Financial Assistance
Duke Law School has limited financial assistance to offer international students. A small amount of scholarship assistance based on merit is awarded to outstanding applicants. Very qualified applicants should submit with their application a letter requesting scholarship consideration and explaining the basis for merit consideration.
Applicants are encouraged to seek scholarship information from the American consulate about available scholarships granted by the U.S. government and other sources. They should also seek information about scholarships in their home countries. A substantial number of Duke LLM students have been recipients of scholarships granted by the Fulbright Program, DAAD, the Rotary Foundation, the World Bank, and a variety of national, state, corporate, university, and law firm sponsors. Applicants should also use the web to search for other potential sources of funding. Please see Possible Funding Resources for International Students for suggestions.
Duke Law School will be glad to provide any documentation necessary for sponsors and should be informed about any scholarship awards. Please let us know if sponsors request an early admission decision. In special cases, early decisions can be provided.
Once admission is offered and accepted, proof of financial support is necessary before the visa process can be started. The amount required for the 2009-10 academic year for a single student is USD $64,000. Accompanying family members will require additional funding. Once a student has matriculated, no scholarship assistance can be awarded. Some international students identify positions at the Law School as library or faculty assistants, but the remuneration is not substantial. Enrolled students may work at the University for no more than 20 hours a week. Students may not seek employment outside the University during the academic year.
Scholarships
Duke Law School does grant some tuition scholarships to outstanding applicants. Scholarship awards will depend on the applicant's potential for academic excellence and previous scholarly and professional performance. Scholarship applicants should submit with their LLM application a separate document with the following information: (1) a detailed summary of academic achievements and any honors, (2) a description of professional experience and special accomplishments, (3) possible contributions to the Law School community; and (4) names of any additional references who might comment on the applicant.
Scholarships will be announced within a reasonable amount of time after admission decisions are given.
Possible Funding Resources for International Students
American Association of University Women Educational Foundation Fellowships and Grants
http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/international.cfm
Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program "micro-grants" for students in Human Rights area
http://www.asil.org/aboutasil/HeltonApplication.html
Australian Federation of University Women Scholarships
http://www.afuw.org.au/ScholarshipsFS.htm
Australian Federation of University Women Fellowship Fund
http://www.afuwqfellowships.com/welcome-f.html
DAAD Scholarships for German Citizens
http://www.daad.org/
Daimler Benz Foundation (Stipends for German doctoral students studying in the U.S.)
http://www.daimler-benz-stiftung.de/animation/animation.html
Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Programs
http://www.irex.org/programs/muskie/index.asp
Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)
http://www.fordfound.org/news/more/11272000ifp/
Fulbright Grant
http://www.fulbrightalumni.org/olc/pub/FBA/cpages/gfn/grants.jsp
Fulbright Grants for Israeli Doctoral Students
http://www.fulbright.org.il/index.php?id=718
Fulbright Grants for Students from Turkey
http://www.fulbright.org.tr/
Fulbright Program for Students from the Middle East and North Africa
http://www.amideast.org/programs_services/exchange_programs/fulbright/default.htm
Golden Key National Honor Society Member Scholarships
http://www.goldenkey.org/GKweb/ScholarshipsandAwards/ScholarshipandAwardListing/TheGoldenKeyGraduateScholarAward.htm
Haniel Foundation
http://www.haniel-stiftung.de/index.htm?eng
Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) Graduate Fellowships Program
http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/becas/graduate1a.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=44&childindex=46
International Federation of University Women (Scholarships for women from Australia, France, Great Britain, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland and USA)
http://www.ifuw.org/i_fell.htm
Japanese Association of University Women
http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~jauw/
Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowships & Grants for Polish Citizens
http://www.kosciuszkofoundation.org/EDScholarships.html
Mackenzie King Scholarships for Canadians
http://www.mkingscholarships.ca/index-e.html
Organization of American States (OAS) Scholarships and Loans
http://www.eduoas.org/Portal
Organization of Istanbul Armenians Scholarship
http://www.oia.net
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund for Women
http://www.peointernational.org/about/
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships
http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html
World Bank Group Family Network - "Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund" (MMMF)
(click on MMMF in the left column)
World Bank Scholarships Program
http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/scholarships/scholarshipsEnglish/jjwbgsp/overview.html
