 2027
General Admissions Questions
The Duke Graduate School sets the cost of tuition. View our detailed cost breakdown, including our required summer term, on our tuition and fees page. We are committed to making the master’s program accessible to all qualified candidates, and Duke offers both merit-based and need-based scholarships. Contact the Graduate School for information about need-based scholarships and loans, review our curated list of financial aid opportunities, or contact our office for additional scholarship opportunities.
We are committed to making the master’s program accessible to all qualified candidates, and Duke offers both merit-based and need-based scholarships. Contact the Graduate School for information about need-based scholarships and loans, review our curated list of financial aid opportunities, or contact our office for additional scholarship opportunities.
Science & Society also awards outstanding candidates substantial scholarships to the Master of Arts in Applied Ethics & Policy program through our Leadership Award program. Science & Society Leadership Awards are presented to applicants who demonstrate the greatest potential to become leaders in making scientific or technological advancements more accessible, just, and better integrated into society.
Applications for admission open in August. Review our application requirements carefully before starting your application. Visit the Graduate School’s application instructions and create an account to begin the process.
We offer spring and fall enrollment. See the “Application Deadlines” content box at the top of this page or review the dates for fall enrollment on the Graduate School Application Deadlines Page.
Yes. Submit your application as soon as you have completed all the sections and have sent recommendation requests to your recommenders. After you submit your application, the graduate admissions office can add recommendation letters to your application file as they are received. Your recommendation letters can arrive after application deadlines. However, your application will not be reviewed until all materials, including the 3 letters of recommendation, are received.
While the Duke Graduate School does not specify a minimum GPA, we look for a minimum of a 3.2. However, GPA scores are considered alongside several other factors during the application review process, and exceptions can be made
No, admissions interviews are not required.
The MA in Applied Ethics & Policy seeks a diverse student class. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and are not required to come from a particular academic background, like STEM or Public Policy. Some pursue the MA alongside another degree, such as a PhD, or through Duke’s JD/MA program. Others are mid-career professionals returning to school to specialize in this field, change career paths, or deepen their expertise. Students with different work histories, experiences, academic backgrounds, career goals, and perspectives strengthen the student experience and the program in general.
We seek to build a cohort with a variety of academic interests, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. We look for academic rigor, intellectual curiosity, communication skills, and a demonstrated interest in making science and technology work for the benefit of society.
GRE and other standardized tests are optional. However, international students must submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test with subscores.
The current application fee is listed on the Duke Graduate School Application Fee Page.
Consult the Admitted Students section of the Graduate School site for details on how to proceed. Pay special attention to the items mentioned in the checklist.
Application Support
If you have a technical problem with the application, click the Technical Support link on each page of the online application.
If you have a general admissions question, please use the Contact Admissions form on our website.
No. Please proofread your application carefully before submitting it. The Graduate School does accept transcript updates, new test scores, or updated CVs listing new awards, appointments, or publications. To submit any updated CVs or unofficial test scores, log in to your application portal and use the upload materials button beneath your Application Checklist to upload a .docx, .pdf, or .jpg file. The new document will be appended to your application, but it will not replace any existing documents. To submit an updated transcript, please email a PDF to grad-admissions-center@duke.edu.
Transcripts
If you are offered admission and accept, the Graduate School will contact you to request that you send your official transcripts to to them. Do not send your official transcripts until you are contacted.
Unofficial transcripts: Transcripts uploaded to the online application are unofficial. An unofficial transcript is also one that:
- has been opened by the student,
- did not come directly from the school,
- is an uncertified photocopy of the original,
- was not produced by the school, or
- was translated by the student or a nonprofessional translation service
Note: Notarized transcripts are unofficial unless they are mailed directly from the educational institution and bear the institutional seal.
Official transcripts: Transcripts are official if they are sent directly by the institution to The Graduate School. Transcripts must bear an official signature in ink of the appropriate official at your institution, such as the registrar or recorder of records, and must bear the institutional seal. Certified true copies must be stamped and signed by the institution.
Note: Official transcripts are only required if an offer of admission is made. When you accept the offer of admission, we will contact you to request your official transcripts. Do not send your official transcripts before you are contacted.
Letters of Recommendation
See the Letters of Recommendation Instructions page on the Graduate School website.
Yes. Submit your application as soon as you have completed all the sections and sent recommendation requests to your recommenders. After you submit your application, the graduate admissions office can link recommendation letters as they are received. Your letters of recommendation must arrive by the application deadline.
If the recommendations arrive late, the Graduate School will still forward them to us. Try to facilitate timely submissions by communicating with your recommenders at least two months before you plan to submit your application.
Review and Notification
The in-depth review of your file is conducted by our admissions committee.
Applications are reviewed promptly after each deadline first by the Program and next by the Grad School. Early Decision applications are promised review before February 28, but often receive word before that date. Regular deadline applications should receive notification from the Grad School by April 1st.
See the Graduate School’s Application Status page.
Consult the Admitted Students section of the Graduate School site for details on how to proceed. Pay special attention to the items mentioned in the checklist.