About PhD Program,
Duke Computer Science gives incoming students an opportunity to investigate a range of topics, research problems, and research groups before committing to an advisor in the first year. Funding from the department and Duke makes it possible to attend group meetings, seminars, classes and colloquia. Students may work on multiple problems simultaneously while finding the topic that will motivate them through their first project. Sharing this time of learning and investigation with others in the cohort helps create lasting collaborators and friends.
Write a research proposal the first year and finish the research the second under the supervision of the chosen advisor and committee; present the research results to the committee and peers. Many students turn their RIP work into a conference paper and travel to present it.
Course work requirements are written to support the department’s research philosophy. Pass up to four of the required six courses in the first two years to give time and space for immersing oneself in the chosen area.
Years three through five continue as the students go deeper and deeper into a research area and their intellectual community broadens to include collaborators from around the world. Starting in year three, the advisor funds the student’s work, usually through research grants. The Preliminary exam that year is the opportunity for the student to present their research to date, to share work done by others on the topic, and to get feedback and direction for the Ph.D. from the committee, other faculty, and peers.
Most Ph.D students defend in years five and six. While Duke and the department guarantee funding through the fifth year, advisors and the department work with students to continue support for work that takes longer.
Teaching is a vital part of the Ph.D. experience. Students are required to TA for two semesters, although faculty are ready to work with students who want more involvement. The Graduate School’s Certificate in College Teaching offers coursework, peer review, and evaluation of a teaching portfolio for those who want to teach. In addition, the Department awards a Certificates of Distinction in Teaching for graduating PhD students who have demonstrated excellence in and commitment to teaching and mentoring.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
We require that you self-calculate your UGPA on a 4.0 scale
The CS-PhD program breadth requirements are simplified. Students are required to receive credit for at least six graduate-level courses, not necessarily at Duke and up to two of them can be approved by DGS as transfer credit, with a grade of B- or higher. The six courses are to include at least three designated “quals courses” in Computer Science, completed with a grade of B+ or higher. The three quals courses include at least one quals course from each of the three course groups listed in Appendix A. Qualifying exams are no longer offered. Students are expected to complete the three quals courses by the end of the fourth semester. Students are encouraged to complete the six courses as soon as possible. The courses other than the 3 qual courses can be any graduate courses. The student’s PhD supervisory committee may require additional courses beyond the six.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The Graduate School provides a competitive package that provides Ph.D. students with a stipend, tuition coverage, fees coverage, and coverage of health insurance premiums.
The Graduate School provides a competitive package that provides Ph.D. students with financial support for at least a majority of the time they are registered and working toward their degree. This support includes four main components: a stipend, tuition coverage, fees coverage, and coverage of health insurance premiums.
Generally speaking, The Graduate School guarantees Ph.D. students five years of stipend, tuition, and fees support, plus six years of full coverage for health and dental insurance premiums.
Departments with Ph.D. programs vary in the financial support they provide beyond the guaranteed funding package. We strongly encourage prospective and current students to talk to their program’s director of graduate studies (DGS) to get a clear understanding of the financial support they can expect from the department as they plan their budget for their time in graduate school. We have created a table showing who’s paying for what in which year to help students plan their finances during graduate school.
Application Requirement,
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Life Experiences Statement
- Resume
- GRE scores
- English language proficiency test scores(if English is not your first language)
- GPA
- Supplemental application requirements
Application Deadline,
Dec 16, 2024
Application Fee,
The Duke University Graduate School application fee is $95.
