Duke University Graduate School (PhD)

Essays

1. Statement of purpose · one to two pages and single spaced · required

   As part of your online application, you must upload a statement of purpose. It should briefly discuss your purposes and objectives in pursuing graduate study; your special interests and plans; your strengths and weaknesses in your chosen field; any research projects or any independent research in which you have actively participated and how they have influenced your career choice and desire to pursue graduate studies; and any particular reasons you may have for applying to Duke (e.g. you would like to work with a specific faculty member).

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2. Other essay · no more than one (1) page single spaced · required

   Life Experiences Statement: Please provide a brief statement that highlights the unique life experiences that have shaped your personal and professional identity and prepared you for graduate work. Share how these experiences have influenced your perspectives and your vision for leveraging them to contribute to Duke's academic community.

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Duke asks every applicant for two uploads and words both as musts: "you must upload a statement of purpose" and "you must upload a Life Experiences Statement." The Life Experiences Statement has its own page (https://gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/application-instructions/life-experiences-statement/) and is explicitly separated from the statement of purpose, which stays on academic and professional goals. Asking for strengths and weaknesses inside the statement of purpose is unusual and is Duke's own wording. No deadline dates on either page.

Checked against gradschool.duke.edu/admissions/application-instructions/statement-purpose on September 11, 2026. Programs change their prompts between cycles; confirm on the program’s own page before you submit.