Duke University

Duke University was founded by two Christian groups in 1838 in the US state of North Carolina. Since that time, the school has changed several names. The modern name of Duke University emerged in the late 19th century, in honor of gratitude to one of the largest sponsors of the university. The American tycoon, Washington Duke, contributed $ 100,000 to the university account on the condition that, from now on, women could get an education on a par with men. At the moment, his son, who created the father’s name fund, is providing financial assistance to the university.

In recent years, Duke University was able to achieve incredible success in the field of education. He currently ranks seventeenth among the top universities in the United States of America according to the national academic scale. International experts placed Duke University on the 23rd place in the world list of the best educational institutions. Separately, it should be noted the fact of active funding of the school by the state. Only in recent years, the university received more than $ 2 billion in development. And this is despite private ownership.

The educational institution consists of several structural divisions.

• Trinity College, which studies the complex of humanities and art.
• Pratt College - trains qualified engineers.
• Nicholas College - its main areas are related to environmental management and ecology.
• Sanford College. Prepares experts in the field of political science.
• School, studying legal disciplines.
• School of Medicine.

In the first three years of study, future bachelors must reside on campus. Such a requirement of the administration is based on the desire to rally students of one group, as well as to instill in students the skills of independent living. Senior students can make decisions about living off-campus, which most of them are eager to use. Freshmen settled only in the Eastern campus. Masters and undergraduates live in the West Campus. The administration is trying to settle students of one faculty in the same building.

According to statistics, more than half of all students in an educational institution have financial subsidies for education.

• Masters and graduate students receive assistance from the university administration, depending on the financial condition of their parents. To take part in the scholarship program, you must submit a corresponding application before November 15. The scholarship will begin to arrive in September next year.
• Students can receive a scholarship not only from the college where they study, but also from external funding sources. Each college has a full-time consultant on such issues.
• Applicants for a bachelor’s degree from the first year receive a job offer under the Work study program. But it is worth noting that in undergraduate and graduate, student work is not welcome. The student must fully devote himself to research in the chosen direction.

Curious facts

• Duke Hospital was previously a small-sized clinic. Currently it is a world-famous medical center, which has 1000 beds.
• In the Duke Center, lemurs are the largest population of wet-nosed primates on the planet in the world. On the territory of 34 hectares a huge reserve has been opened, in which unique research is being conducted. Regular visitors can bring students to the reserve as a zoo.
• At the end of the last century, the administration of the university attended to the amount of alcohol consumed by students. To eradicate this social evil, it became possible to buy alcohol only through the services of the university itself. The result was parties outside campus. After complaints from individuals living in the district, the university changed tactics. All nearby buildings were bought by the university, so that it became impossible to hold parties. The university has achieved its goal.
• At all Duke University sporting events, Blue Devil is present - the mascot of university teams. This character is borrowed from the name of the infantry of the French during the First World War.

Graduates of which the university is justly proud

• R. Nixon - became the thirty-seventh President of the United States, received a bachelor's degree in law in this educational institution.
• R. Dagos, became president of Chile, after receiving a degree in economics.
• Nobel Prize Laureates — H. Demelt, “Development of a Method for the Retention of Ions,” R. Richardson, “the discovery of the helium superfluidity parameter” and C. Townes, “Quantum Electronics”.
• The Pulitzer Prize winners are L. Jaffe, W. Stauron and E. Tyler. All were educated at Duke University.
• Prominent politicians, famous engineers, a galaxy of prominent scientists and many others who began their career with education in Duke University.

Structural units of this educational institution include 220 buildings for various purposes. These are research laboratories, library complexes, colleges, sports facilities and a chapel. Also, the territory of the university includes several parks and even a forest belt with a size of 22 square kilometers. The most famous of the park areas is the S. Duke Garden, which attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually.

The buildings belong to three campuses - East, West and Central. The main campus is Western. In this sector are all the main administrative buildings and sports complexes. Here live second-year students. Freshmen settled the Eastern Campus. Senior students are set aside for a central campus. Here are the buildings of the police station, art museum and a center for students with disabilities.

Consider other features of the Duke University structure:

• In addition to the North Carolina campus, the educational institution has its branches in the People's Republic of China and in Malaysia.
• Duke University sporting achievements are associated with NCAA membership, where in the first division the university is represented in twenty-six sports. The university basketball team is proud of its special success. Sports facilities of the educational institution allow to carry out the process in such sports as football, basketball, tennis, wrestling and swimming.
• The Duke Chapel remains the most remarkable structure of the whole complex. The architectural style is Gothic, and the height of the building reaches 64 meters. The chapel is designed for 1,800 visitors and is equipped with three organ complexes. It is the tallest building in the whole district.
• The school is one of the most powerful library complexes in the United States of America. Its structure includes not only college libraries, but also specialized campus libraries.
• The University is proud of the release of its own publications:
• Four out of ten Duke University students are made up of well-known student fraternities and / or women's clubs. These are specialized public organizations operating in the United States.

• Duke Magazine. This edition tells about the everyday life of the student life and about the projects that are being realized in scientific research.
• Duke Environment Magazine Edition. Dedicated to the study of nature and environmental problems.
• Gist Magazine. Describes and analyzes news related to the Institute of Social Research.
• For more than 110 years, the university has its own student newspaper. Its circulation exceeds 70,000 copies.

For foreign citizens there are no specific or strict requirements for admission. If you have questions, everything is solved individually. Basic requirements and deadlines for applications:

• The first requirement concerns the level of proficiency in English. You must provide IELTS certificates with a score of at least 7 points. Or a TOEFL certificate with a minimum value of 100 points.
• Foreigners are required to pass the SAT or ACT entrance exams. In principle, this is a condition for entering universities in all countries that speak English. Also, the selection committee will take into account the differences in the education system of the country from which the applicant arrived. Therefore, the content of the exam will focus on these features. For some applicants who do not have the opportunity to use test centers (for example, remote areas of China), examinations will not be the main condition for enrollment.
• Those who are going to become a master or enroll in graduate school, pass certain tests (they are listed on the website of the university for a particular faculty). Information on the selection criteria for postgraduate programs is also provided there.
• An undergraduate degree must write a two-part essay. The first section will concern the applicant's autobiography, the second will be the answer to the question about the chosen direction of study. Masters in addition prepare a motivation letter.
• There is an entrance fee for the application. It ranges from 80 to 85 dollars (depending on the direction) and is not refundable, even if the applicant is refused admission.

The submission of documents for bachelor's degree candidates takes place in two stages. Early applications are filed before the first of November. The applicant will receive a positive decision or refusal at the end of December. The normal application process begins on January 5th. The answer on such applications does not come until the end of March. As for future masters or graduate students, each faculty has its own timeline for submitting applications. We recommend to visit the site in advance and clarify the date of application.

International student exchange

Students at an educational institution participate in various international student exchange programs. Examples of cooperation of the university with other educational centers:

• Law School College sends students to semi-annual internships in China, Australia and the UK. There is the possibility of sharing with other prestigious US universities.
• College, where they study political science - can send students to study in Germany.
• The Fukua School of Business organizes trips to get additional education in twenty-seven countries of the world (for one academic year).
• Separately work student exchange programs between branches of Duke University. THEN, at any time a student can go to gain experience in China or Malaysia.

For more than 10 years, the university has been offering Duke Engage summer education. At the same time, 7 out of ten students in such courses simultaneously work in civil and public organizations all over the world. These programs are fully funded by the university administration. Thus, the following projects were implemented:

• rehabilitation of children with oncological problems in the summer camp;
• large-scale informing of the younger generation about the negative impact of drugs and alcoholic beverages was carried out;
• prevention of violence in the family and other areas of human existence.

Solving the problem of employment of Duke University graduates

The University is actively working program Duke Connect. In its structure, it brings together students preparing for graduation and specialists who graduated from the university earlier. Community members in the amount of 6,000 people inform students about the opening vacancies and career opportunities in a particular company.

For 4 years after graduation, former students can contact Duke University for help and advice on employment. Former university graduates who have reached career heights, conduct job search education for students for a symbolic price.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision