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Your MMS journey begins with self reflection. Any master's program is a significant investment of your time, energy, and money, so it is important that you find the right program to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. "Fit" with a program occurs at the intersection of your story and ambitions and the school's story and ambitions. Before you apply, take some time to reflect on both.
Have Impact and Leave a Legacy
"Impact" and "legacy" are the cornerstones of Fuqua's culture. Think about how these terms apply to your own experiences and goals, then within the application, use that insight to help demonstrate how you might fit in with Fuqua's culture.
- What are you passionate about? What is your "And?"
- What legacy do you hope to leave at Fuqua?
- After graduation, what impact do you hope to have in your work and broader communities?
There is still time to apply. We are now accepting applications on a rolling admissions basis. The MMS program begins with orientation on July 16, 2013. It is to your advantage to apply as early as possible to give yourself time to prepare for the program.
Contact Admissions Counselor Cathy Johnson at mms-fob-info@fuqua.duke.edu or +1.919.660.7705 if you would like more information about the program, or if you are unsure whether you have enough time to complete and submit your application. Apply Now.
All international students should have already applied by the Round 2 deadline (Jan. 24, 2013) to ensure sufficient time for visa processing.
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | |
| Application Deadline | Nov. 12, 2012 | Jan. 24, 2013 | March 6, 2013 | April 25, 2013 |
| Decision Release | Dec. 20, 2012 | March 5, 2013 | April 17, 2013 | May 30, 2013 |
| Domestic Student Deposit Deadline | Jan. 11, 2013 | March 26, 2013 | May 8, 2013 | June 7, 2013 |
| International Student Deposit Deadline | Jan. 11, 2013 | March 26, 2013 | April 23, 2013 | June 3, 2013 |
| Need-based Scholarship Application Deadline | Feb. 8, 2013 | March 8, 2013 | April 19, 2013 | May 31, 2013 |
| Scholarship Notification (need and merit) | Merit: Dec. 20, 2012 Need: Feb. 18, 2013 |
March 18, 2013 | April 29, 2013 | June 5, 2013 |
On application deadline dates, applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm (EST).
All applications are evaluated holistically based on multiple criteria. Outlined below are the ways in which we utilize the components of your application to make an admission decision.
Academic Aptitude and Quantitative Proficiency
The MMS academic environment is rigorous, fast-paced, and requires strong quantitative and analytical skills. We utilize standardized test scores, transcripts, and any applicable work experience to ensure that our admitted students will be successful in the program. The Admissions Committee pays particular attention to the quantitative segment of your test score to ensure that you can handle the rigor of the program.
There are no pre-requisite courses for the program, but if you do not have a strong quantitative background, we recommend that you take courses such as statistics, calculus, or finance. This will provide another measure of your quantitative ability.
Professional Experience and Career Potential
There is no required minimum work experience, however, you should have no more than two years of full-time, post-graduate work experience (if you have worked for more than two years, contact an admissions counselor to review your candidacy for the program). We evaluate paid and unpaid work engagements including volunteer positions, part-time work, student clubs and activities, and internships to provide insight into your initiative, experience working in a team environment, and specific skills that would translate well into potential future career paths after the MMS program.
Reflect on your experiences and ensure that they are represented in your application. How have they helped you mature and develop leadership and teamwork skills? How will they enable you to be an active contributor to the learning environment? How will you leverage your experiences to achieve your career goals?
English Proficiency
International students bring diverse perspectives that are highly valued in the classroom, but only if each student's English skills are sufficiently strong to allow them to actively participate in class and group discussions. We require one of three English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE) and further evaluate non-native speakers' English skills during the interview. However, if you earned a degree from a school in which the primary language of instruction is English, you are not required to provide an English proficiency test. Visit the International Applicants page for further information.
Fit, Passion, and Impact
The recommendations, essays, and interview are what weave fit, passion, and impact together into your "story."
- A recommender provides an unbiased third party perspective on the impact that you have made in another context. Prepare your recommenders so that they represent you well and highlight aspects of your candidacy that do not come out in other areas of the application.
- Your essays allow us to get to know you as a person—what drives you, what you aspire to be. You have the opportunity here to fill in any gaps or provide additional detail on key areas of your application. Be yourself—we want to get to know you!
- If invited, your interview will allow you to demonstrate your interpersonal skills—a critical component of your success in the program and in your future career. It will also provide additional insight into who you are, and give you the opportunity to demonstrate "fit" with our program and the Fuqua culture and community. The self-reflection and research that you have done on Fuqua and what the MMS program offers, both inside and outside of the classroom, will be exactly the preparation that you need to do well in an interview.
Take the next step—additional details are included on the Application Instructions page.
Step-by-Step
From learning about the MMS program and determining "fit" to joining the incoming class at orientation, here are tips about how to approach each step.
- Start the conversation
Do your research. Talk to family, friends, mentors, and the MMS admissions counselor Cathy Johnson; attend an information session, open house, or campus visit; and decide whether the program is right for you. Then, review the application deadlines and develop a timeline for completing your application. - Apply
Access and complete the online application, which can be done over multiple sittings. Go to Application Instructions for details about the application components. - Interview
Due to the large volume of applications, an interview is granted by invitation only. - Receive your decision
Review the decision timeline and deposit deadline for your application round. You will be notified via email and postal mail of your admission decision. If you are accepted to the program, you are required to submit your nonrefundable 1,000 USD tuition deposit and hard copies of your official transcripts by the deposit deadline to reserve your place in the class. - Access the Incoming Student Website (ISW)
A few months before the start of the program, you will have access to the ISW where you will find all the information you need to transition into your new academic life at Fuqua. You will get program announcements, technical and computer information, assignments to prepare academically, and relocation information. This is your main resource to facilitate your transition to Fuqua, and it is important that you visit the site often for updates and guidance. - Apply for your Visa (for international students only)
If applicable, visa application information will be included in your admission packet, along with specific deadlines for submission. Visa processing can take up to several months to complete, so it is critical to apply by the Round 2 deadline (Jan. 24, 2013) if you require a visa, to ensure that you are able to join the program. If you are currently in the U.S. on a student visa for another program, please contact our office prior to making plans to leave the country or to transfer your visa to ensure that the proper steps are taken to secure your new visa for the MMS program.
Interviews are granted by invitation only and can either be conducted in-person at Fuqua or by Skype. Once you submit your application, you may be selected for an interview. If so, we will notify you by email. Interview invitations are sent out by application round and are often sent on short notice. Candidates residing outside of North Carolina are not expected to come to campus for an interview.
On-Campus Interviews
- If possible, select an interview time that will allow you to fully participate in other campus visit activities.
- Bring a one-page professional resume to the interview.
- Arrive 20 minutes prior to your interview time to allow adequate time for parking and checking in with the Office of Admissions at Fuqua.
- Appropriate attire for the interview is business casual.
Skype Interviews
- If you live outside of North Carolina, you may schedule a Skype interview.
- Skpe interviews are given equal weight and consideration and are in no way a disadvantage for you.
Interview Details
- Interviews are conducted by an admissions officer or a select Duke MBA student.
- Interviewers will have a copy of your resume, but no other component of your application file.
- All interviews are conducted in English and typically last 30 - 45 minutes.
- At the conclusion of the interview, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the Fuqua experience.
Applying for a Fee Waiver
If you qualify for a fee waiver (see criteria below), simply choose the "fee waiver" option and follow the instructions in the online application BEFORE you submit it. This is the only way to receive the waiver. We will NOT be able to offer refunds after you submit an application.
Who Qualifies
- Participants of Recruiting Events
Applicants who visit us get to see Team Fuqua in action and are better equipped to decide whether the MMS program is right for them. As a result, if you participate in certain recruiting events, you will qualify for an application fee waiver. To qualify, simply register for and attend an open house, information session, or campus visit between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013. - Members of the Military
Active duty, U.S. active reserve, or honorably discharged/completed service (within 3 years) military personnel. Only voluntary service is valid. Mandatory service may not be used for qualification. - Alumni and Active Participants of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Teach for America
- Members of Forte Foundation, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and Golden Key International Honor Society
- Special Requests to the Fuqua Admissions Committee
Where indicated in the application, include the reason for waiver request, date the request was granted, and the name of the committee member granting approval.

