Applying to Master's Programs
The following instructions are for applying to on-campus and online master's degree programs only. Doctoral students should apply through the Duke University Graduate School. Undergraduate students should apply through Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.
Deadlines
For fall 2021 enrollment: The application for fall 2021 enrollment in MEM and MF programs has closed. We will consider allowing prospective students to apply the DEL-MEM program after the regular deadline on a case-by-case basis if space remains in the cohort. Please contact admissions@nicholas.duke.edu for more information.
For fall 2022 enrollment: The application will open in mid-September.
- To begin your application, you will need to register a Duke OneLink account. If you have ever applied to another Duke University program, including the undergraduate program, chances are you already have a OneLink account, it may just need to be reactivated. If you choose to link your OneLink account to your social media, you must first log out of any existing social media accounts before attempting to link the two.
- Start the application by answering some general identification and education questions.
- Attach the required supplemental documents. Find your degree program below for details.
- Pay the $80 application fee and submit your application.
- Your application is not considered complete until all letters of recommendation are received. When all letters of recommendation are received, the review process will begin.
- You may track the status of your application within the Slate application portal.
Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry Applicants
MEM & MF Admissions Requirements
General Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Nicholas School requires that the applicant has a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to matriculation at the Nicholas School. Applicants who have three-year undergraduate degrees must complete a fourth year of study to be considered for admission.
We also expect that applicants will have:
- Some previous training in the natural or social sciences related to your area of interest
- At least one semester of college calculus that includes: algebra (graphing linear equations, solving systems of linear equations); functions (characteristics of functions in one variable, logarithmic functions, exponential functions); calculus of one variable (derivatives, definite and indefinite integrals); calculus of more than one variable (partial derivatives, total derivatives); first-order differential equations (discrete and continuous time, rates of decay, initial conditions)
- A college statistics course that includes descriptive statistics, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, correlation, simple linear regression and simple ANOVAs
View Statement of Prerequisite Coursework
Program Requirements
Additional courses might be required or recommended depending on the student’s program area of study within the MEM or MF degree. For program-specific requirements, view the Statement of Prerequisite Coursework, or visit the Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry sections.
Satisfying Prerequisites
AP/IB Credit
We will accept Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if the student earned college credit for the course(s) from their undergraduate institution. View AP/IB credit policy
Prerequisite Deficiencies
Students may apply for admission with prerequisite deficiencies, though they may only enroll with one required prerequisite deficiency, which must be completed in the first year of enrollment, preferably in the fall. In general, we strongly urge all students to complete all prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation. Courses taken after matriculation to satisfy prerequisites do not count towards the credits required for the degree. See: Requirements for taking courses to fulfill prerequisites
Challenging Deficiencies
If you have taken a college level course that you think may fulfill a prerequisite that has been listed as a deficiency, see: Challenge a prerequisite deficiency
MEM & MF Application Materials
A non-refundable application fee of $80 is required of all applicants. You may pay via credit card when submitting your online application.
We offer application fee waivers for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year, Gates Millennium Scholars, and/or Teach for America alumni; active duty military and veterans; Fulbright recipients for the upcoming academic year who will be using their award to fund all or part of the Nicholas School degree; and recipients of the GRE Fee Reduction Voucher. If you meet any of these qualifiers, please complete the Application Fee Waiver Request Form, which is embedded in the application. The admissions office will process your request within five business days. If you qualify, we will waive the application fee on your account, and confirmation will be visible after you submit your application. If we require additional information, we will contact you via email. Please note we cannot reimburse a processed application fee. We recommend you submit your application without paying the fee if you anticipate your waiver request will be approved.
Applicants are required to identify three individuals who can articulately write about their suitability for the program. Recommendation letters will not be accepted outside of the online portal. Applicants should notify their recommenders that letters are limited to one page in length.
Applicants must submit transcripts for all colleges and universities attended. If your school does not post fall grades until after January, please submit your most current transcripts, including all courses in progress. All transcripts submitted through the online application are considered unofficial. Official transcripts are not required, nor requested, until the applicant is admitted.
Note about grades from Spring 2020: Our holistic approach to candidate evaluation is, and has always been, the combination of many factors, not just academic criteria. In our future reviews of applications, we will take into account the rigor of your courses through December of 2019, your research activities, and your volunteer and work experiences, along with your letters of recommendation and your personal statements. We balance all of this with what we think you will bring as part of the Nicholas School. We are interested in the full range of experiences that have contributed to who you are right now, and your future won’t be defined by the spring 2020 semester of uncertainty and unprecedented disruption. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Describe your educational goals and post-degree professional goals, and how Duke can prepare you to achieve those objectives. What experiences make you a good match for Duke, and how will you contribute to the Nicholas School of the Environment community? Your personal statement may not exceed 500 words.
Your resume should highlight your strengths, skills, and accomplishments as accounted for in your personal, academic, and professional experiences.
Share with us your list of '15 Random Things About You'. The Nicholas School of the Environment wants to get to know you beyond just the professional and academic achievements we can find elsewhere in your application. This is your opportunity to tell us anything that helps us to understand what makes you who you are. Present your response in list form from 1-15. The complete list should not exceed two pages and should not contain pictures.
In past years, applicants were required, with few exceptions, to take the following standardized exams:
- The Graduate Records Examination (GRE, general exam) to apply to the MEM or MF program
- The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) to apply to the MEM/MBA or MF/MBA program, or
- The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to apply to the MEM/JD or MF/JD program
However, the Nicholas School of the Environment recognizes that completing the GRE may be challenging due to the complications arising from COVID-19. Therefore, the GRE requirement for fall 2021 admission consideration has been suspended. Applications will continue to be reviewed holistically. During this time, the Nicholas School will also assess the continued need and value of requiring the GRE in future application cycles.
If your native language is not English, you must submit an official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam or the Duolingo English Test. This requirement is waived if you earned your undergraduate degree in the United States, earned an undergraduate or master's degree from an English-only speaking institution, or have been working in the United States for two years or more. If your score is low, you may be accepted on the provision that you complete an intensive English language program in the United States prior to enrollment.
TOEFL
- Official TOEFL scores should be reported to Duke University’s institution code 5156; there is no department code.
IELTS
- IELTS score reports should be uploaded in the "Supplemental Uploads" section of the application so that the Enrollment Services team may verify your scores through the testing service.
Duolingo
- 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” at the "Graduate" program type level 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.
English Proficiency Evaluations
Exams: Non-native English speakers will be required to take proficiency exams in written and spoken English during orientation week; depending on your scores, you may be required to enroll in additional English language instruction. You should be prepared to assume all costs for any required English tutoring and may need to reduce your course or research work while being tutored.
Interviews: Any student whose first language is not English may be required to participate in a Skype interview to evaluate spoken English language ability. The interview results will be included in the application reviewed by the Admissions and Awards Committee.
If requested, you may be required to participate in a brief admissions interview as part of the application process. All interviews will be conducted in a virtual (online) setting. Details will be communicated to participants.
Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management (DEL-MEM) Applicants
DEL-MEM Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Nicholas School requires that the applicant has a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to matriculation at the Nicholas School. Applicants who have three-year undergraduate degrees must complete a fourth year of study to be considered for admission.
To be considered for the DEL-MEM program, students also must have the following:
- Five years of post-degree environmentally-related experience (professional OR a significant commitment to the personal/volunteer work in related fields)
- Evidence of leadership potential and an established background in fields directly related to the environment, as shown by applicant essays and reference letters
- Self-motivation and commitment to learn at a distance
- A working knowledge of the internet and personal computers for word processing, data analysis, and synchronous online conferencing
- Written sponsorship from employer (or letter of commitment, if self-employed)
- Proficiency in English
DEL-MEM Application Materials
A non-refundable application fee of $80 is required of all applicants. You may pay via credit card when submitting your online application.
We offer application fee waivers for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year, Gates Millennium Scholars, and/or Teach for America alumni; active duty military and veterans; Fulbright recipients for the upcoming academic year who will be using their award to fund all or part of the Nicholas School degree; and recipients of the GRE Fee Reduction Voucher. If you meet any of these qualifiers, please complete the Application Fee Waiver Request Form, which is embedded in the application. The admissions office will process your request within five business days. If you qualify, we will waive the application fee on your account, and confirmation will be visible after you submit your application. If we require additional information, we will contact you via email. Please note we cannot reimburse a processed application fee. We recommend you submit your application without paying the fee if you anticipate your waiver request will be approved.
Applicants are required to identify three professional references who can articulately write about their suitability for the program. Recommendation letters will not be accepted outside of the online portal. Applicants should notify their recommenders that letters are limited to one page in length.
Your employer must send a sponsor letter on company letterhead stating that your employer endorses your participation in the program and will grant you the necessary time off to attend classes. Self-employed applicants must submit a letter of commitment. Example sponsor letter
The DEL-MEM program seeks to enroll a class with a wide range of experiences, achievements, and perspectives.
In 300-350 words, please list and describe how your 5+ years of environmentally-related experience informs your commitment to creating a sustainable future. How might this program help you along your journey as an environmental leader?"
Your resume should highlight your strengths, skills, and accomplishments as accounted for in your personal, academic, and professional experiences.
Applicants must submit transcripts for all colleges and universities attended. All transcripts submitted through the online application are considered unofficial. Official transcripts are not required, nor requested, until the applicant is admitted.
Note about grades from Spring 2020: Our holistic approach to candidate evaluation is, and has always been, the combination of many factors, not just academic criteria. In our future reviews of applications, we will take into account the rigor of your courses through December of 2019, your research activities, and your volunteer and work experiences, along with your letters of recommendation and your personal statements. We balance all of this with what we think you will bring as part of the Nicholas School. We are interested in the full range of experiences that have contributed to who you are right now, and your future won’t be defined by the spring 2020 semester of uncertainty and unprecedented disruption. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
If your native language is not English, you must submit an official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam or the Duolingo English Test. This requirement is waived if you earned your undergraduate degree in the United States, earned an undergraduate or master's degree from an English-only speaking institution, or have been working in the United States for two years or more.
The admissions committee will review your application with self-reported scores, which are entered within the application, but offers of admission will not be made until official test scores are reported and/or verified by Duke. It is highly recommended that applicants request official test score reports be sent prior to submitting an application.
TOEFL
- Official TOEFL scores should be reported to Duke University’s institution code 5156; there is no department code.
IELTS
- IELTS score reports should be uploaded in the "Supplemental Uploads" section of the application so that the Enrollment Services team may verify your scores through the testing service.
Duolingo
- 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” at the "Graduate" program type level 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.
All applicants are required to participate in an extensive admissions interview as part of the application process.
If admitted, the DEL-MEM program requires students to participate in five (5) place-based sessions. Four of these sessions take place at Duke University in Durham, NC, and one place-based session is held in Washington, D.C.. Duke University and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security require non-U.S. citizens entering the United States to participate in the DEL-MEM program place-based sessions to enter the United States on an F-1 student visa for each place-based session (a business or tourist visa is not sufficient).
