International study is currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duke Divinity School has several student exchange programs with prestigious universities in Hong Kong, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. The distinctive culture and educational settings of each of these universities offer Duke Divinity exchange students significant opportunities to broaden intellectual, cultural, and theological horizons that will enrich and inform their theological perspectives as they return to Duke to complete their degree programs.

Divinity students interested in the exchange programs should contact Deborah Hackney, Senior Director of Academics and Registrar.

England

Through a partnership with The Methodist Centre and Anglicanism's Cranmer Hall at St John’s College (Durham University), full-time Duke Divinity School students may matriculate for a full year in residence at Durham University.

This matriculation will give students full access to all the course offerings at The Wesley Centre and Cranmer Hall, as well as the theological faculty at Durham University. This formal agreement allows matriculation for no additional tuition at Durham University. The student is responsible for travel, room, and board. St John’s College and Cranmer Hall facilitate room and board at the lower “in-house” rate. The exchange program allows for a maximum of two students per year. Furthermore, Duke Divinity may welcome a maximum of two students per year from Durham University through the auspices of St John's College.

Germany

Through a formal agreement with Tübingen University and the Reutlingen (Methodist) School of Theology, full-time Duke Divinity students may matriculate for a full year in residence at Reutlingen School of Theology while attending lectures at both Tübingen and Reutlingen.

The Reutlingen School of Theology serves as the host community and assists students with an “in-house” rate for room and board. Reutlingen and Tübingen are only a 15-minute train ride from each other, and it is a short walk from both train stations to the schools.

This formal agreement allows matriculation for no additional tuition. Students in the Germany study program must have an adequate command of the German language prior to enrolling. Full-time intensive refresher language programs are available in Tübingen in the weeks prior to the beginning of term in Germany, which is typically the first week in October. The study program allows for one student per year to participate. Furthermore, Duke Divinity may welcome one student per year from Germany.

Hong Kong

Duke Divinity School’s partner is The Divinity School of Chung Chi College at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Chung Chi has historic Methodist roots and educates ministers for a wide spectrum of Christian denominations in the Pacific region. The Chinese University is distinctive in China because at least half of the curriculum is taught in English, so Duke students are not required to be proficient in Chinese.

The agreement with Chung Chi College allows for the exchange of a maximum of two students annually. The college provides on-site dormitory-style housing, and there are community kitchens for meal preparation as well as several economical restaurant venues on the university campus—all within walking distance of divinity school housing.

The Netherlands

Duke Divinity School has a formal agreement with The Free University of Amsterdam through which a maximum of two students per year from Holland and two students per year from Duke Divinity School may participate. The exchange student incurs no additional tuition fees for up to one year of matriculation at the Free University (VU-Vrij Universiteit).

The international student liaison office at the VU assists all international students with locating apartments on the local economy in Amsterdam. There are no “in house room and board” amenities. The VU is genuinely international, and students are not required to learn Dutch to matriculate. When there are international students enrolled in a class, the class is simply taught in English.

Requirements for Study Abroad

Study abroad, with limited transferable credit toward graduation, may be allowed for a candidate for the Master of Divinity degree or Master of Theological Studies degree by approval of the associate dean for academic programs. A strong academic record is a prerequisite. Ordinarily, permission for such study may be granted to students who have completed the work of the middler year for Master of Divinity students or the first year for Master of Theological Studies students. Both the institution abroad and a specific course of study proposed must have the prior approval of the associate dean for academic programs. The student must complete most required courses and two field education units. The student should view matriculation in a study abroad program as a means to broaden theological, intellectual, and cultural horizons, and not as a replacement for coursework at Duke Divinity School. The practical implication of this is that, for example, the three-year M. Div. program becomes a four-year program of study.

Students who participate in a study abroad program will need to register in a continuation course at Duke Divinity School. Those who choose to transfer credits from approved study abroad programs will be required to pay the equivalent of Divinity tuition for those courses. The student may be eligible for financial aid, but receiving financial aid is contingent on federal guidelines in place at the time of admission to the study abroad program. A student who is interested in receiving financial aid for approved study abroad programs must communicate with the offices of financial aid and academic formation and programs before the beginning of the study abroad program.