- All applicants must have, at minimum, an unofficial copy of their transcript from the college or university that granted or will grant their bachelor’s level degree. Th.D., D.Min., and Th.M., applicants must, at minimum, additionally supply an unofficial copy of their transcript from the seminary or divinity school that granted or will grant their master’s level degree. Additional coursework or degree information from previous colleges, universities, graduate schools, study abroad institutions, and seminaries may also be uploaded as part of the application. Transcripts may be submitted regardless of when you attended, how many hours you earned, or whether you earned a degree or not.
- Transcripts must be uploaded as part of your online application. Do not send paper or electronic copies directly to us.
- All students who are admitted and matriculate at Duke Divinity School must submit final transcripts showing that the minimally required degree has been granted before enrollment.
- The file limit size is 2.5 MB, so please compress files that are over this size.
- Submit .pdf files only
- The number and type of recommendation letters required vary by program. Please consult the program-specific information below.
- All applicants will be asked to provide recommenders' contact information as part of the online application. After you enter that information, the system will automatically send an email request to your recommender. The email will contain instructions guiding your recommender through the process of submitting a recommendation via our secure form.
- Please ask your recommender to upload .pdf files
Degree Program-Specific Application Materials
Application requirements vary depending on the academic program. In addition to fulfilling the common requirements listed above, please review the program-specific application material requirements by clicking below.
- M.Div. (Residential and Hybrid) Application Requirements
- M.A. Application Requirements
- M.T.S. Application Requirements
- Th.M. Application Requirements
- D.Min. Application Requirements
- Th.D. Application Requirements
- M.Div./M.S.W. Application Requirements
- M.Div./M.P.P. Application Requirements
- M.T.S./J.D. Application Requirements
- M.T.S./M.D. Application Requirements
- M.T.S./M.P.P. Application Requirements
- Certificate in Theology and Health Care (Residential and Hybrid) Requirements
- C.T.H.C./M.D. Application Requirements
- C.T.H.C./O.T.D. Application Requirements
- Special Student (non-degree) Application Requirements
- Auditor Application Requirements (for students not currently enrolled at Duke Divinity School)
- Additional Requirements for International Applicants
- Additional Requirements for Transfer Applicants
We must receive all required supplemental materials to consider your application for admission.
6. Monitor your application to ensure submission by deadline
You are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible. Once your application fee and online application are submitted, you will be able to monitor our receipt of your supplemental documents. Please note that our processing turnaround time is 3-5 business days for any hard-copy materials received.
All supporting documents (e.g., transcripts and reference letters not submitted online) must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on the stated deadline date. If the application deadline date falls on a weekend, all applications and supporting documents must be received in the admissions office by 5:00 p.m. EST on the Monday after the deadline date. We must receive all required supplemental materials to consider your application for admission.
M.Div. (Residential and Hybrid) Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted through the online application system are required: 1 academic, 1 church, and 1 personal/character or additional academic or church. - Statement of Purpose
A 1500-word essay addressing the following questions: (1) Please tell us about your sense of vocational call. What people, ideas, books, experiences, or events have led you to apply to Duke Divinity School? (2) Why is it important for you to be formed in an ecumenical environment that is committed to the flourishing and mission of the Christian church? (3) Please tell us what you hope to gain and contribute to Duke Divinity School's diverse learning environment. How will you help advance our commitment to fostering dialogue through intellectual responsibility and ecclesial generosity across theological perspectives? (4) What resources (faculty, centers, initiatives, programs, etc.) at Duke Divinity School do you anticipate being most valuable for your academic and vocational development? - Writing Sample All applicants must submit a sample of academic writing. Attention to theological themes is desired but not required. The writing sample should be a piece of original research that best demonstrates your ability to present and support an argument in conversation with other scholarly voices. You may submit an excerpt of a longer work. If doing so, please include a cover page that contextualizes the excerpt within the larger work's argument. The sample should be 4-8 pages in length, double-spaced.
M.A. Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted through the online application system are required: 1 academic, 1 church, and 1 personal/character or additional academic or church. - Statement of Purpose
A 1500-word essay addressing the following questions: (1) Please tell us about your sense of vocational call. What people, ideas, books, experiences, or events have led you to apply to Duke Divinity School? (2) Why is it important for you to be formed in an ecumenical environment that is committed to the flourishing and mission of the Christian church? (3) Please tell us what you hope to gain and contribute to Duke Divinity School's diverse learning environment. How will you help advance our commitment to fostering dialogue through intellectual responsibility and ecclesial generosity across theological perspectives? (4) What resources (faculty, centers, initiatives, programs, etc.) at Duke Divinity School do you anticipate being most valuable for your academic and vocational development?
M.T.S. Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
Three (3) letters of recommendation submitted through the online application system are required: 2 academic, 1 personal/character or church. - Statement of Purpose
A 1500-word essay addressing the following questions: (1) Please describe your goals for pursuing a Master of Theological Studies degree. What people, ideas, books, experiences, or events have led you to apply to Duke Divinity School? (2) Why is it important for you to be formed in an ecumenical environment that is committed to the flourishing and mission of the Christian church? (3) Please tell us what you hope to gain and contribute to Duke Divinity School's diverse learning environment. How will you help advance our commitment to fostering dialogue through intellectual responsibility and ecclesial generosity across theological perspectives? (4) What resources (faculty, centers, initiatives, programs, etc.) at Duke Divinity School do you anticipate being most valuable for your academic and vocational development?
Th.M. Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required: 2 academic, 1 church. - Statement of Purpose
A 1500-word essay addressing the following questions: (1) Please describe your goals for pursuing a Master of Theology degree. What people, ideas, books, experiences, or events have led you to apply to Duke Divinity School? (2) Why is it important for you to be formed in an ecumenical environment that is committed to the flourishing and mission of the Christian church? (3) Please tell us what you hope to gain and contribute to Duke Divinity School's diverse learning environment. How will you help advance our commitment to fostering dialogue through intellectual responsibility and ecclesial generosity across theological perspectives? (4) What resources (faculty, centers, initiatives, programs, etc.) at Duke Divinity School do you anticipate being most valuable for your academic and vocational development? - Writing Sample
All applicants must submit a sample of academic writing. Attention to theological themes is desired but not required. The writing sample should be a piece of original research that best demonstrates your ability to present and support an argument in conversation with other scholarly voices. You may submit an excerpt of a longer work. If doing so, please include a cover page that contextualizes the excerpt within the larger work's argument. The sample should be 4-8 pages in length, double-spaced.
D.Min. Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
Four (4) letters of recommendation are required: 2 academic, 2 church. - Statement of Purpose
All applicants must submit a statement of academic purpose. This two-page statement should describe your goals for undertaking doctoral study, the academic and life experiences that have prepared you for doctoral work, your proposed area(s) of focus, and your particular reasons for applying to the D.Min program at Duke. - Writing Sample
All applicants must submit a sample of academic writing (research paper or article, newsletter, and/or revised sermon or presentation). Attention to theological themes is desired but not required. The writing sample should be a piece of original research that best demonstrates your ability to present and support an argument in conversation with other scholarly voices. You may submit an excerpt of a longer work. If doing so, please include a cover page that contextualizes the excerpt within the larger work's argument. The sample should be no more than 15 pages in length, double-spaced.
Th.D. Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
- Four (4) letters of recommendation are required: 3 academic, 1 church.
- You will be asked to provide contact information for your four recommenders as part of the online application.
- Duke Divinity School is adopting a test-optional policy for the GRE for students applying for admission to the Doctor of Theology program.
- If you are sending in scores, official GRE scores must be transmitted electronically from the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to Duke (institution code 5156). ETS will not send scores that are more than five years old; Duke Divinity School will not accept personal or paper score reports. Official GRE scores must arrive before the application deadline date to be considered with your application.
M.Div./M.S.W. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the M.Div. program (residential) and either be a current UNC M.S.W. candidate or submit an application to the UNC Graduate School.
M.Div./M.P.P. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the M.Div. program and either be a current Duke University M.P.P. candidate or submit an application to the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy.
M.T.S./J.D. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the M.T.S. program and either be a current Duke University J.D. candidate or submit an application to the Duke Law School.
M.T.S./M.D. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the M.T.S. program and either be a current Duke University M.D. candidate or submit an application to the Duke University School of Medicine.
M.T.S./M.P.P. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the M.T.S. program and either be a current Duke University M.P.P. candidate or submit an application to the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy.
Certificate in Theology and Health Care Application Requirements
The Certificate in Theology and Health Care (CTHC) is available in two modalities- the immersive residential and flexible hybrid. All who apply to the immersive residential will also be considered applicants to the TMC Fellowship. If you prefer that not to be the case, please let us know in your application essay.
All CTHC applications will be considered for the Health Care Track unless otherwise noted. Indicate your intent to apply for the Mental Health Track by typing “Mental Health Track” into the "Area(s) of Interest" field of the application, found in the "Program Information" section of the online application.
- Recommendation Letters
- Two (2) letters of recommendation submitted through the online application system are required:
- Flexible Hybrid: 1 from a colleague or instructor, 1 personal/character or church.
- Immersive Residential: 1 academic, 1 personal/character or church.
C.T.H.C./M.D. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the C.T.H.C. certificate (residential only) and either be a current Duke University M.D. candidate or submit an application to the Duke University School of Medicine.
C.T.H.C./O.T.D. Application Requirements
Applicants must complete all requirements for applying to the C.T.H.C. certificate (residential only) and either be a current Duke University O.T.D. candidate or submit an application to the Duke University School of Medicine.
Special Student (non-degree, for academic credit) Application Requirements
- Recommendation Letters
One (1) academic letter of recommendation submitted through the online application system is required. - Statement of Purpose
A one-page essay describing (1) your reason for wanting to take a course or courses for non-degree credit at Duke Divinity School; and (2) how you understand your call in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy, and world.
Auditing (non-degree, non-credit) Application Requirements
- Instructor Permission
Before completing the auditor application form, you must obtain permission from the course instructor. Email confirmation of this permission must be attached as a PDF at the end of the auditor application form. - Auditor Application Form
Complete this short online application form. Fees for auditing as a non-enrolled student are $700 ($350 audit fee Duke Divinity School alumna/us) per course. Completed audit forms (including instructor permission) must be received before the start of classes for any given term to be considered for that term.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
All non-U.S. citizens must review the application requirements for international applicants.
- Endorsement Letter
One letter of recommendation must be from a church official affirming support of your pursuit of theological education in the United States. This document can be your church letter or an additional recommendation. - Language Test Scores for International Applicants
If your first language is not English, you must submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test examination results. Only Duolingo English Test scores with subscores will be accepted.- To be eligible for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test waiver, you must have studied full time for two years or more at a college or university where the sole language of instruction is English and in a country where English is the primary spoken language. The two years of study must be completed prior to the start of the program. If you believe you qualify for a TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test waiver based on the above criteria, indicate your eligibility in the "Additional Academic Information" section of the application under the Test Score Instructions for the TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test exam.
- TOEFL: applicants whose native language is not English may submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as part of the application process. Official TOEFL scores must be transmitted electronically from the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to Duke using institution code 5156. ETS will require you to select a department code, but it does not matter which department code you choose. We will receive the scores as long as you choose institution code 5156. Personal copies are not accepted and must be less than two years old.
- For M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A. applicants the Divinity School requires a cumulative score of 93 on the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) with a minimum of 23 scored in each subtest. M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A. applicants who do not have access to the TOEFL iBT may submit scores from the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT). The TOEFL PBT score must be at least 580 with a minimum score of 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE). The TOEFL iBT is the preferred English proficiency test.
- For Th.M. and Th.D. applicants, the Divinity School requires a cumulative score of 108 on the TOEFL iBT with a minimum of 27 scored in each subtest. Th.M. and Th.D. applicants who do not have access to the TOEFL iBT may submit scores from the TOEFL PBT. The TOEFL PBT score must be at least 610 with a minimum score of 6 on the TWE. The TOEFL iBT is the preferred English proficiency test.
- M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A. applicants, the Divinity School requires a band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 scored in each subtest.
- For Th.M. and Th.D applicants, the Divinity School requires a band of 7.5 with a minimum of 7.5 scored in each subtest.
- For M.Div., M.T.S., and M.A. applicants, the Divinity School requires a cumulative score of 115.
- For Th.M. and Th.D applicants, the Divinity School requires a cumulative score of 130.
Additional Requirements for Transfer Applicants
All transfer applicants are evaluated on the same basis as other applicants. However, students applying to transfer from another seminary or theological school must include the following:
- Essay
Applicants must include an extra page in their essay that provides an explanation of and purpose for the proposed transfer. - Letter of recommendation
A fourth letter of recommendation must submitted as part of the application, and it must be written by the director of field education or student life at the school from which the transfer is sought. When you create your application, you will be able to enter the information for 3 recommenders. You can then enter the fourth recommender’s information after submitting the application or reach out to the Admissions Office for help.
Additional Information for Students with Disabilities
Duke Divinity School is committed to the equality of educational opportunities for all qualified students. Students with disabilities (including learning disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, mobility impairments, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, psychiatric impairments or chronic health disabilities) who apply to Duke can choose whether or not to disclose their disability to us. Our office is prohibited by law from making inquiries about a student's disability in the admissions process. We will not require you at any point in the admissions process to disclose if you have a disability.
Some students choose to include information about their disability in their admissions application because they feel it is an important element of their experiences as a student up to that point, or because they want to share with us how they have overcome an obstacle that not everyone has had to face. We always appreciate any significant information a student wishes to share with us and consider that information in understanding a student's achievements. We evaluate a student's accomplishments within the context of any opportunities or challenges presented to that student. We do not use information about a disability to deny admission to a student.
There is no separate admissions process at Duke for students with disabilities. All students who apply to Duke, including those who have a diagnosed impairment/disability, are evaluated using the same criteria.
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact the Divinity Admissions Office at (919) 660-3436.
Accommodations at Duke
All students have the right to request reasonable accommodations at Duke. Students requesting consideration for reasonable accommodations must have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and should contact the Student Disability Access Office.
Please be aware that Duke is not required to approve any accommodation that would change the fundamental nature of a course or a curriculum. For additional information about accommodations and resources at Duke, we encourage you to contact the Student Disability Access Office at this email address.
