Short Answer Essays

Short essay questions are required—post your responses in the application

AI for Product Innovation

  • In what way do you think artificial intelligence is (or will be) changing your field or industry?
  • Please tell us about your motivation for applying to the AI for Product Innovation graduate program or certificate – what do you hope to get out of the experience?
  • If you could apply AI to build anything to solve a significant problem in the world, what problem would you choose to solve and what might you build?

Biomedical Engineering

  • Why are you applying for the MEng program in biomedical engineering at Duke University?
  • How will the MEng program help you to achieve the next goal?
  • Why are you selecting the Duke MEng program over the Duke MS program?

Civil Engineering

  • What is your definition of personal success? 
  • How do you think the Master’s program at Duke University will help you on the path to success as you define it?

Climate & Sustainability Engineering

  • What is your definition of personal success? 
  • How do you think the Master’s program at Duke University will help you on the path to success as you define it?

Computational Mechanics & Scientific Computing

  • What is your definition of personal success? 
  • How do you think the Master’s program at Duke University will help you on the path to success as you define it?

Cybersecurity

  • What activity or experience, not in your resume/CV, sets you apart from other Cyber applicants? (Note that “good grades” typically do not set candidates apart.)
  • What was the most complicated thing you’ve ever designed/built, either physical or virtual?  Please describe it here
  • In your opinion, what do you feel is the most pressing Cyber need or opportunity?  How do you see yourself addressing this?

Design & Technology Innovation

  • Tell us about a project you worked on (professional or personal) and walk us through how you leveraged design and innovation methods during it, for success or failure. Highlight and explain some key decisions you made throughout.
  • Describe what you hope to be working on in ten years. How and why do you think the program will help you achieve that?
  • Our program’s guiding principles state that design and innovation practice must include:
    (1) equitable consideration of the impact the design may have on people, communities, and systems;
    (2) creative and critical engagement with technology; and
    (3) a rigorous and future-facing vision of desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability.

    Please select one of these principles and explain how you hope to contribute and grow regarding that principle at Duke.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

  • What have you done in the past that makes you well suited to the Duke ECE MEng program?
  • What is it about Duke's ECE MEng Program that attracted your attention and got you to apply?  What do you think you will be able to do with what you learn in the Duke ECE MEng program?
  • Also, if applicable, indicate your interest in attending as a part-time student

Environmental Engineering

  • What is your definition of personal success? 
  • How do you think the Master’s program at Duke University will help you on the path to success as you define it?

Financial Technology

  • FinTech is all about creating new and innovative solutions, in your opinion what is the most creative fintech solution of the past 20 years and why do you consider it the most creative?
  • Often successful FinTech solutions are new, but sometimes they are new applications of existing solutions. What was the most creative solution to a problem that you’ve ever designed/built, either physical or virtual?  Please include details.
  • The emergence of decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in recent years could cause significant changes to traditional banking systems and financial markets. These platforms operate on a blockchain, allowing for peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. As a prospective Fintech graduate student, you are presented with the following hypothetical scenario
    • In a country with a strong and stable banking system, a new DeFi platform emerges and quickly gains popularity among the younger population. The platform offers high-interest savings accounts, instant peer-to-peer loans, and has its native token that starts to be used as a form of payment in various local businesses. The country's central bank has not yet formulated a definitive stance on DeFi platforms.
      •    Discuss the potential risks and benefits this DeFi platform brings to the country's financial ecosystem, considering both macroeconomic and microeconomic perspectives. What should be the approach of the central bank to this newcomer platform?

      •    What would it look like if you were to design a bridge between this new DeFi platform and traditional financial institutions? The bridge should prioritize seamless integration and mutual growth for both sectors."

Game Design, Development & Innovation

  • Your unique perspectives, experiences and passions will impact the Masters in Game Design, Development, and Innovation program. How will you contribute to the diversity of the cohort, enhance the overall learning experience, and help the program grow?
  • What was the most complicated project, either physical or virtual, game or other project, that you’ve ever designed/built?  Describe any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Please describe it here and, if applicable, include a link to an online portfolio, or feel free to provide a link to other media as part of your response.
  • What new technology or games do you hope to develop? How will this program help you reach your career aspirations?

Materials Science & Engineering

  • What was the most complicated thing you’ve ever designed/built, either physical or virtual?  Please describe it here and include a link to an online portfolio of your work or a well-labeled graphic as part of the response.
  • What do you think the most important problems engineers should solve are and why? How do you find yourself contributing to big ideas?
  • How do you feel Duke will assist you on your path to personal success and how will you contribute to the success of our community? Please give specific examples from what you have learned about our school.

Mechanical Engineering

  • What was the most complicated thing you’ve ever designed/built, either physical or virtual?  Please describe it here and include a link to an online portfolio of your work or a well-labeled graphic as part of the response.
  • What do you think the most important problems engineers should solve are and why? How do you find yourself contributing to big ideas?
  • How do you feel Duke will assist you on your path to personal success and how will you contribute to the success of our community? Please give specific examples from what you have learned about our school.

Medical Technology Design

  • Why are you applying for the Master of Engineering in MedTech Design?
  • How will the MEng program in MedTech Design help you to achieve your goals?
  • Please explain any experience you’ve had in design, either through coursework and internships.

Photonics & Optical Sciences

  • Why do you want to study photonics at Duke?
  • Why is the program right for you, and why are you right for the program?
  • How will Duke help you meet your future goals?

Risk Engineering

  • What is your definition of personal success? 
  • How do you think the Master’s program at Duke University will help you on the path to success as you define it?