Who Should Apply
Applicants with a four-year undergraduate degree and three or more years of post-undergraduate work experience in a development-related field are eligible to apply. Applicants who have more than five years of work experience are strongly preferred. Admission to the PIDP is competitive, based upon the applicant’s academic and professional credentials, essays, English proficiency, and letters of recommendation. To ensure the best chance for admission, applicants must have:
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (or equivalent for international applicants)
- Recorded completion of coursework in micro and macroeconomics, statistics, and basic math is strongly preferred
- A professional background of at least three years in a development-related field, showing an increase in responsibilities over time
- Excellent analytical writing skills and a strong command of the English language.
Additionally, applicants to the one-year degree program must have completed at least one year of graduate level course work with strong grades or marks, including significant course work in market-based economics.
In addition to taking the TOEFL or IELTS exam, Duke University requires all accepted applicants whose native language is not English to take both oral and written English assessments upon arrival at Duke. Based on the results of these assessments, fellows may be required to take one or two English language courses. English language course credits do not count towards the 30 credit requirement for the one-year degree, however they must be taken in addition to the regular course-load as part of the Duke University graduation requirements.
Download a PIDP brochure.
Additional Admissions Information