PhD How to Apply

Deadline

The application deadline for beginning the program in the Fall is December 2.

In order to receive full consideration, all materials (test scores, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) must be received by the December 2nd deadline.

Apply to the Graduate School

All applicants to the PhD Program in Public Policy apply to the Duke Graduate School.

Write a statement of purpose including:

your goals in pursuing the PhD in Public Policy at Duke
your academic and professional experience
your intended course of study, including a disciplinary concentration and policy area focus
your longer-term career objectives

Duke Graduate School Admissions

Customize your application for Sanford

On the Graduate School application, you must:

Designate a disciplinary concentration. On your application, in the “Proposed Department/Program and Highest Degree Sought” drop-down menu, choose “Public Policy Studies – Ph.D.” In the next section (intended special field) choose economics, political science, psychology or sociology. You must indicate one of these four concentrations on your application.
Submit a resume along with your “Statement of Purpose and Educational Objectives.”
Submit a writing sample (optional) demonstrating academic or professional research. Add this to your application under "additional documents."

Alumnus Spotlight

Marayna Martinez PhD ’23 received a joint PhD in political science and public policy from Duke. After graduation, Marayna accepted a position at Princeton University as a Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder.