Master of Engineering (MEng) in ECE at Duke

Industry-focused: Technical training plus business courses and internship

The Duke ECE Master of Engineering degree provides a unique combination of advantages:

  • Interdisciplinary training
    Develops technical knowledge plus business skills
  • Flexible, individualized curriculum
    Courses are designed to meet demand in high-demand fields
  • Industry internship
    Plus, receive professional development support
  • Excellent career outcomes
     Join our global alumni network
  • Part-time option
    Perfect for working professionals

Jonathan Buie"The most valuable part of being a Duke grad student was the close interaction with faculty—not only in classes, but also one-on-one."

Jonathan Buie | Software Engineer
MEET Our GraduateS »

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

 The Duke ECE Master of Engineering is a 30-credit degree:

Core Industry Preparation Courses (6 credits)
  • MENG 540: Management of High-Tech Industries
  • MENG 570: Business Fundamentals for Engineers

Learn more about these courses on the Duke MEng website.

ECE Concentration Area Courses (9 credits)

Choose three (3) courses from any one (1) discipline. A custom course plan may also be developed with the approval of the student's advisor.

Select a study area to see related courses:

 

Technical and General Electives (15 credits)
  • Technical electives (6 credits): Choose two courses from ECE or other approved technical areas.
  • General electives (9 credits): With the approval of the student's advisor and the DGS, choose any three elective courses.

EXPLORE Duke ECE COURSES

Curriculum notes:

  1. Undergraduate courses may not be used to fulfill MEng degree requirements.

  2. In order to graduate, a student's advisor and ECE DGS must approve the list of courses taken using the Program of Study form.

Internship, Project or Equivalent (0 credits)
  • MENG 550: Internship or Applied Research Project
  • MENG 551: Internship/Project Assessment

Learn more about this requirement on the Duke MEng website.


Sample Study Plan

(Software Development)

  Course Course Type
Semester 1

ECE 550D: Fundamentals of Computer Systems & Engineering 

ECE 551D: Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms in C++

General Elective

Concentration


Concentration


Elective

Semester 2

MEng 570: Business Fundamentals

Technical Elective 

Concentration Elective 

Industry Prep

Concentration

Elective

Summer MEng 550: Internship or Project
(mandatory but no credit and no tuition)
Internship
Semester 3

MEng 551: Internship Assessment
(mandatory but no credit and no tuition)

MEng 540: Leadership & Management

General Elective

Technical Elective


 

Industry Prep

Elective

Elective

Semester 4*
(optional)
General Elective  Elective

* Students can choose to finish in three semesters by taking more than three courses in one semester.  However, students should NOT take more than three courses their first semester. 


ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Application Deadline

This program offers fall entry only. Application deadlines »

Tuition and Fees

See the latest tuition, fees, and cost of attendance details at the Duke Engineering MEng website »

Financial Aid and Fellowships

Because the Master of Engineering is a professional degree rather than a research degree, most students pay their own tuition costs. Many students take out loans and believe there will be an excellent return on investment when they get out into the workforce.

Diversity Scholarships

Underrepresented minorities may receive up to 50 percent per year in tuition scholarship through our Diversity Scholarships. 

Externally Funded Scholarships

We also offer support to recipients of select competitively externally funded scholarships, such as

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowships
  • Fulbright Scholar Program

DoD SMART Scholarship Program

For US Citizens only – The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.

Learn more and apply »

Veteran's Benefits

Duke University offers information for veterans who are applying for VA benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Federal Loan Programs

Duke University offers the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs for graduate students, including Stafford unsubsidized loans, Graduate PLUS, and Carl Perkins loans. Each of these loans has different terms and conditions, but they are generally deferrable until after graduation or until the student is enrolled for less than half-time.

These federal loans are available only to United States citizens. Visit the Duke Financial Aid website for more information and application procedures for student loans.

On-Campus Work

While enrolled in the program, many students work in a variety of places, such as campus libraries and various departments within Duke University. Teaching assistantships are available in various departments, and some departments have research assistantships as well.

These positions are paid an hourly rate, and most students work between 10 to 20 hours per week. Positions are generally posted and filled just a week or two before classes begin each semester.

External Funding Opportunities

Browse our extensive list of potential external funding opportunities on our dedicated website for MEng students.

Limited financial aid is available to highly qualified candidates through academic scholarships with an emphasis on increasing diversity within the program.

Part-Time Option for Working Professionals

This Duke Master of Engineering degree can be completed on a part-time basis—perfect for working professionals

If you work in the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina, or you are able to work remotely, you can take one or two courses per semester while you continue in your job.

For part-time master's study at Duke ECE:

  • Students pay by the credit hour
  • There's no additional or special application—simply indicate an interest in attending part-time in your Short Answer Essays

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Duke-Kunshan International Master of Engineering

"Duke-Kunshan International Master of Engineering"

A new collaboration between Duke ECE and Duke Kunshan University, this international master's degree is based on the Duke ECE MEng program and designed with Chinese industrial needs in mind—exposing students to U.S.-style education as well as modern Chinese business practices and industry standards.

During the first year, students study at Duke Kunshan University (Kunshan, Jiangsu,China). For their second year, students are expected to study at Duke University in the United States. Upon completion, students receive a Duke University Master of Engineering degree.

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