How to Apply to the Mathematics Major at Duke: The Department of Mathematics in Trinity College, Applying to a College Rather Than a Major, with B.S. and A.B. Degrees, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Duke University’s undergraduate mathematics major is taught by the Department of Mathematics in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. You choose either Trinity or the Pratt School of Engineering when you apply, and mathematics sits in Trinity. Computer science is not covered here; this site has a separate article on it. Below is what the website says, for domestic students, international students (with a section for applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and requirements

• Two degrees: the department offers a bachelor of science (B.S.) and a bachelor of arts (A.B.; Trinity’s page writes Mathematics, BA). It suggests students planning graduate study in mathematics or the sciences consider the B.S.
• Shared prerequisites: for both degrees, Calculus I and II, linear algebra (MATH 221, or MATH 218 plus a proofs course such as MATH 240, 242 or 245), and multivariable calculus (MATH 212, 219 or 222). Students without computing experience are encouraged to take an introductory computer science course.
• B.S.: eight math courses numbered 226 or above (no more than three at the 200 level): MATH 401 or 501 (algebra), MATH 431 or 531 (analysis), and six more including at least one from the listed courses such as complex analysis, statistics, topology or differential geometry; plus a pair of science courses from physics, statistical science, economics, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, biology or chemistry (the page lists course numbers).
• A.B.: seven math courses numbered 226 or above, including one algebra and one analysis course and five more (no more than three at the 200 level); no science courses are required.
• Minor: one prerequisite course plus five math courses above 212 other than 222.
• Related majors: Trinity’s list also includes Statistical Science, and the admissions majors list has an interdepartmental Data Science (computer science and math) major. Economics, computer science and the like have their own articles on this site and are not covered here.

2. How admission works: choose a college, not a major

• At application: the admissions FAQ says you must apply to either Trinity or Pratt, and the application asks for your preliminary academic interests. It states that it is not easier or harder to be admitted to one program or the other, so choose by interest. The pages read do not give a separate admission cutoff or quota for mathematics or Trinity.
• When to declare a major: the admissions and math department pages read do not say when Trinity students declare mathematics or what grades are needed; this is not published, so ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Trinity. Trinity’s page says more than 82% of Duke students double major, minor or earn a certificate.
• Pratt students who want math: the department says Pratt students considering a math major should not take the engineering MATH 218/353 sequence but MATH 221 followed by MATH 356 for a first differential equations course, a route it says Pratt has approved.
• Changing into mathematics: the pages read do not give specific conditions; not published.

3. Preparation, placement and credit

• High school courses: the application page recommends four years of English and at least three years each of mathematics, natural sciences, world language and social studies, normally five academic courses a year. Only for Pratt applicants does it say calculus is required; for Trinity mathematics there is no separate hard requirement on the pages read, which is not published.
• Placement: the department says Calculus I has two paths: the two-semester MATH 105L–106L (pre-calculus alongside calculus) or the one-semester MATH 111L, which assumes strong pre-calculus. Its self-placement guidance suggests 105L for an SAT Math of 550 to 710 or an ACT Math of 22 to 30, and 111L for an SAT Math of at least 710 or ACT Math of at least 30. These are guidance, not requirements, and enrolling in 111L depends on a proctored Calculus 1 placement test on the first day of class. Self-assessments are offered.
• AP: the department lists AB score 5 for MATH 21 (Calculus I); BC score 4 for MATH 21 and BC score 5 for MATH 21 and MATH 22 (Calculus II); other scores earn none. Scores must be officially reported to Duke; scores sent to admissions do not count, and the Registrar handles credit. For students with MATH 21 credit and an SAT Math of at least 710 (or ACT of at least 30), the department advises the next calculus course.
• IB and international exams: credit requests for the IB, A-Level, French Baccalaureate and German Abitur go to the Registrar, generally up to two credits per exam; for the IB the test must be Higher Level mathematics with a score of at least 6, and the Registrar decides the credit based on the curriculum.
• Stronger track for potential majors: the placement page says students with credit for MATH 21 and 22 who are considering a math major, or want a more rigorous experience, may consider MATH 222 Advanced Multivariable Calculus (MATH 221 in the fall, then 222 in spring), and should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Math competitions: the pages read do not say how competitions are viewed in admission; not published. The application page does say you may submit Schoolhouse certifications or a portfolio to show your preparation.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (the site’s 2026-27 cycle)

• Early Decision (binding): due November 2, decisions mid-December. Regular Decision: due January 4, decisions late March or early April. The page labels these the 2026-27 admission cycle; confirm that this corresponds to fall 2027 entry.
• Materials: the Common Application (or the QuestBridge Application for eligible students); a USD 85 fee (waived in many cases of high financial need); the high school transcript; the counselor report; and three recommendations: one from the counselor and two from teachers of major academic subjects (English, math, social studies, sciences or languages, preferably within the last two years). The page says Pratt applicants need at least one recommendation from a math or science teacher; it sets no such rule for Trinity. One optional personal recommendation is allowed. Two short Duke essays are required, plus optional prompts.
• Other: up to 10 activities; separate resumes are not accepted; optional alumni interviews (not all applicants can be interviewed, and not being offered one does not hurt); Early Decision applicants send first-quarter grades and all applicants send midyear grades by February 15.
• Testing: for 2026-2027 Duke is test-optional for first-year and transfer applicants; not submitting scores is not a disadvantage, and self-reported scores are accepted. AP and IB scores are considered if reported. The listed last test dates are November 7 (SAT) and October 17 (ACT) for Early Decision, and December 5 (SAT) and December 12 (ACT) for Regular Decision. ACT takers are encouraged to include the science section, especially for STEM interests.

5. Domestic students

• Cost: the financial support page lists (without stating the year; nearby text refers to 2025-2026 costs, with the official 2026-2027 costs announced in spring): tuition USD 70,265, fees about 2,907, housing 10,910, food 10,075, books 536, personal 3,274, transportation 582, estimated total USD 98,549. One tuition figure is shown, with no in-state/out-of-state distinction. Figures for fall 2027 entry are not in the pages I read.
• Aid: Duke says it meets the full demonstrated need of admitted students; the page says 50% of undergraduates receive aid and 75% graduate debt-free. Aid applicants submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA: Early Decision November 3 (the application page’s schedule says November 2, so the two differ and should be checked) and Regular Decision February 1. A Net Price Calculator is offered. For US citizens, applying for aid does not affect admission.
• Scholarships: Duke has a small number of merit scholarships for which all applicants are automatically considered. The math department’s “Major Scholarships” page lists past students who won external awards such as Rhodes and Marshall; it is not a department scholarship for applicants. Department scholarships for applicants: not published.
• State-resident preference: not mentioned on the pages read; not published. DACA and undocumented students apply as US citizens and permanent residents do and are reviewed need-blind.

6. International students

• Application: there is no separate international application, and testing policies are the same for all applicants.
• English: no English score is required, but non-native speakers, or those not in an English-medium curriculum, are encouraged to take one test, with no preference among them and the highest score used. Minimums expected: Cambridge C1/C2 180; Duolingo 130; IELTS 7 overall; PTE Academic 70; TOEFL iBT 100 (75 on the revised paper test). Duolingo should be sent officially (free); others can be self-reported.
• Transcripts: translations can be done by an official service, an EducationUSA adviser or a school official, and the originals must also be submitted; school reports and transcripts must come directly from the school.
• Aid: Duke offers need-based aid and merit scholarships to international students. Foreign citizens must apply for need-based aid in the original first-year application to be eligible at any point; those who ask for aid are considered in a separate admission pool, whose admit rate the site says is usually less than half the overall rate regardless of how great or small the need; applicants admitted with “no financial aid interest” cannot apply later. Aid awards are issued for four years and renew automatically. The CSS Profile is required, and some families are asked to send tax and employer income documents through the College Board’s IDOC service with English translations and exchange rates.
• Visa: an F-1 visa needs proof of funds and an I-20, which is issued only after you accept admission and return the Certificate of Financial Responsibility.
• Interviews: international applicants can submit an InitialView interview, and alumni volunteers also interview in forty-two countries.

7. Applicants from China

• Interviews: the site says students attending schools in China are “particularly encouraged” to arrange an InitialView interview and to book early.
• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are considered or how; not published. Ask the admissions office.
• Transcripts and verification: see the translation and submission rules above. The pages read give no Chinese-specific requirements for transcripts, school-leaving exams or credential evaluation, and no statement for applicants from China; not published.
• English: recommended, not required; see the scores above. SAT/ACT are optional.
• Duke Kunshan: the transfer section says students at Duke Kunshan University who want to transfer to Duke have no advantage in admission. Duke Kunshan runs its own admissions site, which I did not read.

8. Department programs and outcomes

• Undergraduate programs: the department’s undergraduate menu lists research, Graduation with Distinction and senior theses, independent study, tutoring and study abroad; I did not read the details of each, so see the department website.
• Outcomes: the department’s careers page says: “A bachelor’s degree in mathematics will prepare you for jobs in statistics, actuarial sciences, mathematical modeling, cryptography, and mathematics education, as well as prepare you for graduate school leading to a research career in engineering, mathematics or statistics.” The pages read do not print employment rates or salaries for mathematics majors.

9. Transfer students

• Dates and method: the transfer deadline is March 15, with no spring transfer program. You can use the Duke Transfer Application or the Scoir Coalition Application; the Common Application is not accepted. The page sets no separate conditions for transferring into mathematics, and its year wording is inconsistent (one passage refers to enrollment in the fall of 2026), so confirm the year.
• Eligibility: attended a college in the past four years and will have completed at least one full year of transferable work by August; those with a bachelor’s degree cannot apply as transfers; high school students earning an associate degree apply as first years.
• Selectivity: the site says the admission rate has ranged from 3% to 7% over five years, with about 70 students transferring each fall, most as sophomores; the most successful applicants have a college GPA of at least 3.7. For 2025-2026 it lists 2,460 applications, 160 admitted, 94 matriculated and a 6.5% admit rate.
• Materials: the transfer application, a College Report completed by a school administrator, the college transcript, the final high school transcript, two instructor evaluations (at least one from a college instructor), essays and financial aid forms.
• Credit: Duke gives no preliminary credit evaluation and cannot connect applicants with an advisor; credit is likely if the work is comparable to Duke courses in areas such as math. Credit is granted for no more than two years of outside coursework, transfers must spend at least two years at Duke, and at least half of each major’s courses must be taken at Duke. Mathematics-specific requirements for calculus or linear algebra sequences are not on the pages read; not published.
• Aid: US citizens, permanent residents, undocumented and DACA transfer students are admitted without regard to aid and have 100% of demonstrated need met; need-based aid is not available to international transfers, and Duke offers no merit scholarships to transfers.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Choose Trinity (not Pratt) for mathematics; Early Decision November 2 or Regular Decision January 4, and confirm the year; USD 85 fee (waivable)
• Three recommendations (counselor plus two teachers) and the required short essays; SAT/ACT optional
• After enrolling, use the department placement guidance (105L/106L or 111L); AP BC 5 earns MATH 21 and 22; submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA

International students (including those from China):

• The same application and deadlines; English scores are recommended, not required; translated transcripts plus originals
• If you need aid, apply for it in the first application; you will be in a separate admission pool
• Students at schools in China are particularly encouraged to take an InitialView interview; ask admissions about Gaokao use

Transfer students:

• March 15 deadline; at least one full year of transferable work; college GPA of 3.7 is cited for the most successful applicants; two instructor evaluations; no need-based aid for international transfers

Sources: Duke University, Undergraduate Admissions: Apply; Majors, minors and certificates; Resources and FAQs; Financial support; Math Department: the math major; Math Department: major and minor requirements; Math Department: course placement; Math Department: placement guidelines; Math Department: AP and international exams; Math Department: careers; Math Department: major scholarships; Trinity College: majors and minors. The admissions page labels its requirements the “2026-27 admission cycle”, and the cost table does not state a year; check Duke’s website for the latest and confirm the entry year.