Still have questions?

Here are answers to your most frequently asked questions about the Accelerated Daytime MBA program. You can also reference our Daytime MBA student blog for any questions you may have about student life at Fuqua.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Accelerated Daytime MBA program?

To be considered for the Accelerated Daytime MBA program, you must have earned one of the following degrees:

  • A Master of Management Studies (MMS) degree from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business
  • A Master of Quantitative Management Studies (MQM) degree from Duke's Fuqua School of Business
  • A Master in Management (MiM) degree or equivalent from an accredited graduate business school
  • A Master of Science in Business Analytics degree or equivalent from an accredited graduate business school

You must also have completed specific core classes as part of your MMS/MiM or MQM degree program. Required courses for each degree type can be found in the table below.

MMS/MiM MQM
Managerial Economics Statistics
Financial Accounting Business Communications
Probability/Statistics Leadership/Navigating Organizations
Strategy Machine Learning/Data Science/Analytics
Financial Management/Finance Data Management (SQL, Data Visualization, etc.)
Marketing  
Operations Management  

Do you offer a waiver of the application fee?

Yes, you may qualify for a waiver if you meet certain criteria. See Application Instructions for more details.

What should I know about GMAT/GRE/EA test scores?

There is no minimum requirement—we admit applicants with a range of test scores. GMAT/GRE/EA scores are important, but they are not the only indicator of achievement.

Other important aspects of the application include your:

  • Academic performance
  • Work experience
  • Community involvement
  • Leadership
  • Recommendations
  • Essays

Submitting your application and test scores:

  • GMAT, GRE and EA scores are valid for 5 years from the date you take the exam.
  • You are not required to submit official GMAT/GRE/EA scores as part of the application process (unofficial scores are acceptable). However, official test scores must be submitted upon admission to the program.
  • Please arrange to have your test scores sent to us as soon as they become available, and plan testing dates so that there is sufficient time for test score processing and receipt prior to the desired application deadline.

Updating your test scores:

We encourage you to submit your application with the scores you wish to use. If you would like to update your test scores, you may do so in the Test Scores section of your applicant portal or send an email to application-processing@fuqua.duke.edu.

If your updated scores are received after your application has been reviewed, we cannot guarantee that the admissions committee will be able to review your updated score.

What is your policy on deferred admission?

We encourage applicants to apply for admission in the year in which they wish to matriculate. If circumstances prevent you from enrolling in that year, you may request a deferral by writing to the Associate Dean of Admissions outlining all details surrounding the request. Requests for deferral will only be considered after May 1 for students who have already submitted their tuition deposit.

Deferral fast facts:

  • Deferrals are granted only in the case of significant, unanticipated, and unavoidable personal emergency.
  • You may be deferred up to, but not beyond, the same term in the succeeding year.
  • Admission may be deferred only once.
  • All requests for deferral must include official supporting documentation confirming the nature of the request.

Examples of reasons for deferral:

  • Military service obligations
  • Medical emergencies for you or an immediate family member

If a deferral is granted, you are required to pay a non-refundable deferral fee of 3,000 USD. This fee will be credited toward tuition upon matriculation. If a scholarship is awarded in the year the applicant applies, this award is not guaranteed for matriculation the following year. Scholarship awards will be re-evaluated during the admissions cycle prior to matriculation.

Does Fuqua accept transfer credits?

We do not accept transfer credits for any of our programs. However, note that the Accelerated MBA program does, in fact, recognize and take into account certain coursework in specific graduate business programs. The MBA coursework can be completed in a more compressed fashion precisely because we deliberately take into account the prior coursework as a starting point for the Accelerated MBA program.

Can Accelerated Daytime MBA students participate in concentrations and certificates?

Yes, Accelerated Daytime MBA students can pursue all of the options for concentrations, etc. that two-year Daytime MBAs can. You have to keep in mind it is your responsibility to take the necessary classes and you have fewer degrees of freedom to achieve that.

Can I do an internship in the Accelerated MBA Daytime Program?

Unlike the Daytime MBA program, there is not an opportunity to pursue a traditional MBA internship in the Accelerated Daytime MBA program. However, there are a few opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience in the Accelerated MBA program if you feel this will help enhance your employability. The Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum, for example, offers you a direct connection with your function or industry while you are assisting a client with a business need. An Independent Study project enables you to pursue an interest with the counsel of a faculty member. If you are pursuing an MBA to consider a completely new career path, your goals may be better served by the traditional format of our Daytime MBA program, which does provide an internship opportunity.

Do you offer an online or part-time Accelerated MBA program?

No, we do not offer any accelerated MBA programs exclusively online or part-time. We do offer full MBA programs designed for working professionals:

These programs allow you to continue to work while you complete your MBA. Our unique format combines in-person residencies with distance learning.

Can I apply in multiple admission rounds and/or to multiple programs?

You can only apply to one program at a time. If you are denied admission in an early round, you cannot reapply in a later admission round.

How are interviews conducted?

Admissions interviews are by invitation, and interview decisions are released on a rolling basis. You will receive an interview decision by the published date for the round in which you apply. The timing of your interview invitation is not significant in the evaluation process, nor is the timing of the interview invitation an indicator of the likelihood of admission. Interview invitations are not a final decision on your application. All applicants admitted to the Fuqua School of Business must interview prior to receiving an offer of admission.

Interviews may be conducted by staff or trained second-year MBA students called “Admissions Fellows.” On-campus interviews are offered in Round 1, and Round 2, and will be conducted in-person. Off-campus interviews will primarily be conducted virtually, and are offered in every round. All interviews are valued equally, regardless of format or interviewer. As you prepare for your interview, please be aware that your interviewer will only have access to your resume and will not have read your application.

What if I have to cancel or reschedule my interview?

If you are unable to attend your scheduled interview and need to cancel or reschedule, please do so within our online scheduling system. Interview slots fill quickly so please keep in mind that once you cancel your interview, your available options may be limited.

For cancellations within 48 hours of your visit, or should unexpected circumstances prevent you from completing a scheduled interview, contact us immediately at +1.919.660.7705 or at admissions-info@fuqua.duke.edu. We will do our best to accommodate you with another interview time, but if this is not possible, your application may be moved to the next admissions round.

How is full-time status determined?

To be considered full-time, a student must be registered for a course that makes progress toward their degree. This includes but is not limited to, enrolling in the appropriate courses required for degree completion and maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Variation from 3 to 24 graduate credits is common across terms.

What enrollment status is required to be eligible for student aid?

Generally, student aid, i.e., loans, review is based on enrollment being at least half-time status.

How are Fuqua merit scholarship awards determined?

Every admitted applicant is considered for a merit scholarship. Merit scholarship recipients are selected by an Admissions Merit Scholarship Committee.

The selection criteria include:

  • Prior academic achievement
  • Demonstrated leadership
  • Community involvement
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Professional accomplishments

These awards are for the duration of the Accelerated Daytime MBA program and range from partial to full tuition. Determination of merit scholarship awards are made independent of a student's eligibility for student loans.

Is it possible to borrow funds to meet the costs of attending Fuqua?

A variety of student loan programs are available to both domestic and international students.

You are eligible to apply for a combination of:

  • Federal student loans
  • Alternative student loans

Loans can be used for:

  • Tuition
  • Books
  • Related living expenses

Visit Financing Your Degree for more information.

How do I apply for student loans?

For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, visit the Financing Your Degree page to learn more about the student loan process for domestic students.

For international applicants, details of the student loan process are also located on the Financing Your Degree page.

How will I know if my FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has been sent to Fuqua Financial Aid?

  • Approximately 1 week after you submit your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will indicate the receipt and initial processing of your application.
  • Our financial aid office receives an electronic copy of the SAR, and the FAFSA data for admitted students is reviewed for accuracy and completeness.
  • If additional information is needed, you will receive a written request from Fuqua. If no additional information is requested, you will receive a financial aid award notice.
  • Our financial aid office begins review of financial aid applications in March and sends out award notices on a rolling basis.

As an international student, when should I apply for admission?

International students should apply in:

  • Round 1
  • Round 2
  • Round 3

Visa processing can take several months to complete, so we recommend that you apply before Round 4 to ensure that you are able to join the program if admitted.

Do International students who are part of the Accelerated Daytime MBA qualify for OPT?

Yes, international students who meet certain criteria will qualify for OPT  and all graduates qualify for STEM-extended OPT as the full program is STEM qualified.

Do I need to submit an English as a Second Language test score?

Fuqua does not accept ESL test scores. We will use other aspects of your application to assess language proficiency.

Are scholarship funds or financial aid available for international applicants?

Every admitted applicant is automatically reviewed for merit-based scholarships. There is no separate scholarship application. Merit scholarship notification typically occurs within a week following the admission notification. The awards are for the duration of the Accelerated Daytime MBA program and range from partial tuition to full tuition. Funding is limited and will not be sufficient to cover all tuition and living expenses. For details, visit the Financing Your Degree page.

We also offer a student loan for international students. This loan offers a very competitive rate and does NOT require a co-signer from the U.S.

How does the waitlist work?

Waitlisted applications will be reviewed at subsequent admissions rounds, following the round in which you originally applied.

  • On the decision release date for each round, you will be informed if you are admitted, and if not, your status will remain waitlisted. As such, please be sure to keep us informed of any changes in your contact information.
  • We are unable to share an exact number of people who are waitlisted.
  • Candidates on the waitlist may be admitted or may choose to remove their name from the waitlist at any point in the process, so the number of candidates on the waitlist can vary from day to day.
  • If the admissions committee determines that an interview is needed to make a final decision on your application, you will be contacted directly by the admissions office in order to schedule and complete your interview.

Please be advised that the admissions committee has made a conscious decision to limit the number of applicants extended a place on the waitlist. In the past, we have admitted students from the waitlist as late as the start of orientation in July.

While I’m on the waitlist, can I retake the GMAT/GRE/EA?

Yes. We will accept new scores from an applicant who has elected to remain active on the waitlist. Deciding to retake the GMAT or GRE is a personal decision. If you feel that you did not test at your highest potential, it might be in your best interest to retake the test. In deciding to retest, applicants have found it helpful to compare themselves to the 80% GMAT range (640-750).

If you take the GMAT or GRE again, unofficial test scores may be updated in your student portal at any time.

For GRE scores, use the Duke program code 5156, and the 4201 Business Administration and Management Department name on your GRE exam.

I was waitlisted for an interview. What should I do?

You may be asked to participate in the next round of interviews in the location you pre-selected on your application. No action is needed on your part until you receive an email invitation. The Admissions Committee will review your completed interview evaluation as part of your total application and will provide an updated decision on your application after the next decision release.

Our interview policy is by invitation only at this stage in the application cycle. If the admissions committee determines that an interview is needed to make a final decision on your application, you will be contacted directly by The Office of Admissions in order to schedule and complete your interview.

May I submit additional information for the admissions committee to consider?

Yes. During the coming months you may submit additional information that you feel will be helpful to the committee in consideration of your file. Brevity and relevance are important when determining what to submit to the admissions committee. It is not necessary to duplicate information already covered in your application. Please follow the instructions below to ensure your update is placed in your file.

  • Information on recent professional or community accomplishments – submit via the waitlist update form
  • Transcripts for recently completed coursework – submit via the waitlist update form
  • New unofficial test score – submit via your student portal
  • Updated mailing address – submit via your student portal

All additional information, including additional recommendations, should be submitted via email to mbawaitlist@fuqua.duke.edu.

I have a question that has not been addressed in the waitlist FAQs. What should I do?

Should you have a question about the waitlist process, please feel free to call our office at 1.919.660.7705 and ask to speak with an admissions officer. You may reach us during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm ET. We would be happy to speak with you and address any questions or concerns you have regarding your application status.