Financial Support

Applying for Undergraduate Financial Aid

Need-based and merit scholarships are awarded to incoming students as part of the undergraduate application process; there is no additional application to complete. Current undergrads renew their aid applications every year. We also encourage you to seek out scholarships from third-party organizations to help fund your education.

Financial Support for Master’s Students

Because support for master’s students varies by program, prospective and current students are encouraged to speak to their department program director for details on available financial support, including these opportunities:

Civil & Environmental Engineering Scholarships

Competitive masters students in our Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering receive scholarships that typically range from $20,000 to $30,000.

Mission Scholarships

Selected students demonstrating a commitment to fostering a community of unique lived experiences and inclusive perspectives may receive up to 50 percent tuition scholarship annually through our Duke Mission Scholarships. Additional opportunities include up to $10,000 per year for students to engage in research under the guidance of a principal investigator. Contact us for more details.

Duke Graduate School Fellowships and Scholarships

The Duke Graduate School offers numerous fellowships and other types of funding to support Master of Science students. Find opportunities using the filterable database here.

Externally Funded Scholarships

For Master of Science and Master of Engineering students, we offer support to recipients of select competitive externally funded scholarships, such as National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowships and Fulbright Scholarships.

Federal Direct Loan Program

Through the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, eligible students borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education to fund study at participating schools. For your FAFSA application, Duke’s school code is 002920. More details are at the government’s student aid website.

Outside Funding Opportunities

Master’s students are encouraged to seek out financial support from third-party organizations to help pay for their education. As a resource, we have compiled this list of independent third-party funding opportunities.

On-Campus Work

Many master’s students work on the Duke campus, including for libraries or departments. Teaching assistantships are available in various departments, and some departments have research assistantships as well. These positions are paid an hourly rate, and most students work between 10 to 20 hours per week. Generally, positions are posted and filled a week or two before classes begin each semester.

Yes! Guaranteed Funding for Doctoral Programs

Duke provides a competitive support package that guarantees PhD students five years of stipend, tuition and fees support, plus six years of full coverage for health and dental insurance premiums. Departments with PhD programs vary in the financial support they provide beyond the guaranteed funding package. Prospective and current students should talk to their program’s director of graduate studies (DGS) to learn about specific opportunities.

PhD Funding Packages

Stipend

All Duke PhD students in their five-year guaranteed funding period receive 12-month stipends (details on how this is handled in each PhD program). In Year 6 and beyond, stipend support is at the discretion of each PhD program. Programs differ in the amount, length and requirements of their stipend support, so check with your director of graduate studies (DGS).

 

Tuition & Fees Coverage

Tuition and mandatory fees for all PhD students in their first five years of study are covered by either The Graduate School or external fellowships.

In year six, as long as students make an effort to get tuition and fee support from their department or an external source, their tuition and mandatory fees are covered. Most sixth-year students receive external or departmental funding to cover tuition and fees, and those who apply for funding but don’t receive it are eligible for a sixth-year tuition and fee scholarship from Duke.

In year seven and beyond, tuition and fees are paid by external funding, departmental funding or the student. PhD programs differ in whether they provide support, so check with the DGS.

 

Health and Dental Insurance Premiums Coverage

The Graduate School covers the full premiums for medical and dental insurance for all PhD students in their first six years of study, as long as they are on the Duke student medical insurance plan and student dental plan (learn more about the plans). Students are responsible for any dependent coverage premiums.

In year seven and beyond, students are responsible for paying the premiums. The premiums could also be covered by external fellowships or departmental funding, if available (the premiums of PhD students serving as research assistants are covered no matter what year they are in).

Additional Opportunities

Sloan Scholarships

Duke awards Sloan Scholarships each year in nine academic departments, including the four within Duke Engineering.

In addition to Duke’s guaranteed funding package, Sloan Scholars receive $40,000 in supplemental funding over five years and benefit from the guidance of designated faculty champions.

 

External Research Fellowships

During your first year with us, we’ll help you develop a strong proposal for a major external fellowship. This could include the National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship, National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) and U.S. Department of Defense SMART Scholarship.