Applications are open for Duke University’s 2027 first-year intake, and eligible international applicants can be considered for the fully funded Karsh International Scholarship. The award covers tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, demonstrated financial need beyond those costs, and funding for three summers of research, unpaid internships or other academic-development opportunities. There is no separate Karsh application: applicants must apply to Duke and request financial aid.
Deadline snapshot
Early Decision: 2 November 2026. Regular Decision: 4 January 2027. Duke does not list a cutoff hour or time zone. The CSS Profile deadlines are 3 November 2026 for Early Decision and 1 February 2027 for Regular Decision.
Key details
- Host: Duke University
- Country: United States
- Study level: Four-year undergraduate degree
- Eligible nationalities: Citizens of any country outside the United States; dual U.S./other-country citizens are not eligible
- Financial-need condition: Applicants must demonstrate financial need
- Separate scholarship application: No
- Application fee: US$85 for the Duke application; qualifying applicants may request a fee waiver through the Common Application
- English test: Not required. Duke recommends, but does not require, an English-proficiency test for non-native speakers or students not studying in an English-medium curriculum
- Admission deadlines: 2 November 2026 (Early Decision) or 4 January 2027 (Regular Decision)
- Official application route: Common Application
What the Karsh International Scholarship covers
Duke states that the Karsh award covers:
- Full tuition
- Room and board
- Mandatory university fees
- Demonstrated financial need that exceeds those costs
- Funding for three summers of research, unpaid internships and other opportunities that advance the scholar’s academic career
Duke’s general merit-scholarship page describes its incoming first-year awards as covering four years of full-time undergraduate study. The university does not list a single cash value for Karsh because costs and demonstrated need can vary.
Who is eligible?
To be considered, an applicant must:
- Be an international applicant who is a citizen of a country outside the United States
- Not hold dual U.S. and another-country citizenship
- Apply as an incoming first-year undergraduate student
- Not already hold a BA or BS degree
- Show strong academic preparation and potential for global impact
- Demonstrate financial need
- Apply to Duke University and request financial aid in the original first-year application
- Complete the required financial-aid forms
Required application documents
Duke lists the following core first-year materials:
- Common Application, including the personal essay and Duke short responses
- Official high-school transcript
- Secondary School Report with a counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations from major academic subjects
- First-quarter grades for Early Decision applicants
- Midyear grade report when available
- US$85 application fee or an approved fee-waiver request
- CSS Profile for international applicants requesting financial aid
- Tax, income or other financial documents if Duke or the College Board requests them
International transcripts that require translation must be submitted with both the original documents and an English translation. SAT or ACT scores are optional for the 2026–27 admission cycle.
English-language requirements
Duke does not require English-proficiency scores from international applicants. It recommends testing for non-native English speakers or applicants not currently studying in an English-medium curriculum. Accepted options include Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency, Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL. Duke publishes expected—not mandatory—scores of IELTS 7, Duolingo 130, PTE 70, Cambridge 180 and TOEFL iBT 100.
How to apply
- Create a Common Application account and add Duke University.
- Complete Duke’s first-year application and essays.
- Choose Early Decision or Regular Decision.
- Indicate that you intend to apply for financial aid. This is essential for international applicants seeking Duke funding.
- Ask your school to submit the transcript, School Report and counselor recommendation, and arrange two teacher recommendations.
- Submit the Duke application by the relevant admission deadline.
- Complete the CSS Profile by the relevant financial-aid deadline and provide additional documents if requested.
- Monitor Duke’s applicant portal and email. There is no separate Karsh form or nomination.
Review Duke’s official application instructions
Important dates for 2027 entry
- Early August 2026: Common Application opened
- 2 November 2026: Early Decision application deadline
- 3 November 2026: Early Decision CSS Profile deadline listed by Duke Financial Support
- 4 January 2027: Regular Decision application deadline
- 1 February 2027: Regular Decision CSS Profile deadline
- Spring 2027: Merit-scholarship finalists are notified and interviewed
Countdown: 111 days remained until the Regular Decision deadline when this guide was verified on 15 September 2026. Duke does not state an exact cutoff hour or time zone, so submit early.
Selection notes
Duke says all incoming first-year applicants are considered for Duke-administered merit scholarships through their admission application, except the separate Robertson programme. Karsh candidates must also have documented financial need. Finalists are contacted by email in the spring and interviewed by scholarship selection committees. The official page describes strong academic preparation and documented financial need as key qualities; no nomination is accepted.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Duke Karsh International Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. Duke states that it covers tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, demonstrated need beyond those costs and three summers of opportunity funding.
Can applicants from any country apply?
Citizens of any country outside the United States can be considered. Dual U.S./other-country citizens are not eligible for Karsh.
Is there a separate Karsh application?
No. Apply to Duke University as a first-year student and request financial aid.
Is IELTS required?
No. Duke does not require an English-proficiency score, although it recommends one in some circumstances.
What is the final deadline?
The Regular Decision application deadline is 4 January 2027. The CSS Profile deadline for Regular Decision international aid applicants is 1 February 2027. No exact time or time zone is listed.
Can someone who already has a bachelor’s degree apply?
No. Duke’s Karsh FAQ says applicants who already hold a BA or BS are not eligible.
Official sources
- Duke Karsh International Scholars Program
- Duke merit-scholarship application and selection process
- Duke first-year application requirements and deadlines
- Duke financial-support instructions
- Common Application portal
Related opportunities
- Emory University Scholar Programs 2027
- University of Miami Stamps Scholarship 2027
- King–Morgridge Scholarship 2027
Verification note: ScholarshipHubNow checked this guide against Duke University’s official scholarship, admission and financial-aid pages on 15 September 2026. Requirements can change; applicants should confirm the latest instructions before submitting.
