Spotlight Duke Pratt School of Engineering

Ready to learn everything you need to know about engineering and STEM masters degrees at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering? You're in the right place!

Formed in 1838, Duke University has a long history of regional, national and international successes. Although the school isn’t located in a big city, you’ll find it still attracts attention from top scholars. It’s consistently held the top position for graduate outcomes according to the Wall Street Journal and always does well in the rankings. This year, it’s number 26 on the U.S. News & World Report Engineering Grad Schools.

Pratt Engineering offers all of these successes combined with hands-on research and off-campus living to a select group of graduate students. Located around the corner from the world’s largest research park, and with a dedicated career services department providing several opportunities to find your dream job or summer internship, international engineering masters can expect guided support from admission through their time as a Duke alum.

What can you study at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering

Duke University Pratt School of Engineering offers master’s engineering students pursuing select fields a choice between Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees.

In addition to sitting in 24th position on the highly respected U.S. News & World Report engineering grad school ranking list, individual departments also find themselves highly regarded.

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Getting a job after your Pratt engineering master’s degree

The Pratt School of Engineering has its own Career Services department offering dedicated assistance to engineering students.

You can take advantage of one-on-one career advising appointments, drop-in sessions for a quick look at your resume or to answer specific questions and a number of workshops covering job search strategies and specific skills.

With the world’s largest research park near Duke’s campus, it’s also possible to visit various companies to gain an idea of opportunities available in the area.

Pratt’s latest engineering grads: by the numbers

What's it like to live at Duke University?

Durham, North Carolina isn’t a big city. That’s good news for international students on tight budgets; from room and board to transportation, you’ll find prices are substantially lower than those in major metropoles.

As a general rule, graduate level students don’t live on campus at Duke University. You might be able to find a spot if you have special circumstances, otherwise, you’ll need to look off-campus for your accommodation.

Fortunately, Duke makes it easy for you to find affordable off-campus accommodation - and a roommate, if you’re looking for one. Check out Near Duke or Durham Grad Housing for more information. International students can also reach out to International House for a list of other international students looking for accommodation.

Students can expect to pay from $800 to $1000 for a 1-bedroom apartment within walking distance. While those prices might include appliances, furniture and utilities, these expenses aren’t always included; it’s your responsibility to check.

Living in an apartment or shared house implies that you’ll prepare most of your meals at home, but there are dining plans available for campus cafeterias and restaurants if you want to avoid packing a lunch or heading home between classes. Indeed, Duke Dining is among the best university food systems within the US and students with food allergies or restricted diets will find plenty of information about what’s in each meal.

The university bus service is very useful for getting around campus and town (and there are night vans available to ensure you make it home safely after working late on-campus). You can also participate in the campus Enterprise car sharing programme which allows you to rent vehicles by the hour or the day. It’s a perfect way to explore other corners of North Carolina - as long as you have a US driver’s license; speak to the International House for more information on getting your NC driver’s license while studying at Duke Pratt.

Want to know more about life at Duke University? See what Prodigy Finance borrower, Abi, thinks about life at Duke.

How to get into Duke Pratt Engineering

At the undergraduate level, Duke university is exceptionally competitive, with an acceptance rate around 6% across all schools. These stats, however often you see them, shouldn’t deter international master’s engineering applicants.

At the Pratt School of Engineering, there were 3082 applications submitted for engineering masters programmes last year. Of those, 1295 were accepted (for an acceptance rate of 42%). In case you’re wondering, 490 admits enrolled in the programme.

When you apply to Pratt Engineering, you’ll want to remember that the school focuses heavily on research and critical thinking at every level. Demonstrate the research and work you’re interested in and why Duke is the right vehicle for your success for a strong chance of admission.

Of course, you’ll also need to strive for strong GRE scores (though there aren’t any specified minimums for GRE or GPA scores). Take time to address any shortfalls in your Statement of Purpose (SoP) essay to avoid leaving holes that might be questioned by the admissions teams. You may also want to keep these figures in mind as you draft your SoP:

• Average undergrad GPA: 3.52

• Average GRE scores: 155 verbal, 166 quantitative, 3.7 analytical writing

• Mean TOEFL score: 105 iBT

Does Duke University offer scholarships to international students?

Masters-level students at Pratt Engineering are expected to self-fund their degree and the majority of students (both US and international) take student loans to pay for their studies.

Duke Pratt does offer a limited number of merit scholarships for highly-qualified students and offers links to external scholarship opportunities.

Applicants to the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) masters programmes may also qualify for departmental scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. Contact the department directly to learn more about these scholarships and whether you might qualify.