Check out our APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR EARLY ADMISSIONS

Application materials are generally available year round and may be obtained by mail or electronically. To obtain an application by mail, follow the Request More Info link to the left.

To apply electronically, click on the online application link below and you will go to our online application site. From there, you will be able to complete and submit your application to our program. Also, you can print a reformatted, "printer-friendly" version of our application.

ONLINE APPLICATION

We strongly encourage all applicants to submit their applications via the online application process. However, if you would prefer to proceed with the paper version of the application, please download the two files below (simply click on each link) and return the completed forms to us as directed on each form. Please note that we require three letters of recommendation: two from professors/instructors who have taught you at the undergraduate level and one from a physical therapist with whom you have worked. Our new mailing address is:

The application fee is $75.

For early consideration, the application and all supporting documents should be received by the program no later than November 1st of the year preceding admission. Otherwise, our regular submission deadline is December 1st of the year preceding admission. Applications received after the December 1st deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis. Only students for full time study are accepted. State residence does not influence the admissions policies or tuition costs.

Please browse our DPT FAQs page for answers to frequently asked questions about our admissions process.

Application Process

The admissions process for the DPT program at Duke University is a competitive one, attracting high caliber students from across the country. Successful matriculates demonstrate the following characteristics:

• an excellent academic background and GRE scores
• uniformly outstanding and enthusiastic recommendations from two individuals in their undergraduate major field of study
• an excellent recommendation from a professional physical therapist
• an adequate exploration of the profession through volunteer and or employment in a variety of clinical settings
• positive interviews with members of the faculty during a campus visit

The credentials of each applicant are carefully reviewed by the Admissions Committee and no applicant is automatically rejected because of one area of weakness in his or her application. The process used by the program is a competitive one, with those applicants having the strongest overall application being most successful. Qualified applicants must also be able to meet the physical requirements of the program’s Technical Standards, which are available upon request.

Cultural diversity within the profession of physical therapy is highly valued because physical therapists interact with patients and their families who are of various ages, races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. The DPT program at Duke University is committed to recruiting and matriculating minority students for a career in physical therapy.

The tuition for the Duke University DPT curriculum is approved by the Board of Trustees and set at a level competitive with physical therapy programs of comparable quality and selectivity. Annual tuition increases are generally in the range of 5%. The 2006-2007 academic year tuition has been set at $24,936.

Within each year of the program, 1/3 of the total tuition is billed in 3 equal payments for years one and two, and in 2 equal payments in year three.

One advantage of attending Duke University is that the cost of living in central North Carolina remains quite reasonable. For example, the university's Office of Financial Aid estimates that the cost of food and rent (including utilities) for a graduate student in Durham is approximately $11,880 for a 12-month period. If interested, estimated student budgets may be obtained upon request by contacting our admissions secretary (click on Request More Info link and request student budget).

Qualified applicants may be eligible for federal educational loan programs. A small amount of need based scholarship award is available for selected matriculated students. Financial aid information is available for all interested applicants by contacting the

Office of Financial Aid
Box 3067, Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC, 27710

Or visit the School of Medicine's Office of Financial Aid website (phone: 919-684-6649) for more information.