students in a canoe

Life at Duke

Our students work in a supportive, close-knit community of researchers and scholars—but we know there is more to life than work.

Live in the vibrant RESEARCH TRIANGLE

During your time at Duke University you'll have access to our hometown's lively community and to the dynamic Research Triangle Region, ranked #6 in Best Places to Live by U.S.News.

Our region enjoys more than 220 days of sunshine a year. We boast an affordable cost of living—cheaper than Boston, New York, Atlanta or California. 

More about Durham and the Research Triangle Region »

Study on the Duke Campus

Duke provides a safe, supportive learning environment for each graduate student—and their family:

Learn more about:

Student Groups

Life outside the classroom and laboratory for our master's students is a vibrant mix of professional opportunities and social interaction.

MEMS Graduate Student Committee

The MEMS Graduate Student Committee works with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Program Coordinator to recruit, educate and promote graduate students within the Duke Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science.

Examples of Committee Activities
  • Weekly MEMS graduate student newsletter
  • Social: Bowling, Rooftop Bar
  • Outreach: Durham Women’s Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, voter registration, Carolina Tiger Rescue
  • Graduate seminar series
  • Outings and activities: Baseball Games, rock climbing, soccer, flag football

View calendar of events  Meet the committee

Other Student Groups

Duke Engineering graduate students are represented by an inclusive student government, which organizes student events and community outreach activities.

As a graduate student at Duke, you'll have the opportunity to join a number of campus-wide student groups focused on personal and professional development.

More About Student Groups

Welcome for International Students

As a globally-renowned university, Duke attracts students from around the world to its graduate degree programs. We are committed to making the transition to living, studying and working at Duke as smooth as possible.

The information and links below will help you understand how Duke makes international students welcome.

International House

Duke’s International House serves Duke's global community on campus.

During the summer, International hosts virtual online sessions to help new students plan their transitions. Closer to the beginning of the academic year, International House holds a Resource Fair and Orientation for international students, which includes an especially helpful session on academic integrity and differences in the style of courses in American universities. Throughout the year, the house provides advice and support to international students and offers extensive cross-cultural information and training to enhance the mission of the university.

International House is located at 300 Alexander Avenue on Duke's Central Campus.

English for International Students

The mission of Duke's English for International Students program is to provide English-language instruction and support to international graduate students at Duke.

Through offering courses and other resources in writing, oral communication, presentations, pronunciation, and grammar as well as training for new international teaching assistants, the program prepares students for success in social, professional, and academic settings.

Wellness Services & Medical Insurance

Duke Student Health Services provides information on adequate medical insurance plans that international students should obtain, as well as details on the services and facilities available to all Duke students at the state-of-the-art Student Wellness Center.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion make for better engineers—and a better experience for engineering students.

That’s why Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering embraces diversity and inclusion in the classroom and in the laboratory—whether that’s racial, ethnic, sexual or gender diversity. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion and MEMS-specific diversity, equity, inclusion and community Committee and activities.

Duke Engineering offers many opportunities for underrepresented minorities, from student groups to fellowships, to recruiting incentives, to events and activities that celebrate the diversity of our entire community.