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Duke University

Duke University

Robertson Scholars Leadership Program

Check providerFull RideMerit-BasedBachelor's

About the Scholarship

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program pays for eight semesters at Duke, covering full tuition, room and board and most mandatory fees. On top of that it funds up to three summer experiences, conference travel during the year, and two semesters of study abroad.

Scholars belong to both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. They take courses on the other campus and spend part of their second year living there, so the award effectively buys access to two universities at once.

The programme says it welcomes applications from all students regardless of citizenship or nationality. International applicants are eligible as long as they can obtain a visa to study in the United States. Transfer and graduate applicants cannot apply.

There is a separate Robertson application, the only one of its kind at Duke. It opened on 15 August. The early window closes on 15 October and the final deadline is 15 November. The first cut is made on the Robertson application alone, so treat it as your main case rather than a supplement to your Duke or UNC forms.

What It Covers

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Fees
  • Travel

Eight semesters of full tuition, room and board and most mandatory fees, plus funding for up to three summer experiences, conference attendance during the academic year and two semesters of study abroad.

Eligibility

Applicants must apply for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke and/or UNC-Chapel Hill in the same year they apply to the Robertson, by each university's Early or Regular deadline. Admission to each university is a separate process. International applicants are eligible provided they can obtain a US study visa. Transfer applicants, graduate applicants, and students on a gap year who already hold a Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill place cannot apply. Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill students may instead apply during their first year to enter as rising sophomores.

Eligible Countries

The programme states that it welcomes applications from all students regardless of citizenship or nationality, and that international students are eligible provided they can obtain a visa to study in the United States.

All countries

How to Apply

This is the only four-year merit scholarship at Duke with a separate application. The high school application opened on 15 August on the programme's own site. Submitting by 15 October places you in the early window; everyone else has until 15 November. The first round of decisions is made from the Robertson application alone, without the Duke or UNC application, so put every important detail in the Robertson form. Students who apply to both universities are considered at both, though finalist invitations are specific to one campus. Interviews form part of the later rounds.

Application Routes and Dates

Scholarship consideration

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The current application dates have not been confirmed. Check the provider before applying.