We see your drive to create meaningful change. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping you invest in your future—by guiding you through funding opportunities and equipping you with the financial resources you need to succeed and lead with impact.
Sanford MIDP Funding Glossary
Sanford proudly offers funding support based on merit and financial need. This support is in the form of a tuition scholarship to MIDP applicants who apply by the January 5 priority deadline and indicate on their application that they would like to be considered for financial aid. No additional documentation is required.
At Duke, endowed funds provide sustainable financial support for scholarships, fellowships, and program enhancements—ensuring that future leaders have the resources to thrive and make a global impact.
The Sanford School of Public Policy offers numerous privately funded awards established by donors to support MIDP and Sanford students. Endowments often have specific eligibility criteria and are usually applied toward tuition costs.
MIDP endowments honor a student's excellence and promise as a changemaker, serving as the funding source for an established award.
The Sanford School of Public Policy offers numerous assistantship opportunities for graduate students both in fall and spring semesters, in a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and research assistantships. Sanford assistantships are paid an hourly rate, at a minimum of $16.50 an hour. Sanford students may also apply for assistantships and part-time employment available across Duke University. Under U.S. federal law, students may not work more than 19.9 hours a week on campus and still be considered full-time students. The expected number of work hours varies by position.
International students must obtain a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or International Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to receive assistantship or other employment compensation. Duke University’s Visa Services Office and the Duke International Student Center (DISC) will assist you in obtaining the required documentation after you arrive.
While Sanford is proud to offer our students financial support, we are unable to offer full funding to all students, and we highly encourage students to research and apply to external funding opportunities.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for U.S. citizens and permanent residents seeking federal loans or need-based aid. Completing the FAFSA helps determine your eligibility for financial assistance.
Additional resources are available through Duke University, including fellowships, assistantships, and campus employment. These opportunities can complement Sanford-specific funding.
Sanford is fortunate to cultivate collaborations and partnerships with external institutions that provide financial support for admitted students. Eligibility, applications, and benefits vary by partner.
Types of Sanford MIDP Tuition Scholarships
Sanford offers merit- and need-based tuition scholarships to both domestic and international students. Scholarships are distributed in equal installments during the fall and spring semesters and may be renewed based on academic performance and progress toward the degree. All MIDP applicants who apply by the January 5 priority deadline and who indicate on the application that they would like to be considered for financial aid are reviewed for consideration. No additional documentation is required. These scholarships are intended solely for tuition expenses and cannot be used as stipends or to cover living costs.
MIDP’s funding resources are limited, and awards are competitive.
This prestigious award recognizes outstanding graduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and strong leadership potential. The fellowship provides one of the program’s most substantial forms of tuition support for students pursuing the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP), helping high-potential students advance their impact in global development. No separate scholarship application required.
The Sanford School of Public Policy offers a 25% tuition reduction and application fee waiver for graduate programs to federal, state and local government employees (including contractors) in a career transition resulting from changes in the federal workforce or funding within the last year. All applicants will be automatically considered based on their admissions materials. No separate scholarship application required.
Endowments
The Francis Lethem MIDP Fellowship is designated for graduate students who are or shall be at the time of receipt of this fellowship, enrolled in the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP). Preference shall be given to students from low-income countries, ideally from Africa. No additional materials are required for consideration.
MIDP endowments honor a student's excellence and promise as a changemaker, serving as the funding source for an established award. Availability of funds under this endowment varies from year to year.
The Robert C. Ketner Fellowship provides full or partial tuition scholarships to graduate students enrolled in the Sanford School of Public Policy and who are pursuing a Master of International Development Policy (MIDP). No additional materials are required for consideration.
MIDP endowments honor a student's excellence and promise as a changemaker, serving as the funding source for an established award. Availability of funds under this endowment varies from year to year.
The Eva Staton Scholarship Fund is designated to provide partial scholarships for graduate students who are or shall be at the time of receipt of this fellowship, enrolled in the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP). Preference shall be given to students from Latin America (Mexico, Central America, South America) and the Caribbean. No additional materials are required for consideration.
MIDP endowments honor a student's excellence and promise as a changemaker, serving as the funding source for an established award. Availability of funds under this endowment varies from year to year.
The Magdalena Yesil Fellowship Fund is a scholarship endowment for professional students in the Sanford School of Public Policy. It provides full or partial fellowships to incoming MIDP or MPP students from Armenia and/or the surrounding region who are interested in sustainable development, nation-building, or conflict resolution in Armenia or the surrounding region.
To apply for this fellowship, applicants must upload a separate statement describing their interest in Armenia or the surrounding region and their professional goals.
MIDP endowments honor a student's excellence and promise as a changemaker, serving as the funding source for an established award. Availability of funds under this endowment varies from year to year.
Partnerships
Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy offers application fee waiver consideration for our residential program applicants who meet the following qualifications:
Affiliated with an organization
Applicants who are affiliated with one or more of the following organizations, with an accompanying letter of certification:
- Active Duty U.S. Military Service Members and Veterans
- Americorps
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program
- Colfuturo
- City Year
- Guatefuturo
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
- JuventudEsGTO
- FUNED
- Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RSPC)
- Rotary Peace Fellowship
- Teach for America
- Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program
Need-Based Requests
For need-based waiver requests, applicants are required to upload documentation demonstrating successful application to external funding. It is extremely important that applicants have a financial plan in place to fund their studies before acceptance into the program. Securing funding takes significant time; we highly recommend that this process start as early as possible and before applying to the program itself. Need-based requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Government workers in transition
For individuals who have been working at the local, state, or federal level and find themselves in a period of transition, we are happy to continue our offer of an application fee waiver. Please upload a copy of your resume and a brief explanation for consideration. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Submit your Request for an Application Fee Waiver here. You must have an open application in order to submit your request.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, which aims to attract and prepare outstanding U.S. citizens for careers in the Foreign Service, selects 30 outstanding Rangel Fellows annually in a highly competitive nationwide process and helps support them through two years of graduate study, internships and professional development activities, and entry into the Foreign Service. Duke MIDP provides a complementary 50% tuition scholarship.
Learn more about the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program.
COLFUTURO is a joint public and private sector initiative aimed at facilitating the access of Colombian professionals to further education abroad. Duke MIDP has an agreement with COLFUTURO under the Scholarship Loan Program designed to finance a significant number of Colombian citizen graduate students abroad. The scholarship, for Colombian citizens only, finances up to a maximum of US $25,000 per year, for a maximum of a two-year stay abroad.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers bring a unique blend of global experience, cultural adaptability, and commitment to service—qualities that align perfectly with the MIDP program’s mission to develop leaders in international development. Their hands-on experience in diverse communities equips them with practical insights and a strong foundation for tackling complex development challenges.
Duke University proudly participates in the national consortium of graduate programs that recruit and support Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who wish to pursue advanced degrees. This benefit includes a scholarship that covers 50% tuition. In addition, all Coverdell Fellows complete a local community service internship for 10-12 hours per week that benefits the local community. These community service internships take place during the academic year and include a a monthly stipend for a total of $8000 per academic year.
Watch the Fall 2025 recorded webinar: Duke Sanford Peace Corps Coverdell RPCVs Fellowship
The Sanford School of Public Policy has formed a partnership with a Mexican foundation that will provide financial aid and scholarships for Mexicans pursuing master’s degrees abroad at the world’s finest universities. The agreement between the school and Fundacion Mexicana Para La Educacion, La Tecnologia y La Ciencia, A.C. (FUNED) combines the resources of both Sanford and FUNED, with Sanford offering a 25% tuition scholarship for accepted students, and FUNED covering up to 40% of the remaining costs.
Guatefuturo is a Guatemalan non-profit foundation established in 2006 to provide financial support and increase the possibilities of Guatemalan citizens to access high-quality postgraduate study programs abroad. Guatefuturo offers each student up to US $25,000 per year for a maximum of two years.
JuventudEsGTO is a decentralized public organization in the Mexican state of Guanajuato that supports students from Guanajuato to pursue master’s degrees abroad. Under our agreement with JuventudEsGTO, students selected for the scholarship and admitted to any Sanford graduate program (MIDP, MPP, iMEP) will receive a 25% tuition scholarship and additional support from JuventudEsGTO for tuition and living expenses.
Please see our Military Benefits page for more information on all Duke Affiliated Military Benefits.
Duke University’s Veterans Education Benefits Office administers all Veterans Benefits. The Duke University School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the University Registrar may be reached via email (veteranseducation@duke.edu) or at 919.684.4225. Admitted students must submit their VA documents (i.e. VA Certificate of Eligibility letter, Purple Heart Certificate) to the SCO to start the VA benefit review process.
The Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center offers individuals committed to peace and cooperation the opportunity to pursue a two-year master’s-level degree in international studies, peace studies and conflict resolution. The fellowship includes full funding for tuition and other university fees, a monthly stipend for room and board, a contingency fund, funding for conferences and research, summer internship support, and transportation between the fellow’s home and study destination at the start and end of the fellowship period.
Applicants are chosen based on their ability to have a significant, positive impact on world peace and conflict resolution. Applicants who are awarded a Rotary Peace Fellowship may indicate their preferred Rotary Center placement, ultimately assigned by the Rotary Foundation, and must then apply and be accepted to that graduate program. Rotary awardees who are assigned to Duke will apply to the MIDP program once selected as a Rotary Peace Fellow.
External Funding Policy
All students have an ongoing obligation to notify the Duke MIDP Program Office upon receipt of external funding, scholarships, and grants obtained independently. The Duke MIDP Program reserves the right to amend financial aid awards if a student receives external funding.
Financial Aid Policies, Procedures, and Tools
Personal Assistance for Every Student
Our team assists with completing the federal checklist, verifying FAFSA, and determining all federal loan funding and federal work-study funds. Questions about student financial planning or your cost of attendance? Contact us at sanfordfinancialaid@duke.edu.