Graduate Coursework

Duke Continuing Studies works with those who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a variety of educational needs: 

1. Who would like to take a few courses for career development.  
2. Who eventually plan to enter graduate or professional school.
3. Who seek courses to complete degree programs from other institutions.

The Office of Graduate Admissions reviews non-degree applications on a rolling basis. To take a Duke University graduate-level course for credit on a non-degree basis, you need to apply for admission to the Graduate School. A complete application includes: 

  • An online application
  • Copies of your transcripts (official transcripts will be required upon admission)
  • At least one letter of recommendation 
  • Application fee of $95

Application deadlines are July 15 for admission to Fall Semester and December 1 for admission to Spring Semester. 

Very few graduate courses are offered during the summer. Registration for summer graduate courses is handled by Duke Summer Session.

Continuing Studies students are not eligible to apply for need-based financial aid from Duke or from the federal government until they are admitted as degree-seeking candidates. Duke Employees with at least two years of full-time, continuous service may be eligible to participate in the Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP). For more information, please visit the Human Resources website.

Non-degree Graduate Application fee: $95

Non-degree Graduate Tuition:

Effective fall semester 2023:

  • $3,635 per unit, or $10,905 for a 3-unit course
  • Audit Fee: $535 per course

Transcript Fee
$120 (a one-time fee charged of all students the first term of enrollment for credit).

The Graduate School offers coursework in the traditional arts and sciences and in engineering.  A complete list of departments and programs can be found in the Graduate School Bulletin.

To take courses in the following schools, you will need to contact the school directly: the Fuqua School of Business, Duke Law School, Duke School of Medicine, Duke School of Nursing, the Divinity School, and the Nicholas School of the Environment. 

Almost all regular university courses are offered only during the daytime.  No science or technical courses (such as in engineering) are offered in the evening. A small number of courses—typically in humanities areas such as History, English, and religion—are offered as evening courses.

The official Course Schedule is available online. Please contact us if you want to know whether a particular course is being offered in an upcoming semester and what its schedule is.  

NOTE: Duke has renumbered all undergraduate and graduate courses with new course numbers being activated. Please use the following as a guide:

  • 100 - 199 -- Introductory-level undergraduate courses
  • 200 - 399 -- Undergraduate courses above introductory level
  • 400 - 499 -- Advanced undergraduate, senior seminars, capstone courses, honors thesis courses
  • 500 - 699 -- Graduate courses open to advanced undergraduates
  • 700 - 999 -- Graduate only courses (not open to undergraduates)

Those taking graduate courses are not eligible for Duke Continuing Studies special Employee Tuition Rates Program. 

However, Duke Employees with at least two years of full-time, continuous service may be eligible to participate in the Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP). This program provides a reimbursement of tuition for a maximum of two classes per semester, up to $5250 per calendar year. In order to qualify for reimbursement you must receive a grade of “C” or better in the course, and remain at Duke for at least two years. For more detailed information and an application, please visit the Human Resources website.  

Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of these Reports can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708 or by accessing: https://police.duke.edu/news-stats/clery