Frequently Asked Questions

Can students with undergraduate majors other than engineering apply?

Generally, the program accepts applications from students with undergraduate degrees in any scientific or technical field, and we may accept applicants with other degrees as long as they meet our Minimum Application Requirements. Please see our information for non-engineers.

However, to be eligible for some of electives, non-engineering students may need to take additional prerequisites beyond the MEM requirements. Students can take longer than one year to complete the program.

Does the MEM Program accept the GMAT instead of the GRE?

Generally, the MEM Program requires the GRE for all applicants. An exception is made for dual degree candidates in programs at Duke University.

Does the program require the TOEFL Exam? Can I submit the IELTS?

The Master of Engineering Management degree has a participatory approach to education. We require international applicants to submit official results from the TOEFL or IELTS exam to ensure adequate ability to contribute to the classroom discussion.

 

Does the program require work experience?

The program is designed for students with five years or less of full-time work experience, including new graduates with no experience. Generally, our campus students tend to join the program directly after receiving their undergraduate degree, though some have returned to school after spending some time in the workforce. Our distance students usually have between 1 and 5 years of experience.

The program provides a rewarding educational experience whether or not you have work experience. For those without work experience, you have the opportunity to work on teams with individuals that have often faced some of the challenges that are being discussed in class. These experienced classmates can share their own experiences and can help you understand that material better.

For those with work experience, it provides an opportunity to reflect on what you are learning and relate it to your previous experience. A key question to ask yourself is "with this new understanding, how would I address the situation differently?" It also provides the opportunity to mentor some of your less experienced classmates. Mentoring allows you to work on developing your skills to lead and manage other technical professionals.

How can I compare the campus program and online options to see which is right for me?

Both the campus and online options award the same Master of Engineering Management degree. And, campus and online students take the same courses with the same faculty.

Duke MEM Online students take courses on their own schedules via online learning and come to our campus for three one-week residencies over the course of two years. The courses are recorded using Panopto software, and are accessible for live or delayed viewing via the Internet. Professors determine what other collaboration technologies and tools they want to use for their specific courses, such as Skype, Adobe Connect, WebEx, etc.

A key factor is that both campus and online students take courses together, so MEM Online students work with campus students on a team in courses like marketing, management, project management, etc.  

The residencies allow MEM Online students to connect with faculty, each other, and the campus students who are in their classes as well. The residencies also enable online students to satisfy seminar and workshop requirements, which campus students satisfy by attending weekly seminars and monthly workshops.  

Overall, it depends on the student’s needs:

  • Can the student take a year off to come to study full-time on our campus in Durham, NC?
  • Or, can the student take three weeks off from work over the next two years?

See an example residency schedule »

Is it better to apply in Round 1? Am I at a disadvantage if I apply in a later round?

Which round is best? That's up to you. We use rounds to help us manage the flow of applications and to provide admission decisions within a timely manner. We consider every application, no matter which round it's in, so you should choose the round with dates that fit your timeline. When making your selection, keep these in mind:

  • If you are applying to other programs and you're concerned about responding to multiple offers, consider the date by which a reply is required.
  • If you are applying to the distance program and want to include your education plans in your performance review, consider the decision notification date.

What codes should I use to send official GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores to Duke?

GRE Scores: Use the institution code 5156, with department code 5199 for "any department not listed".

TOEFL Scores: Use the institution code 5156 with departmental code 99 for "any department not listed".

Applicants may request score reports on the day of testing or afterwards at http://www.ets.org/

IETLS Scores: Official IELTS scores should be mailed to the Office of Master's Program Admissions, Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, 213 Teer, Box 90271, Durham, NC 27708-0271.

What test scores and GPA are required for admission?

Duke’s MEM Program does not have a minimum requirement for GRE scores or GPA. View our current class profiles. Admission depends on the strength of the applicant pool within any given year. 

If a student has concerns, consider the following:

  • Applicants with low test scores often retake the GRE or TOEFL a second time with the hopes of improving their scores and increasing their chances of being admitted.
  • Undergraduates with low GPAs can work to increase their grades in their remaining semesters, and those who have graduated sometimes consider enrolling in another Master’s program; doing well in other graduate work can show improvement in grades and that an applicant is adequately prepared for graduate study.

If any applicant is concerned about a weak area in their application, they are encouraged to include with the application an explanation of why they feel they are still a good candidate for the program. This can be an additional page in the Statement of Purpose.

When is the best time to apply for the program?

  • The MEM campus and distance programs offer fall and spring admission, both of which have multiple rounds for application.
  • International students are required to apply in the earlier Rounds to allow for the visa process.

 

This model to helps us with the flow of applications and to provide students with a more timely response; no Round or term is easier or more difficult than another.

Our deadlines include both the application deadline, the decision date, and the date by which admitted students must respond to an offer of admission. The program can only guarantee a spot for applicants if they respond by the enrollment deadline; applicants should consider the MEMP enrollment deadline when planning to apply for other programs as well.

All admissions materials should be turned in by the application deadline for the Round. After submitting your application, no edits will be made after the submission of the application. Similar to sealing and mailing an envelope, once it has been submitted, none of the documents enclosed with it can be altered. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee. We cannot review incomplete applications, so we cannot offer conditional admission. Applications submitted and complete before a deadline will not be reviewed until the deadline has passed.

You may review all deadlines here.