It is to your advantage to apply as early as possible to give yourself the longest possible time to prepare for the program.

Our admissions committee considers a number of factors when evaluating an application. These factors are taken into consideration from a holistic perspective. We are looking for students who we believe will be successful in the program and who will add significant value to the program through their experiences. The application components provide the applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate that they are a good fit for the program. 

Past Academic Performance

We admit applicants with a range of GPAs. We do not favor a particular undergraduate degree, and students come from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

Standardized Tests

We accept GMAT or GRE scores, and we admit applicants with a range of scores. There is no minimum requirement. If you feel that you have not scored your personal best or that the results are not representative of your abilities, you may re-take the exam (before you submit your application).

• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score reports must be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the GMAT testing service.
  • Use Duke program code Q13-N5-19 on your GMAT exam. 
  • You must request that your official score be sent to Fuqua prior to your application round deadline. 
  • We accept GMAT scores up to 5 years old. 
  • If you take the GMAT multiple times, only report your highest score. 
  • For information on registering for the GMAT and sending scores to Fuqua, visit www.mba.com . 
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score reports must be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the GRE testing service.
  • Use Duke program code 5156 on your GRE exam. 
  • You must request that your official score be sent to Fuqua prior to your application round deadline. 
  • We accept GRE scores up to 5 years old. 
  • If you take the GRE multiple times, only report your highest score. 
  • Both verbal and quantitative sub-scores reported must be from the same testing date. 
  • For information on registering for the GRE and sending scores to Fuqua, visit www.ets.org/gre/ .

English Language Proficiency Tests

If you did not earn an undergraduate degree from a school whose primary language of instruction is English, you must submit a valid score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement is waived for international applicants holding non-technical master's degrees or a PhD from colleges or universities inside the United States.

• Official TOEFL scores must be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). 
  • Use Duke program code 5156 on your TOEFL exam. 
  • TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years. 
  • The test must be taken prior to your application round deadline. 
  • Allow at least 4  weeks for scores to reach Fuqua. 
  • For information on registering for the TOEFL and requesting test scores, visit www.toefl.org . 
• Official IELTS scores must be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the testing agency.
  • Fuqua accepts the academic modules of the IELTS. 
  • IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. 
  • The test must be taken prior to your application round deadline. 
  • Allow at least 4 weeks for scores to reach Fuqua. 
  • More information about the test is available at www.ielts.org . 
  • When requesting that your score be sent to Fuqua, please use the following mailing address: 
    • Office of Admissions
      The Fuqua School of Business
      Duke University
      1 Towerview Drive
      Durham, NC 27708-0104

Academic Readiness

The MMS: Foundations of Business curriculum presumes knowledge of calculus, statistics, and computer skills. Fuqua offers various academic preparation courses and boot camps before the MMS program to help you prepare.

• Prior to the start of the program, all students are required to complete a college-level calculus course with a grade equivalent to a C or better.
• Students must demonstrate proficiency in statistics by passing a competency exam or by completing a college-level course with a grade equivalent to a C or better. 
  • A statistics boot camp will be offered for an additional fee prior to the start of the MMS program. Passing this boot camp fulfills the statistics requirement.
• Students must complete an online business computer applications course, which will be offered before the MMS program.

Official Transcripts

• Legible, scanned copies of your official transcript(s) must be uploaded to the online application (which will be available in October).
• The "degree conferred" and the "date conferred" must be clearly visible on your transcript. If this is not clearly visible, you must upload a copy of your diploma, in addition to the transcript. 
• Self-reported transcripts and scanned copies of unofficial transcripts are unacceptable. 
• Submit transcripts for each college or university you have attended. 
• After you are admitted to the MMS program, you will be required to submit a hard copy, official transcript in a sealed envelope from each college or university you have attended. 

Essays

Essays are an opportunity to share your perspective directly with the admissions committee. The goal of the essays is to gain a greater understanding of why you want to pursue the MMS: Foundations of Business program, and what you will bring to Duke, in addition to the experiences you have had that shape your unique perspective. Essays demonstrate your ability to clearly and concisely organize your thoughts, present your case for admission, reason critically, and express yourself. The personal essays are intended to help us know you better as a person and a student. You are required to submit 3 essays. Please limit your responses to a single page, each using 1.5 line spacing.

• Required essay: Why are you interested in the MMS: Foundations of Business program offered by Duke University's Fuqua School of Business?
• Answer 2 of the following 3 essay questions:
  • Discuss a person, event, or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why. Note: the goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved.
  • Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.  
  • A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in the Duke community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
• Optional essay (not required): If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work or education, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application).

Recommendations

• The most valuable recommendations come from individuals who are familiar with your professional skills and abilities.
• We require two letters of recommendation.
• We encourage you to submit one academic recommendation from someone such as a professor, and one professional recommendation from someone who can critique your performance in a professional context, such as a current or recent supervisor.
• Your application is not considered complete until we have received both recommendations. You are required to utilize the Recommendation Forms, which are available within the online application.

Work Experience

• Use the application to articulate the value of any internships, part-time or full-time work, or volunteer experiences that you have.
• Describe how these experiences have helped you develop leadership and teamwork skills, as well as maturity, on both professional and personal levels.
• Describe how your work experience might relate to the MMS: Foundations of Business learning environment.
• Keep in mind that the Foundations of Business program is designed for individuals who do not have extensive post-collegiate work experience. Applicants who have more than one year of professional work experience are encouraged to continue working and to apply for the MBA program as a better alternative to grow their careers.

Each applicant is expected to submit a completed application package to the Office of Admissions. The admissions committee will only review complete application packages, which must include the following items:

• Completed and submitted online application (available in October), including essays and one-page professional resume  
• Non-refundable application fee of $50 USD (paid online with Visa or MasterCard)
• 2 letters of recommendation 
• Scanned copies of official transcripts of all previous academic work
• Official GMAT or GRE score sent directly from the test administrator 
• Where applicable, official TOEFL and IELTS scores for applicants whose native language is not English and who did not earn their undergraduate degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English 
• An interview, conducted at any point in the admissions process, view the Interviews and Campus Visits page for more details and schedule an interview online