Nicholas School of the Environment

About the school

Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University was established in 1991 by merging the Duke University Marine Lab with the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The school's objective is to generate knowledge through basic, applied, and interdisciplinary research in the fields of life, physical, and social sciences. Their professional master's programme educates a new generation of environmental professionals who possess the necessary skills and experience to implement innovative environmental policies in private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Nicholas School of Environment offers residential and online degrees in Master of Environmental Management, Duke Environmental Leadership Master of Environmental Management, Master of Forestry, and International Master of Environmental Policy. The school helps the students pursue a career where they can impact and positively contribute to the green ecosystem.

Where is the school located?

The Nicholas School of the Environment is in Durham, N.C. - famously known as the City of Medicine.

Life at the Nicholas School of the Environment

Durham offers pleasant weather, a vibrant community, and a diverse food scene to students of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. The school boasts acres of trails, forests, a flourishing art scene, a food culture, and a high-tech community, providing students with a multitude of opportunities to explore and experience. In addition to academic programmes, the Nicholas School of Environment offers resources like social and cultural organisations, professional community outreach, and wellness programmes to support student wellbeing.

Nicholas School of Environment provides a range of clubs and organisations for its students, catering to their diverse interests. These include the Nicholas School Student Council (NSSC), Coding for the Environment, Duke Conservation Society, Eno Literary Magazine (ENO), Oceans@Duke, Green Roof and Orchard Workforce (GROW), Duke Society of American Foresters (SAF), Duke Graduate Climate Coalition, The Coastal Society (TCS), and more.

The school offers 100 dorm-style beds, including 36 beds for visiting groups. The rooms are fully furnished and bed linen is provided. Shared bathrooms are available, separated by gender. Students can also choose to have a private room at an additional cost, with shared bathrooms. The school has a large dining hall that can accommodate up to 92 people, which provides packed meals for trips and outings. The dining hall caters for special occasions and events. To book housing, the students need to connect with the Housing and Residence Life of the school.

Additional benefits of studying at the Nicholas School of the Environment

The Nicholas School of the Environment provides students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prepare them to become leaders and innovators in their respective fields. The school also encourages students to participate in research and development activities conducted by student groups, providing hands-on experience.

The Nicholas School of the Environment is surrounded by various ecosystems such as marine, mountain, and forest. It also has access to state-of-the-art facilities like Grainger Hall, Levine Science Research Centre, Duke University Marine Lab, and Duke Forest. The Duke Forest, in particular, is an essential resource for the Nicholas School of the Environment, boasting a diverse range of plant species, soils, forest cover types, topography, and more.

Admissions criteria

The deadline for fall enrolment in the master's degree programme is mid-September, and the application ends on December 15 (admissions might be considered depending on availability). The Nicholas School of the Environment does not require an application fee to apply for the Master of Forestry or Duke Environmental Leadership Programmes.

Students are required to apply from the school's official website. Once the application is submitted, they are requested to submit the following documents to be eligible for admission: - Complete personal information form - A personal statement written by the applicant or an SOP - A letter of recommendation from an employer, academic, etc. (this depends on the programme) - A four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited university - Proof of proficiency in English (TOEFL - 105, IELTS - 7.5) - Resume/CV - Minimum Scores/GPA

Other costs involved that might change depending on the course and programme include:

• Tuition and fees for international students: $44 460 approximately
• Health service/health insurance: $2, 035 approximately
• Cost of Books/Course Materials: $620 approximately
• Food and other expenses: $5 480 approximately
• Housing: $8, 330 approximately
• Transportation: $1 267 approximately

International Students

In addition to the above list of documents, international students must submit the following, along with the application form and academic transcripts (translated into English):

• Proof of proficiency in English (TOEFL - 105, IELTS - 7.5)
• Proof of proficiency in a local language (country-specific) Students are requested to check the school's official website to understand the cost of attendance in detail.

International students must submit a statement of support for their visa application.

Job placements

Nicholas School of the Environment offers one-on-one consultation, career advice, job search strategies, internships, funding, networking, recruiting events, and more. During the academic period, the students can participate in the Stanback Fellowship Programme to help them with project-based learning experiences. The school works directly with employers to provide the best job opportunities for students. It also offers access to Handshake, where the students and alums can connect with employers and expand their network. Careerwise Newsletter helps to keep them updated on the latest job opportunities, deadlines and career events.

The school hosts recruitment events from mid to late October, in addition to organising a career trek that takes students to companies and organisations to learn from practising professionals and have a better understanding of real-life work.