Financial Information

The contributions of graduate students are highly valued in the university and Duke has a strong commitment to financially support the students it selects for graduate study. The Duke University Graduate School and its graduate programs offer a wide array of financial support. Funding is available from annually allocated awards funds, instruction, endowed fellowships, foundation and other private support, as well as federal research grants, training grants, and fellowships.

Selection of university award recipients is made on the basis of academic merit and departmental recommendations. Incoming students who wish to be considered for any of the institutional fellowships or assistantships mentioned in this section should so indicate on the application form for admission and award. Continuing students interested in applying for university awards for advanced students should follow the application procedures listed on the Graduate School web page and/or in the award announcement.

Students studying for the PhD are typically supported for a period of 5 years. Standard support packages for PhD students may include a scholarship which covers all or a portion of tuition, and a fellowship stipend and/or assistantship to help defray cost of living expenses. Students in humanities and social science departments are supported for 9 months, with summer fellowship support available for advanced students on a competitive basis. In natural science and engineering departments, 9 month awards are also made, although summer support for PhD students from research and/or departmental funds is frequently available. In the biomedical sciences, support is typically provided over a 12 month period. For students pursuing the master of arts and master of science degrees, some limited funds for tuition scholarships may be available; these are awarded by the individual departments and programs.

The majority of funding available for graduate study is provided by the student's department or program. For information about student funding in a specific department or program, students should contact the program director of graduate studies. In general, a student's support package may be composed of several different types of funding, including:

Fellowship stipends, which require no service, and are awarded by the department or program. Many departments, including Chemistry, Economics, English, Psychology, and Religion also offer endowed fellowships. Selection for these fellowhips is usually made by faculty committee within the individual department.

Several departments utilize, when possible, the federal work study program to help fund research and teaching assistantship positions. As a result, some departments may require or request that students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid so that eligibility for work study funds can be determined. This form can be completed online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

In addition to the departmentally based awards, several interdisciplinary programs and centers offer fellowship and assistantship awards to both incoming and continuing students interested in the program areas. These include programs in Documentary Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Women's Studies, and centers such as the Kenan Center for Ethics and the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies.

The Graduate School funds several competitive fellowships for incoming and continuing students. Incoming students do not apply for these awards; rather, selection is based on departmental nomination. Continuing students interested in awards for advanced students should follow the application procedures listed on the Graduate School Web site or in the award announcement.

Students holding a competitive Graduate School fellowship are not permitted to hold other fellowships or employment concurrent with the Graduate School award without prior approval from the Dean of the Graduate School. Exceptions to this are the James B. Duke Summer Research and Duke Endowment Summer Fellowships, which can be held with any other university or external award.

James B. Duke Fellowships. The James B. Duke One-Hundredth Anniversary Fund provides fellowships for students who wish to pursue a program leading to the PhD degree in the Graduate School at Duke University. Its objective is to aid in attracting and developing outstanding scholars at Duke. Selection of recipients is made by a faculty committee upon nomination by the appropriate department. These fellowships provide a $4,000 stipend supplement for four years to any other award the student receives from the department, the Graduate School, or external source.

The University Scholars Program was created in 1998 with a gift from former Duke University Trustee Melinda French Gates and her husband Bill Gates, through the William H. Gates Foundation. The program is designed to stimulate an interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and diverse community of scholars. Each year the University Scholars Program provides tuition and a 9-month stipend for up to six incoming graduate students, who participate in bimonthly University Scholars Program seminars, and act as informal intellectual leaders and mentors (not advisors) to the program's undergraduates. For more information, see the University Scholars Program Web site at: http://www.usp.duke.edu.

Duke Endowment Fellowships are awarded to students who-by reason of their background, culture, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, work and life experiences-, contribute to a fuller representation of perspectives withing the acedemic life of the university. Nominees must be U.S. or naturalized citizens. The fellowship is a four-year award, provided by the Graduate School in conjunction with the admitting department, and offers a full tuition, registration, health and recreation fee scholarship. The Graduate School provides academic year stipend support in years one and two, and summer support for all four years. Academic year stipend support in years three and four is provided through normal departmental mechanisms and may require service in the form of a research or teaching assistantship. In the fifth or final years, fellows are also eligible to compete for dissertation support.

Latin American Studies Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to students interested in Latin American studies at Duke. Fellowship recipients are expected to participate in Latin American studies program activities and to take Latin American studies courses, both within and outside their admitting departments. The fellowship includes a stipend for one year, and payment of tuition and university fees for four years.

Bass Named Instructorships in Arts and Sciences. Several of these awards are provided jointly by the Graduate School and Trinity College. Students are required to teach one course during the academic year in which they hold the award.

Summer Research Fellowships for students in Humanities and Social Sciences are available to students in the summer following years three through six who have passed their preliminary exams. The fellowships pay a summer stipend and fees.

The Graduate School works to secure funding for advanced students who need to conduct research overseas. Below are a few of the programs currently available. Information on other fellowship opportunities may be obtained from the Office of Research Support.

Organization for Tropical Studies. The Graduate School provides limited funding to cover the cost of tuition and partial travel expenses, if possible, for students participating in this program in Costa Rica.

Exchange Programs. The Graduate School has developed exchange programs with a number of foreign universities, including the Free University of Berlin, Potsdam, Humboldt University, University of Salzburg, Trinity College-Dublin, University of Venice, University of Vienna, and the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Exchange Program, which includes the University of Dresden, University of Erlangen- Nuremberg, and University of Wurzburg.

In addition to those awards available through the university, applicants are urged to compete for national and foundation awards available for graduate study. A Web Site maintained by Duke's Office of Research Support lists awards available from a variety of federal and private sources, as well as awards funded by the university, at: http://www.ors.duke.edu/find/student/index.html. External awards, which are prestigious and a valuable acknowledgement of a student's intellectual project and promise typically replace departmental or Graduate School awards.

Students must be registered in the Graduate School in order to receive fellowship or assistantship support. The payment of graduate assistantships starts on September 25 and is made in equal payments on the twenty-fifth day of each month thereafter. Fellowship stipends are paid on the last working day of the month, beginning in September.

Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, both fellowship stipends and assistantships are taxable. For U.S. citizens, fellowship stipends may be reduced, for tax purposes, by the amounts paid for tuition, fees, and required books, supplies, and equipment. For general information about the taxability of scholarships and fellowships, students should see IRS publication 970 (see www.irs.gov).

For foreign students, stipend payments are subject to withholding of federal and state income taxes, based on the existing tax treaty between the student's country and the USA. Information concerning tax treaties by country can be found on the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/international/article/0,,id=96739,00.html. In addition, the IRS requires that tuition payments for foreign students must be reported to the federal government. Since each student's tax situation is unique, the Payroll Office at Duke provides assistance to enrolled students regarding withholding requirements.

Students have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that their tuition and fees are paid. Students should review statements received from the Bursar's Office regularly and quickly resolve payment problems or issues that arise. Students with questions about their Bursar accounts should contact the assistant to the director of graduate studies in their department, the Bursar's Office, or the Graduate School Finance Office.

Satisfactory Progress. Graduate students are expected to make satisfactory progress in their programs in order to remain enrolled in the Graduate School or to receive financial aid. Qualitative and quantitative requirements regarding formal coursework are detailed under the chapter of this bulletin entitled "General Academic Regulations,'' including regulations regarding unsatisfactory or failing grades in major or related courses. Additional requirements may be imposed by individual departments, which are responsible for certifying at the conclusion of each academic year the satisfactory progress of all enrolled students. Finally, the Graduate School has established normative time requirements for completion of various stages of graduate degree work. Failure to meet expected time frames requires a review of the student's situation by the dean of the Graduate School, as specified in the chapter on "General Academic Requirements." See also the section below on "Restrictions" under Payment of Accounts.

Students who anticipate a need to supplement their financial resources through loans or college work-study employment must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA on line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In order for Duke Graduate School to obtain the information electronically, Duke's school code (E00165) must be indicated on the form.

Students who are enrolled at least half time, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who meet the federal criteria for need are eligible for loans. Loan funds are provided through the Carl Perkins Student Loan Program after a student has borrowed the maximum from the Federal Stafford Loan Program. Subsidized Stafford and Carl Perkins loans do not accrue interest charges while the borrower maintains student status, as well as during a short period thereafter. Interest during the repayment period is at a favorable rate. Additional loan funds needed to meet a student's budget may come from the Graduate PLUS loan program, or a private, alternative loan program.

Inquiries should be addressed to the Financial Aid Coordinator, Box 90061, Graduate School, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0061.

Funds are available through the college work-study program for short-term or part-time employment of graduate students. A student who wishes to apply for work-study must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students considering the possibility of work-study for the fall should submit Free Federal Financial Aid forms by April 15. Eligibility requirements are similar to those of the federal loan programs. In addition to departmental employment opportunities, the Career Center maintains a listing of employment opportunities for students. Awards are based on thel job, eligibility of student, and availability of funds.

Although many students will receive financial assistance for their graduate education, students are responsible for ensuring that they have the means to support themselves, and the ability to pay tuition and fees due the university. Below is a summary of expected costs.

For a specific estimate of the cost of education for need-based awards or loan certification, contact the Graduate School Financial Aid Office. Cost may also differ for international students; contact Graduate Admissions for further information.

Tuition is charged on a per semester basis for PhD students. For 2008-09, the tuition charge for PhD students is $15,550 per semester. A charge for tuition is levied for six semesters of graduate study. One semester of credit may be granted for those entering with a previous graduate degree or for nondegree work done at Duke prior to matriculation.

For masters and nondegree students tuition is charged on a per unit basis. The tuition for 2008-2009 is $1,037 per unit or semester hour.

Additional tuition charges are levied for all courses taken during the summer session. Information about the charges can be obtained from the Office of Continuing Education and University Summer Session.

All graduate students, with the exception of students registered through Continuing Education or the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, will be charged a registration fee for every semester of residence. For 2008-09, the registration fee charge is $2,545 per semester. Registration for summer 2009 is also $2,545.

All entering students will be charged a one-time mandatory fee of $40 for transcripts. This fee entitles the student to an unlimited number of Duke transcripts. Requests for transcripts of academic records can be made via ACES, Duke's online student records system. Please see the University Registrar's Web page for access to ACES, http://registrar.duke.edu.

All full-time students and part-time degree candidates are assessed a fee each semester for the use of the Student Health Service. For fall and spring, the fee is estimated at $568 ($284 each semester). For summer, the fee is estimated at $182. This fee is distinct from health insurance, and does not provide major medical coverage. For the services covered by this fee see the chapter "Student Life."

Students will be charged for health insurance in the fall semester, unless proof of other health insurance is provided. For 2008-09, health insurance will be charged based on the age of the student and will range from $1,564 to $2,198 for the year.

All graduate students will be charged student government dues of $15.75 per semester.

All graduate students will be charged a recreation fee for the use of on-campus facilities. The fee is $34 per semester.

Thesis or Dissertation Fees. Fees incurred in connection with a thesis or dissertation are subject to change:

Audit Fee. Auditors are permitted on a space available basis with the consent of the instructor. Students registered full time during fall and spring may audit courses without charge. An audit fees is charged for other students.

The Bursar's Office emails and/or mails statements to registered graduate students for tuition, fees, and other charges approximately four to six weeks prior to the beginning of classes each semester. The Amount Due on the statement is payable by the due date listed on the statement. Student account statements are also available online. Inquiries regarding statements can be directed to the Bursar's Office at bursar@duke.edu or (919) 684-3531.

As part of the admission agreement to Duke University, students are required to pay all statements as presented. If full payment is not received, a late payment penalty charge on the past due amount is charged on the subsequent statement. The past due amount is defined as the Amount Due from the previous statement minus payments, financial aid, loans and other credits received prior to the Due Date listed on the prior statement.

Failure to receive an invoice does not warrant exemption from the payment of tuition and fees nor from the penalties and restrictions. Non-registered students will be required to make payment for tuition, fees, and other charges at the time of registration

In addition to late payment charges, students with accounts in default may be subject to the following restrictions:

Refunds for Withdrawal from School during Fall and Spring Semesters. In the event of death, refund of full tuition and fees for the term will be granted. In all other cases of withdrawal from the university, students may have tuition refunded according to the following schedule:

If a student has to drop a course for which no alternate registration is available, drops special fee courses (music, golf, etc.), or drops a paid audit during the first two weeks of the drop/add period, a full refund may be granted with the approval of the dean. The student health fee will not be refunded.

The University provides a tuition assistance benefit to eligible employees enrolled in coursework at Duke. Additional information is available on the Duke University Benefits Web site: www.hr.duke.edu/benefits/education.

2008-09 Bulletin of the Duke University Graduate School

2008-09 Bulletin of the
Duke University Graduate School