The Divinity School offers a number of scholarships and fellowships for students pursuing ordination in the UMC, as well as students who have a calling for leadership in rural North Carolina. In addition, students may be eligible for external scholarships and support.
Duke Divinity Scholarships & Fellowships
Duke Divinity School offers a number of scholarships and fellowships that can help fund your education, and 100% of students admitted to the M.Div., M.T.S., M.A. in Christian Practice, D.Min., and Th.D. receive some scholarship support.
Entering M.Div. students with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA from their undergraduate or graduate program who also have begun the candidacy process in the UMC will be considered for scholarships ranging up to 100% of tuition per year. Some of the full-tuition scholarships are connected to the Hispanic House of Studies and the Thriving Rural Communities initiative and include specialized field education opportunities.
External Scholarships and Funding
Methodist M.Div. students receive thousands of dollars in support from their home conferences, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the Ministerial Education Fund, and the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Those who are in the candidacy process before seminary begins benefit the most from these support opportunities.
Field Education
Through the generosity of the Rural Church Division of The Duke Endowment, based in Charlotte, N.C., placements in Endowment-eligible churches and agencies in North Carolina provide substantial stipend and tuition assistance for residential M.Div. students. The Duke Endowment-eligible placements provide $10,000 per student. Other placements through the Office of Field Education also provide $10,000 in stipend and tuition assistance.
Student Pastors
United Methodists also have the opportunity to serve churches full-time as M.Div. students over four years at Duke Divinity School. These placements are appointed by either the North Carolina or Western North Carolina Conferences. Student pastors may qualify for tuition assistance of $10,000 through The Duke Endowment in addition to earning a salary and a housing stipend.