Duke University Marine Lab in North Carolina

  • Location: USA - North Carolina (Beaufort)
  • GPA Requirements: 3.0 GPA
  • Other Requirements: Intro courses in biology, chemistry and math.
  • Program Structure: Direct enrollment
  • Application Deadline: Fall: February 20 | Spring: September 20
  • Program Term(s): Fall, Spring
  • Official Website: Duke University Marine Lab in North Carolina
Program Dates
Term Start Date End Date
Fall 2024 August 26th, 2024 December 14th, 2024
Spring 2025 January 8th, 2025 May 2nd, 2025

These dates are tentative. Confirm program dates before booking travel.

Where: North Carolina

The Marine Laboratory is situated on Pivers Island within the Outer Banks of North Carolina, only 150 yards across the channel from the historic town of Beaufort. A bridge connects the island with US Highway 70, making the laboratory readily accessible. The area’s system of barrier islands, sounds, and estuaries is rich in flora and fauna, and diverse habitats, including rivers, creeks, mud flats, unspoiled sand beaches, dunes, marshes, peat bogs, cypress swamps, bird islands, coastal forests, making the area an excellent haven for both nature lovers and those interested in the pursuit of marine science.

Academics

The Marine Laboratory is a campus of Duke University and a unit within the Nicholas School of the Environment. The programs of study offered at the Duke Marine Lab serve undergraduate majors in natural sciences, or environmental sciences and policy. The programs emphasize small classes, independent research, and integrated classroom, laboratory, and field research. Students have daily access to the natural marine environment, modern scientific equipment, and specialized faculty who represent the disciplines of oceanography, marine biology, marine biomedicine, marine biotechnology, and coastal marine policy and management.

Academic Structure

Courses taken with local students.

Course Credit

Courses in the Duke Marine Lab Program are typically 4 credit hours each.

Courses

For a full list of course offerings, visit Duke University’s website here.

Eligibility

Students should have a 3.0 GPA in order to study at the Duke Marine Lab and must have completed introductory courses in biology, chemistry, and math at Allegheny. Applicants must communicate with Professor Lisa Whitenack (lwhitena@allegheny.edu) before applying to the program. Participation may be limited to 1-2 students per year.

Housing & Student Life

Undergraduates all live on campus together in any one of five dorms. The Marine Lab has all the things you’d find on a college campus and a few extras: dorms, a dining hall, a library, student common spaces, a laundry room, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. All students get a free membership to a nearby gym. Students share three meals a day at the island’s Dining Hall with fellow students, faculty, and staff.

Application Process

Allegheny students must apply for approval to study off-campus from the Global Education office AND apply directly to their chosen program. For this program, the program requires a nomination from Allegheny’s Global Education Office before students can apply directly to the program. So, students must complete the Allegheny approval application and then wait for further instructions to apply to their program. The Allegheny approval application deadline is February 20 for fall programs and September 20 for spring programs. Study away approval applications will be reviewed immediately following the appropriate semester deadline. After a student has been approved by Allegheny, the Global Education office will send the student’s nomination and/or application documents to the program abroad. Students will receive instructions directly from the host program’s visiting student office with their next steps. For more information about the study away application process, please visit the application steps page.

Fees & Costs

Below find information on estimated costs for a semester abroad. You will receive a bill from Allegheny College, as you normally would, for the amount shown under “Costs Paid to Allegheny College.” All other study away program costs will be paid directly to a non-Allegheny entity and are listed in part two below. These amounts are estimates and will vary depending on individual choices. A total estimated cost of attendance for this program is shown at the bottom.

All financial aid awards can be applied to study abroad costs with the exception of federal work-study awards and certain tuition exchange scholarships. For more information, visit our page about Financing Study Away.

Note: If you enroll in a track or course that entails travel outside of North Carolina, whether domestic or international, you will be responsible for all costs associated with that travel experience.

Part One: Costs Paid to Allegheny College

Tuition (12 to 20 credits)
Students do not pay tuition directly to Duke University. Instead, students continue to pay tuition to Allegheny College. This covers tuition at the Duke Marine Bio Lab.
$27,930
Housing – Independent Living Room Rate
– Covers double room housing in a dorm at the Duke Marine Lab
$4,430
Estimated Costs for Meals – Gator Gold Plan
– Covers three meals a day in the dining hall
$3,795
Study Away Fee $800
SUBTOTAL Paid to Allegheny College $36,995

Part Two: Costs Paid to non-Allegheny Entity

Estimated Airfare $400
Estimated Health Fee $484
Estimated Activity Fee $150
Estimated Optional Recreation Fee $180
Estimated Personal Expenses
Personal expenses include: the basic expenses for laundry, toiletries and other incidental expenses. It does not include an estimate for personal travel, entertainment or social outings.
$250
SUBTOTAL Paid to NON-Allegheny entity $1,464

TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE

Subtotal Part One: Fees paid to Allegheny College (in section 1. above) PLUS $36,995
Subtotal Part Two: Fees paid to non-Allegheny entity (in section 2. above) $1,464
TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE $38,495 ***
***Compare this to the cost of a semester at Allegheny in Meadville: $37,299.

NOTES:

Study Away Fee includes: administrative support, transcript translation and processing, pre-departure orientation, and emergency travel insurance.