Duke University Karsh International Scholarship 2027, USA (Full Tuition, Living Costs and Summer Funding)

The Duke University Karsh International Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded undergraduate award for international students at Duke University in the United States. Duke's Office of University Scholars and Fellows runs the program, which supports bachelor's degree study with full tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, and summer funding.

It is open to academically strong international students who show financial need and apply for undergraduate admission to Duke. The award covers tuition, housing, meals, fees, extra demonstrated need, and three summers of research or unpaid internships. There is no separate scholarship application, so check the sections below for details.

The Karsh International Scholarship provides extensive financial support throughout the undergraduate program.

Successful scholars can receive:

• Full tuition coverage

• Room and board

• Mandatory university fees

• Additional demonstrated financial need beyond these costs

• Funding for three summers

• Support for summer research

• Funding for unpaid internships

• Funding for other academic and professional opportunities that advance the student's career

This makes the Karsh Scholarship considerably broader than a tuition-only award. The summer funding can also give scholars additional opportunities to develop research experience, professional skills and academic connections. 

The Karsh International Scholarship is available for full-time undergraduate study at Duke University.

Students who already hold a bachelor's degree are not eligible for consideration for the Karsh Scholarship.

The Karsh Scholarship is not restricted to one particular academic subject. Students can apply to Duke's undergraduate programs across a broad range of disciplines.

Applicants can pursue academic interests through Duke's undergraduate offerings, including areas such as:

• Business and economics

• Computer science

• Engineering

• Biological sciences

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Mathematics

• Environmental sciences

• Political science

• International studies

• Psychology

• Sociology

• History

• Public policy

• Literature and languages

• Arts and humanities

• Social sciences

Students applying to Duke can choose between Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering, depending on their academic interests.

The Karsh International Scholarship is intended for students who are citizens of countries outside the United States.

Duke states that citizens of any country outside the U.S. can be considered. However, applicants who hold dual U.S. and another-country citizenship are not eligible for this particular scholarship.

Duke's current Karsh scholars come from countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America. The university specifically lists countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Vietnam, Thailand, Chile, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mongolia and others among the current scholar cohort.

Applicants should meet Duke's requirements for undergraduate admission as well as the scholarship's international and financial-need criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Karsh International Scholarship, applicants should:

• Be a citizen of a country outside the United States.

• Be applying for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University.

• Demonstrate strong academic preparation.

• Demonstrate documented financial need.

• Request financial aid through the Duke admission process.

• Complete the required financial-aid forms.

• Not already hold a B.A. or B.S. degree.

• Not hold dual U.S. and other-country citizenship if seeking this particular scholarship.

• Meet Duke University's undergraduate admission requirements.

Duke describes strong academic preparation and documented financial need as key characteristics of a good Karsh candidate.

Duke's admissions process also considers academic performance, course rigor, recommendations, extracurricular involvement and the quality of applicants' essays.

Is There a Separate Karsh Scholarship Application?

No.

Students do not need to complete a separate application specifically for the Karsh International Scholarship.

Instead, applicants should:

1. Apply for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University.

2. Indicate “Yes” when asked whether they are interested in financial aid.

3. Complete the required financial-aid application.

4. Submit the CSS Profile by the applicable deadline.

5. Provide additional financial documentation if requested.

6. Remain under consideration for eligible Duke scholarships.

Duke specifically states that students cannot be nominated for the Karsh Scholarship and that the application process begins with applying to Duke and requesting financial aid.

Financial Aid Requirements for International Students

International applicants seeking institutional financial aid must complete the CSS Profile.

Duke may also request additional documentation through the College Board's IDOC service. Depending on the applicant's circumstances, students may be asked to provide foreign tax documents, parental income information or other financial records.

If documents are not in English, Duke requires official English translations and asks applicants to provide the original documents alongside the translations. Financial figures may also need to be converted into U.S. dollars.

Is SAT or ACT Required?

No. Duke is test-optional for the 2026–2027 admission cycle.

International applicants can choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. Duke states that students who apply without test scores will not be disadvantaged in the admission process. Students who choose to submit scores can still have them considered as part of their application.

Test-optional applicants remain eligible for Duke's merit scholarships, including international scholarship consideration.

Is IELTS Required?

Duke does not require an English-proficiency test for all international applicants. However, the university recommends that non-native English speakers or students who are not currently studying in an English-medium curriculum take an English-proficiency test.

Duke accepts tests including IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, Cambridge English and PTE Academic. For IELTS, Duke lists a minimum expected score of 7.

Students interested in the scholarship should follow these steps:

1. Apply to Duke University as a first-year undergraduate student through the Common Application or another applicable application route.

2. Choose Trinity College of Arts & Sciences or Pratt School of Engineering based on your academic interests.

3. Indicate that you want to be considered for financial aid.

4. Submit your academic transcripts and required recommendations.

5. Complete the CSS Profile by the applicable financial-aid deadline.

6. Submit additional financial documents if Duke requests them.

7. Complete the admission process and wait for Duke's decision and financial-aid information.

8. If selected, follow Duke's instructions for receiving the scholarship funding.

Duke requires a high school transcript, a counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations from applicants.

Karsh Scholarship 2027 Deadlines

Applicants should pay close attention to both the admission deadline and the financial-aid deadline.

Early Decision

• Duke application deadline: November 2, 2026

• CSS Profile/financial-aid deadline: November 3, 2026

Regular Decision

• Duke application deadline: January 4, 2027

• CSS Profile/financial-aid deadline: February 1, 2027

Duke's official undergraduate admissions page confirms November 2 as the Early Decision deadline and January 4 as the Regular Decision deadline for the 2026–2027 admission cycle. Duke's financial-support page lists November 3 for Early Decision financial-aid applications and February 1 for Regular Decision financial-aid applications.

Why Consider the Karsh International Scholarship?

The Karsh Scholarship can be particularly valuable for international students because its funding goes beyond tuition.

In addition to covering major educational and living expenses, the program provides funding for three summers. This can allow scholars to pursue research, unpaid internships and other opportunities without having to personally finance these experiences.

The program also brings together an international cohort of students focused on interdisciplinary inquiry, research and service to society.

Final Thoughts

The Karsh Duke University Scholarship 2027 is a major opportunity for high-achieving international students who need financial assistance to study in the United States. With coverage for tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, additional demonstrated need and three summers of academic or professional development, the scholarship can substantially reduce the financial burden of a Duke undergraduate education.

Students interested in the award should focus first on building a strong Duke application and should make sure they request financial aid during the admission process. Since there is no separate Karsh application, missing the appropriate financial-aid deadline could prevent an applicant from being considered for institutional funding.

For the latest requirements and deadlines, applicants should always verify details directly with Duke University before submitting their application.