Located in the center of North Carolina between beautiful mountains and sunny beaches, Durham offers the best of city, suburban, and rural living. Here, you can find a bustling downtown area, convenient suburban shopping, and the serenity of Duke Forest. The Raleigh-Durham area is home to more than 1.3 million people and is one of only seven Google Tech Hubs in North America, yet the city has kept its laid-back, small-town feel.
Life on this beautiful campus is unique. Brimming with a diverse culture that includes students, faculty, staff, and their families, there is a strong sense of camaraderie here.
The Duke campus rests within the serenity of the Duke Forest, a living ecological laboratory and refuge for a variety of plant and animal species.
There’s always plenty to do on campus — there are more than 400 university student groups, and you’re just a five-minute walk to the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium — hallowed ground for Duke basketball fans.
Visit the Duke Chapel, an iconic symbol of the university with its Gothic architecture and stained glass windows, or explore Sarah P. Duke Gardens and its 5 miles of walkways. At the Nasher Museum of Art, see some of today’s best contemporary art, with a focus on work by artists of African descent. And at the Duke Lemur Center, visit the world’s largest colony of endangered primates.
It’s easy to make your home here. In fact, the Durham area is touted as one of the best places to live in the country, partly because of its affordable standard of living. While housing options are plentiful in Durham, there is limited graduate student housing on Duke’s campus, so graduate students typically find off-campus housing. Near campus, there are many student apartments that offer 6-month leases.
If you need help with finding housing, you can ask the program staff and alumni. They’re a great source of information. You can also connect with your classmates before your program starts. Finding a good roommate can be the first step to finding housing!