Application Instructions

Do your research

To help decide whether this program is right for you, talk to your family, employer, and mentors, attend an admissions event or information session, or start a conversation by emailing an admissions counselor.

Review the online application and deadlines for various admission rounds. Consider important aspects of the timeline, including:

• When to apply if you’re an international student
• When to schedule your interview
• When you’ll receive a decision
• When your tuition deposit is due
• When to start the visa process

Schedule an interview

All candidates must have an official interview to complete their application. Schedule your interview using our online interview system. Your application interview must be complete prior to the deadline that corresponds to your application round in order for a decision to be released on time. If your interview is not complete by the deadline, your application will be moved to the next round.

Submit your application

Ensure that your application is complete. Learn more about the components of an application, including your resume, essays, letters of recommendation, interview, transcripts, official test scores, and application fee. You can view your application status by logging into your student portal.

Receive a decision

You’ll be notified via email of your admission decision by midnight (Eastern Time) on the decision date for the round in which you apply. 

To reserve your place in the class, you must submit the following by the deadline specified in your admission notification:

• A nonrefundable tuition deposit of 6,000 USD
• Hard copies of your official transcripts and translations (if not in English) from each college or university you attended
• Official test scores sent directly from the testing agency unless you were granted a test score waiver

Your deposit can be made by credit card, check, e-check, or money order. 

Access our Admitted Student Website

Shortly after admission, you will receive access to our admitted student website. This will be your main source of information, helping you more fully understand our community and our expectations and giving you a better idea of what it will be like to be a working professional MBA student at Duke.

On our admitted student website you’ll find:

• Travel/residency information including visa requirements
• Financial aid information
• Career information and resources
• Classmate information

Apply for a visa (international students)

If applicable, visa application information will be sent to you after your deposit has been received. 

Legible, scanned copies of all transcripts are required for each college or university you have attended where you:

• earned (or will earn) a degree;
• studied for one semester or more;
• earned 12 or more credits (note: 4 or more credits if your university awards 1 credit for the typical class instead of 3 credits);
• and/or took a class that relates to your graduate study interests. 

If you took classes at a college or university while in high school, do not list the college or university as a separate school in your application.

For transfer credits: Follow the guidelines listed above, but please note that for any transferred credits that qualify to be reported, we need to see grades/marks.  If the grades/marks as well as the credits appear on your degree-conferring institution's transcript, then the additional transcript will not be required.

For student abroad credits: Please follow the same guidelines as for transfer credits.

Transcripts must include:

• Your name and the name of the institution
• Each course taken and the grade received
• The degree received and date conferred

If your transcripts do not state the degree and date conferred, upload a copy of your diploma in addition to the transcript. If your transcript is not in English, it must be translated, attested, and uploaded along with the originals. Those applying from outside the U.S. should see additional transcript guidelines for international students.

Two options for sending transcripts:

• Electronically to transcripts@fuqua.duke.edu
• Directly by mail in a sealed envelope to:
  Duke University
  The Fuqua School of Business Office of Admissions
  100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120
  Durham, NC 27708-0120

If you do not submit your official transcripts on time, or if you misrepresent, falsify, or omit information, we may rescind any offer of admission or financial assistance.

When to submit copies of official transcripts

Only if you are admitted to the program, will you be required to submit official transcripts from each college or university you have attended for verification. The due date for official transcripts will be noted in your admitted student portal. If you have not yet completed your studies by this date, your official transcripts should reach The Fuqua School of Business no later than one week before your program begins.

You’ll need to provide your thoughts on three short-answer questions as part of your application.

Instructions for all written submissions:

• Responses should use 1.5-line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
• Do not repeat the question in the document you upload with your application.
• Respond fully and concisely.
• Responses must be completed before submitting your application.
• Prepare your responses carefully.

All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Expressing your ideas by using verbiage from existing sources, including websites and other applicants' essays or materials, or having someone else compose your essays, without properly crediting those sources constitutes an act of plagiarism. Plagiarism, an act of theft and fraud, is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will result in an application denial. Note: if you have worked with a consultant to complete your application materials, please ensure that the Honor Code policy is discussed and yours essays will not be shared with other potential applicants.

Required short essay 1:

Pursuing an MBA offers a fantastic springboard to your desired career goals. What are some professional milestones you've set for yourself or challenges you're currently facing? How do you think Fuqua's Executive MBA will specifically help you achieve your goals and navigate those challenges?  

Required short essay 2:

Please respond to one of the two prompts below in 250 words or less:

1. Tell us about your favorite team success story. Why was it successful? What was your role?
2. In what ways do you believe you will make an impact at Fuqua? Why is this important to you?

Required short essay 3:

The Admissions Team wants to get to know YOU — beyond your professional and academic achievements shared with us in the application. Please share with us ten random things about you. This could include important life experiences, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you uniquely you.

Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 10. Some points may be brief; others may be longer. No more than two pages.

Optional essay: Tell us more

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance).  

The Optional Essay is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only. You should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Essay is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.  

Submit your required resume electronically within the online application system. For employment and volunteer positions, include the location, title, date, and responsibilities, starting with your most recent position. The education section should include dates of attendance and degrees received.

Your resume should include:

• Full-time employment
• Volunteer work
• Internships
• Part-time work experience
• Education

Your recommender must complete the current recommendation form associated with the online application—no other format of recommendation will be accepted.

Please choose one individual who can objectively evaluate your professional skills and abilities. Recommendations from relatives and friends are strongly discouraged. Academic recommendations often provide a similar perspective to your transcript and are less helpful. 

Submissions by email or mail are not accepted.

New applicants

• One letter of recommendation

Re-applicants

• Applicants re-applying from the previous admissions cycle can reuse their letter(s) of recommendation. Please contact your Admissions Counselor.
• Anyone applying from an admissions cycle prior to the previous cycle must submit all new application materials, including a letter(s) of recommendation.

Other recommendation guidelines:

• You are required to use the recommendation form within the online application.
• Recommendations from relatives and friends are strongly discouraged.
• Academic recommendations often provide a similar perspective to your transcript and are less helpful.
• Proprietors or principals of a company may provide a recommendation from a client, board member, or other professional colleague.

Recommendation form

The following questions are included on the recommendation form:

• Comment briefly on the context of your interaction with the applicant.
• How do the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?
• What do you perceive as the applicant's areas for growth? 
• Describe the applicant's awareness of these areas and his/her response to constructive feedback.
• Please include additional comments you feel will be helpful to the Admissions Committee.

Bonus endorsement from Fuqua students and alumni

In addition to the required recommendation, you may provide additional endorsements from our current students or alumni.

Endorsement Form

If one of these endorsements is sent on your behalf before you submit your online application, you will be eligible for an application fee waiver.

Fuqua accepts GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment (EA) scores. Test scores are valid for 5 years, and we do not require the official score report at time of application - you need only self-report your score and provide official scores when admitted. We do not have a preference for which exam you provide, and scores can be updated after your application is submitted.

Both GMAC and ETS, the administrators of the GMAT and GRE tests, respectively, have provided the option to take these tests from a home environment. Please visit the GMAC or ETS websites for more information.

GMAT/GRE/EA waivers are offered on a case-by-case basis, and such cases may include, but are not limited to: 

• An undergraduate degree in a STEM, business, or economic discipline with quantitative coursework 
• Strong academic performance in a non-STEM/business/economics discipline
• A masters or doctorate degree in a STEM or other quantitative discipline

To be considered for the standardized test waiver, you must begin an application to your program of interest and submit the test waiver request form, which is located in the test scores section. Highlight aspects of your current work or background you feel are relevant to the Admissions Committee’s consideration of your waiver request. In addition, you will need to upload your resume and transcripts from all degree-granting institutions. 

Extra GMAT, GRE, and EA Details

• There is no minimum test score requirement.
• We will accept scores up to 5 years old.
• Schedule a test date at least 3 weeks in advance of your application submission.

If you are not satisfied with your score, you may retake the exam before submitting your application. If you take the exam multiple times, only report your highest score and any sub-scores from the same testing date.

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)

Use Duke program code Q13-N5-56

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Use Duke program code 5156, and the 4201 Business Administration and Management Department name on your GRE exam

Executive Assessment (EA)

Use Duke program code Q13-N5-18

Need more help?

Information on registering and sending GMAT scores

Information on registering and sending GRE scores 

Information on registering and sending EA scores

Fee

A 225 USD nonrefundable application fee, payable by VISA or MasterCard, is due when you submit your online application.

Application fee waivers

You may be eligible to receive an application fee waiver if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

You are a member of the military—active duty, active reserve, or honorably discharged/completed service (within three years) of any nation. Either voluntary or compulsory service is valid for qualification.

You are an active participant or alumnus/alumna of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America.

You receive Fuqua Admissions Committee approval. In your application, include the reason for your waiver request and the name of the committee member granting approval.

You are a current member of the Forté or Management Leadership for Tomorrow.

Before submitting your application, you register for and attend at least one of the activities listed below. Indicate the event type, location and month of attendance in your online application. (MBA Fairs are only considered as a qualifying event if you completed a sign in at the Fuqua table during the fair.)

• Open house
• Information session
• Informational luncheon
• Meet & greet
• Multi-school information session
• Virtual information session

You obtain an endorsement from a current Fuqua student or alumnus/alumna. In your application, include your endorser’s name, program (Daytime, Cross Continent, Weekend Executive, Global Executive, Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business, Master of Management Studies: Duke Kunshan University, Master of Quantitative Management: Business Analytics, or Master of Quantitative Management: Health Analytics), year of graduation (if known), and email address.

You attended one of four Diversity Events: 

• The Duke MBA Workshop
• The Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Weekend
• The Duke MBA Pride Weekend
• The Duke MBA Veterans Symposium

You are an alumni of Duke University. In your application, include the name of your degree and the year in which you graduated.

Instructions to apply for an application fee waiver:

1. Meet at least one of the above criteria.
2. Select an application round in the “Personal Information” section of the online application.
3. Complete the questions included in the "Application Fee Waiver Information" section. 
4. Submit your application after all sections are complete. However, do NOT submit your application if you are asked for credit card information.

Following the above instructions is the only way to receive an application fee waiver. If you submit your online application without selecting the "fee waiver" option, then you will not qualify for the waiver, and no refund will be available.

An official interview is required, and your application isn’t complete without one. Interviewers will have a copy of your resume, but no other component of your application.

Interview fast facts:

• You do not need to have a submitted/complete application to interview. Interviewers will have a copy of your resume, but no other component of your application.
• Slots fill quickly, so schedule your interview prior to the deadline that corresponds to your application round.
• Interviews can be conducted either in-person or virtually.
• Interviews are conducted by an admissions officer, are conducted in English, and typically last 45 minutes.

View responses to frequently asked questions about interviews.

In service to reapplicants, we offer the ability to replicate or "clone" your application from the previous application year. Please reach out to your Admissions Counselor for further instructions.

While we encourage international applicants to apply by Round 7, you may still apply in Round 8.

All applicants are required to complete the core set of application materials; however, non-U.S. applicants have additional application requirements and instructions, which are described below. If you have any questions please email your admissions counselor or call at +1.919.660.7705.

If you are already lawfully present in the U.S. (e.g., H1-B, L-1, etc.), after you submit the 6,000 USD tuition deposit, you will need to complete a web form that will be sent to you by Fuqua's admissions office. Your current visa status will not be affected, but all non-immigrant visa holders are required to register their presence on campus. In addition, you will need to present your passport, I-797, and I-94 or I-94 admissions page.

For Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders), you are required to present your Form I-551 (Green Card) during orientation at your first Durham residency.

Transcripts and diplomas

Transcripts, diplomas, and academic records must be in English.

Transcripts must include:

• Your name and the name of the institution
• Each course taken and the grade received
• The degree received and date conferred

If your transcripts do not state the degree and date conferred, upload a copy of your diploma in addition to the transcript.

If your transcript is not in English, you must have it:

• Translated
• Attested
• Uploaded in addition to the originals

Two options for sending transcripts:

• Electronically to transcripts@fuqua.duke.edu
• Directly by mail in a sealed envelope to:
  Duke University
  The Fuqua School of Business
  Office of Admissions
  100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120
  Durham, NC  27708-0120 U.S.A.

English as a Second Language test scores

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