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Application Deadlines 

The Admissions Office looks forward to getting to know you, helping you discern your next steps, and reviewing your application. Please contact our admissions staff with any questions during the application process.

Complete M.Div., M.T.S., M.A., Th.M., D.Min., and Certificate in Theology and Health Care applications are evaluated on the following schedule for Fall entry:

Date Deadline
November 1 Early deadline (decisions typically by end of December)
January 15

Priority deadline

Merit scholarship deadline for Residential M.Div. and M.T.S. applicants

Final deadline for international applicants seeking a Duke-sponsored visa

April 15 Final deadline

Deadline for Th.D.

Complete Th.D. applications will be considered for Fall entry on the following deadline:

Date Deadline
December 15 Only Deadline

Application Process

1. Create an account

Our application for admission is part of the Duke University Graduate and Professional Programs online application management system. To begin your application you will need to create an account or open an existing application.

You must log out of other social media accounts before attempting to create a Duke OneLink (social media login). If you need assistance with creating a OneLink or logging in to your application please contact our office at admissions@div.duke.edu or our Applicant Help Desk at help@duke.edu

2. Work on your application form

The system requires you to submit information in 3 sections in order to complete your application. The first step is to answer all required questions and to submit the application form.

3. Add your recommender information

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.

4. Pay the fee and submit your application

A $55 non-refundable application fee is collected by credit card when you submit the online application. We recommend that you submit your application as early as you can to ensure that you have adequate time to upload all required supplemental materials by your chosen degree program's final deadline.

5. Submit required supplemental documents by deadline

Supplemental materials such as unofficial transcripts, statement of purpose, resume, and any writing samples must be uploaded before your application can be considered.

Please upload .pdf documents.

Required Materials for All Programs

  • Unofficial Transcripts
    • 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
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    You will upload a .pdf of your resume as part of the online application process. The resume should provide an overview of your life and experiences—educational background, work experience, church or vocational preparation, leadership roles, professional affiliations, honors and awards, community service, skills, and interests and hobbies.
  • Recommendations
    • 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
  • Statement of Purpose
    An essay is required for all programs. The length and content varies by program; consult the program-specific information below for details.
  • Program-specific materials
    Please refer to the section below regarding specific materials required for your degree program. We must receive all required supplemental materials to consider your application for admission.

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.

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.

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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 three-page essay describing (1) your sense of vocation in Christian ministry, articulating the significant points of affirmation that led to your understanding of your calling; (2) integrating your reflection on a theological book(s) that has helped to shape your understanding of your calling; and (3) how you understand your call in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy, and world.

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 three-page essay describing (1) your sense of vocation in Christian ministry, articulating the significant points of affirmation that led to your understanding of your calling; (2) integrating your reflection on a theological book(s) that has helped to shape your understanding of your calling; and (3) how you understand your call in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy, and world.

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 three-page essay describing (1) your goals for enrolling in the Master of Theological Studies program; (2) integrating your reflection on a theological book(s) that has helped to shape your theological imagination; and (3) how you understand your goals and development of theological imagination in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy, and world.

    For those applying for the two-year TMC Fellowship, please also address the following: (4) To what and to whom are you called? How is it related to health care? What educational, religious, volunteer, and other communities have nurtured this understanding?  (5) How do you understand the TMC Fellowship fitting your vocational trajectory? What are your purposes and objectives in applying to the fellowship? Indicate your intent to apply for the fellowship by typing “TMC Fellowship” into the Area(s) of Interest field of the application, found in the Program Information section of the online application.
  • Writing Sample
    Submit a 4-6 page (1000-1500 words) academic writing sample such as an essay or excerpt from an academic paper or article. Attention to theological themes is desired. Include the title of the writing sample and provide context if an excerpt.

Th.M. Application Requirements

  • Recommendation Letters
    Three (3) letters of recommendation are required: 2 academic, 1 church.
  • Statement of Purpose
    A three-page essay describing (1) your personal, educational, and professional reasons for enrolling in the Master of Theology program and how you anticipate employing these studies in your ministry; (2) integrating your reflection on a theological book(s) that has helped to shape your theological imagination; and (3) how you understand your goals and development of your theological imagination in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy, and world.
  • Writing Sample
    Submit a 4-6 page (1000-1500 words) academic writing sample such as an essay or excerpt from an academic paper or article. Attention to theological themes is desired.

D.Min. Application Requirements

  • Recommendation Letters
    Four (4) letters of recommendation are required: 2 academic, 2 church.
  • Statement of Purpose
    A two-page essay describing your goals in undertaking doctoral study, including an indication of your proposed focus.
  • Writing Sample
    Submit one academic writing sample such as an article or term/course paper of no more than 15 pages in length.

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.
  • Statement of Purpose
    An essay of one to two pages (single spaced) describing your goals in 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 Th.D. program at Duke.
  • Writing Sample
    Submit a sample of your scholarly work, 15-20 pages in length (double spaced).
  • Official GRE Scores
    • 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

Note: The Certificate in Theology and Health Care (CTHC) comes in two forms, 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.
  • Statement of Purpose
    A three-page essay (1) reflecting on your vocation to health care in your current context as a practitioner OR, if you are in training, your vocation to and hopes for future work in health care;  (2) describing your goals for enrolling in the CTHC and how you see the immersive residential or flexible hybrid format allowing you to pursue those goals; (3) integrating your reflection on a theological book(s) that has helped to shape your theological imagination; and (4) how you understand your goals and development of theological imagination in relation to the mission of Duke Divinity School to prepare leaders for the church, academy and world.

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.
    • IELTS: the IELTS is administered by Cambridge ESOL, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia. See www.ielts.org for more information. Official IELTS scores must be sent by the testing agency directly to: Duke Divinity School Office of Admissions Box 90965 Durham, NC 27708.
      • 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.
    • Duolingo: There is no institutional code for Duolingo, but applicants will need to select “Duke University” at the "Graduate" program type level as the institution to send scores to. Please Note: Make sure to include subscores when you select your institution. Score reports without subscores will not be accepted. If you are not sure how to include subscores in your score report, please contact Duolingo English Test support on the Duolingo English Test website.
      • 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.

Have Questions?

Schedule a Short Appointment or Watch A Webinar

Connect with an Office of Admissions representatives on campus or online to learn more about applying, or watch a webinar. You’re always welcome to email the Office of Admissions staff for assistance, too.