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Gap Year Program

How to Apply

Students who accept their offer of admission to Duke now have access to the DGYP application on their Duke Admissions portal!

The application offers you the opportunity to describe your gap year plans, to explain why your plans are important to you, and, if you are requesting funding, to outline your budget. The application should include your plans for the entire year, even if you only request funding for some of your activities or do not request funding at all. We do not expect students to have their gap year plans confirmed at the time of application.

This year’s DGYP application questions are available below for your reference. The deadline is May 30, 2025.

Application

  1. My gap year will include (you can select more than one option):
    • Established Gap Year Program(s)
    • Internship
    • Volunteer
    • Travel
    • Personal Plans
  2. Please describe your gap year plans. Make sure to address the anticipated location and timing of each of your activities. While we expect that you have a good sense of how you wish to spend your gap year, we understand these plans may change. If you alter your plans, you must update DGYP staff as soon as possible. (Maximum 500 words)
    • If you have been accepted to or applied to an established gap year program, please provide the name and url of the program as well as the status of your application.
    • If you are planning to intern or volunteer for an organization, please provide the organization’s name and location and explain whether you have secured a position.
    • If you hope to travel, please list your anticipated destinations and the activities you hope to do there.
    • If you have other personal plans, please elaborate on them.

IMPORTANT NOTE: People who have been admitted to Duke and are taking a gap year may not be in the Duke Gap Year Program (“DGYP”) for any period during which they travel to and spend time in a region which is listed on Duke’s Restricted Regions List (“RRL”), which is subject to change.

    • If you plan to be in an RRL region for more than 4 weeks of your gap year at the time you apply to the DGYP, you will not be admitted to the DGYP at all.
    • If you plan to travel to an RRL region for 4 weeks or less in a gap year (which can be broken down into two segments over the course of the gap year), you may be admitted to the DGYP, but Duke will temporarily suspend your participation in the Program for the periods when you are in an RRL region and you cannot use DGYP Funds to support your travel to and time spent in the RRL region. When you leave the RRL region, you will be reinstated to the Program.
    • If you are admitted to the DGYP without plans to travel to an RRL region, but change your mind during the gap year, you can travel to the RRL region for up to 4 weeks in the gap year period (which can be broken down into two segments) but Duke will temporarily suspend your participation in the Program for the periods when you are in an RRL region and you cannot use DGYP Funds to support your travel to and time spent in the RRL region. When you leave the RRL region, you will be reinstated to the Program.
  2. Please explain why you selected your gap year plans and how you hope to benefit from taking a gap year. (Maximum 500 words)
  3. Are you applying for funding from the Duke Gap Year Program? [DGYP FUNDING STATEMENT: All students are eligible to apply for up to $15,000 of funding, regardless of financial need. Those with financial need may be eligible for up to $25,000, with exact totals depending on level of financial need. Decisions about the amount of funding to offer will be based in part on financial need. In making this determination, the DGYP will receive and rely upon information you provided in your financial aid application (if applicable) when you applied to Duke University.]
    • yes, and I’ve read and understand the above DGYP Funding Statement
    • no

For those applying for funding:

Total Funding Requested from the Duke Gap Year Program: ______________

Please outline your budget for the programs listed above and indicate specifically how you intend to use funding from the Duke Gap Year Program. Be sure to consider the costs of programs, travel, vaccines, room and board, miscellaneous expenses, phone plans, necessary equipment, visa fees, etc.

If you have applied for or received scholarships or grants to support your gap year plans, please indicate the source and amount of the scholarship and the status of your application for it.

Note: Although Duke supports students who take gap years for medical reasons; to complete military, or religious service obligations; and to pursue personal startups or paid work, DGYP funds cannot be used to support these activities.

Additional Information

Use this space to include additional information you would like to share with the review committee. (optional)

Terms and Conditions

If your request for a gap year is approved, you must agree to the following Terms and Conditions, and your parent/guardian must acknowledge that you’ve agreed to these Terms and Conditions and to support you in doing so. If you requested a two-year gap period, these Terms and Conditions apply throughout the two-year gap period. You are required to agree immediately below. Your parent/guardian will acknowledge in response to an email that we will send if your request is approved:

    • Participant will not apply for admission as a degree-seeking student to any other college or university during the remainder of this year or during the coming year.
    • Participant will not enroll as a full-time student or degree-seeking student at another college or university during your gap year.
    • If Participant chooses to take any college courses for Duke credit, Participant understands and acknowledges that Duke will only recognize the credits in accordance with relevant Duke policies.
    • Participant will not enroll in a post-graduate program at a secondary school.
    • Participant will abide by the Conditions of Application that Participant agreed to when Participant applied to Duke and the conditions contained in Participant’s letter of admission to Duke.
    • Participant is required to maintain high standards of academic performance and personal behavior in and out of school, as mentioned in the letter of admission to Duke University. This includes abiding by our Community Standard.
    • If there is any change in the information Participant provided in Participant’s application to Duke—including any academic, personal, disciplinary, or legal matters—Participant agrees to contact the Duke admissions office within 48 hours.

I have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

    • Yes

If your application to the Duke Gap Year Program (DGYP) is accepted, you and your parent/guardian are required to sign a Participation Agreement, which agreement will include the following and other expectations:

    • Follow Duke Gap Year Program blog and social media expectations.
    • Submit a mid-year and end-of-year report reflecting on your experiences.
    • Complete surveys for the Gap Year Research Consortium at Colorado College.
    • Engage with the DGYP community once you arrive on campus.

I understand that if I am admitted to the DGYP, my parent/guardian and I will be required to sign a DGYP Participation Agreement as a condition of admission to the Program. A copy of this Agreement will be available for review on the DGYP website later this spring. The actual Agreement that my parent/guardian and I will be required to sign will be sent to me and my parent/guardian for signature via Adobe Sign.

    • Yes

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