Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing from a U.S. program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or an international program with commensurate standards is required for admission to the PhD Program in Nursing.
Post-baccalaureate Students
Applicants with a baccalaureate degree in nursing must demonstrate exceptional academic qualifications, have clear research-oriented career goals, and choose a dissertation topic congruent with the research program of a Graduate Faculty member in the School of Nursing. Applicants with baccalaureate degrees must complete a nursing research and a graduate-level statistics course.
Applying for Admission
The following admission materials must be submitted online to the Duke University Graduate School. Prospective applicants should familiarize themselves with the Graduate School requirements.
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Official, confidential transcript(s) of all college-level coursework.
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Optional GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores - Applicants can submit GRE scores should they feel the scores enhance their application.
[Taken within the past 5 years]. For a free online GRE guide, see http://www.greguide.com/. For free online GRE practice tests, see http://www.greguide.com/gre-practice-tests.html. Or visit Go Grad for the GRE Guidebook. -
Three letters of recommendation. These letters should be solicited from individuals with doctoral degrees who can address the applicant’s academic abilities and potential for doctoral study.
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English language proficiency test scores. Foreign graduates must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International Language Testing System (IELTS) accepted, but IELTS is preferred.
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Personal Statement. Applicants should submit a paper (1 - 2 typed pages, 12-point font, single-spaced) indicating:
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Purposes and objectives for undertaking graduate study
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Research interests and career goals
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Strengths and weaknesses in the chosen field
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A description of a prior research project or research participation and how this has influenced career choice and desire to pursue graduate studies
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Reasons for choosing Duke for PhD studies
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Name(s) of PhD Nursing faculty members in the School whose research program most closely fits with the applicant’s research interests.
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The application and the $95 application fee must be received by November 26, 2024.
Holistic Admissions
The Duke University School of Nursing PhD Program is committed to holistic admissions. A holistic review is a university admissions strategy that assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores. It is designed to help universities consider a broad range of factors reflecting the applicant’s academic readiness, contribution to the incoming class, and potential for success both in school and later as a professional.
Holistic review, when used in combination with a variety of other mission-based practices, constitutes a holistic admission process. Many colleges and universities have employed a holistic admission process to assemble a diverse class of students with the background, qualities, and skills needed for success in the profession.
As part of the Duke University School of Nursing PhD Program holistic review process, faculty review principles of holistic admissions prior to reviewing applications. The PhD Program Admissions Committee utilizes an adapted version of the Duke University Center for Exemplary Mentoring holistic admissions review rubric to guide the evaluation of each applicant.
Personal Interview
Applicants may be asked to interview by Zoom or come to campus for an interview. The School covers the costs for campus interview travel except for international travel. International applicants are interviewed via Zoom.
Duke University's Annual Clery Security Report as Mandated by Federal Statute 20 USC § 1092
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 this Report can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708, or by accessing: duke.edu/police/news_stats/clery
Technology Requirements
Learn more on recommended computer specifications and Duke Office of Information Technology-supported software here.
Students with Disabilities: Duke University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please get in touch with the Duke Student Disability Access Office in advance of your participation or visit.
Nursing License
Students must hold a valid current nursing license in a U.S. state, preferably North Carolina. To obtain information about nurse licensure procedures for the State of North Carolina, consult the Licensure/Listing Page of the North Carolina Board of Nursing website, or telephone the North Carolina Board of Nursing at (919) 782-3211. Exceptions to holding a U.S state nursing license for international students can be waived by the PhD Program Director.
All PhD in Nursing applicants are required to have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or an international nursing program with commensurate standards.
Applicants are expected to have completed a graduate-level statistics course prior to starting the program. This course must have been completed within the last 5 years.