Applying to Master's Programs

The instructions on this page are for applying to the on-campus Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry, and the hybrid Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management programs. 

PhD, iMEP and other programs: Please use the other admissions links at the bottom of this page if you are interested in our International Master of Environmental Policy, PhD/doctoral, undergraduate, Duke Marine Lab or executive education programs.

 


Deadlines

The application for fall enrollment in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM), Master of Forestry (MF) and the Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management (DEL-MEM) opens in mid-September. 

Admissions Application Deadline 

  • MEM, MF: December 15
  • DEL-MEM: December 15. Applications may be considered after this date based on space availability.

Financial Aid Application Deadline 

  • All applicants for admission are considered for merit-based aid
  • All students, including international students, are strongly encouraged to apply for need-based financial aid. The deadline to submit the application forms AND all supporting documents for need-based financial aid is in mid-February.  

Notifications

Admissions decisions are released in mid-March. Admitted students who are awarded financial aid receive their financial aid notification soon after receiving their admission decision.

Application Process & Instructions

  • Start your application by clicking any of the Apply Now buttons on the Nicholas School website. You will be prompted to register for a Duke OneLink Account.  
    • If you have ever applied to another Duke University program, including undergraduate programs, you may already have a OneLink account, and should use the OneLink Account Lookup to reactivate your login. 
  • On the application home screen, read the instructions thoroughly before beginning to complete the form. You can always access these instructions from within the application itself by clicking on the “Home” link on the left side of your screen.  
    • When you start an application, you will receive an auto-generated email. You will continue to receive periodic reminders throughout the application process, such as reminders to complete and submit the application form, or to submit remaining materials needed to complete your application. 
    • Please see the information below for further information on each component of the application.  
  • You may submit your application once all fields on the application form are complete.  
    • Please note that recommendations may arrive before or after you submit, and we will not review your application until all required materials are received. 
    • If you are required to submit English language test scores, these scores are verified after your application is submitted.  
    • You will receive an auto-generated email when you submit your application, and additional emails when each recommendation is received. 
  • You may monitor your application status via the application portal, accessed via the same Apply Now link you used to access and begin the application. 
    • During our admission review, we may determine we need additional information. If this is the case, a member of our staff will email you directly.  
  • When your admissions decision is available in mid-March, you will receive a notification email to log into the application portal to view your decision letter. We do not mail hard copy letters; you will only receive electronic notification of your decision. 

 

Application Fee Waived

We do not require an application fee to apply to the Master of Environmental Management, Master of Forestry, or Duke Environmental Leadership MEM programs. Our hope is that removing this fee will make it just a little easier for you to bring your unique background and perspective to Duke, and join us in tackling the world's most pressing environmental problems.