Auditing Courses

Duke employees and community members with appropriate academic backgrounds are eligible to audit certain Duke courses – primarily undergraduate – numbered 001- 499. If you audit a course, you may NOT later take that course for academic credit at Duke.

While auditors do not receive academic credit, they do have an official relationship with Duke and are eligible to receive a Duke transcript at the end of the academic semester or term. Permission to audit is granted (or not) by the instructor of the course. An auditor is counted among those registered for the course, so there must be space available in order to register to audit.

The course instructor may want to know the potential auditor’s academic background and reasons for wanting to audit. Instructor expectations for your participation differ; they may expect auditors to:

  • Do all written work and participate in class (especially in foreign languages, math, and statistics courses)
  • Complete assigned readings and participate in class discussion, but not to submit any written work
  • Attend class, but not to participate in class discussion or turn in any written work

If the instructor does not clarify course expectations, the auditor should inquire to prevent misunderstanding.

The following courses may NOT be taken on an audit basis:

  • Science lab courses
  • Physical education activity courses
  • Art studio courses, dance technique and performance courses
  • Music lessons

The Duke School of Medicine (SoM), Duke School of Nursing, and Duke’s Fuqua School of Business restrict enrollment to their own students. On rare occasions and with the permission of the instructor and space availability, local practicing attorneys may be permitted to audit a course in the Duke Law School.

Students who would like to audit a course are registered by the Office of Continuing Studies after all current Duke students have had a chance to register. Once registered, auditors must contact the Office of Continuing Studies to change or drop their course. After the Drop/add period ends, the course cannot be cancelled and there is no refund of the audit fee. To register:

  1. Identify the course you would like to audit on the public view schedule of classes. Select the semester or term when would like to study, department of interest, then select the course number. Check for any prerequisites.
  2. Obtain the instructor’s permission to audit the course. The instructor can send an email to kprice@duke.edu, or you may forward the instructor’s email. Some instructors may grant permission weeks before classes begin; however, others may want to wait until classes have begun or until the first week of the Drop/add period is over. If you are unable to obtain permission to audit before classes begin, submit the Personal Information Form and be sure to contact Kim Price for information on how to avoid being assessed a late registration fee. 
  3. Submit the Personal Information Form and the instructor permission at least a week before the academic semester or term begins. We will work with the University Registrar to register you as an auditor as soon as possible, and we will notify you when your registration is complete

Course fees must be paid prior to the first day of classes for that semester. Duke employee’s, please see Special Tuition Rates for Duke Employees for eligibility and special employee prices.

Fall and Spring semesters only:

  • $535 per one course credit (regular)
  • $100 per course credit – max 2 courses (Employee Tuition Rate Plan)

Summer Term 1 or Term 2:

  • $302 per course credit (regular)
  • $100 per course credit – max 1 course per term (Employee Tuition Rate Plan)

If You Cannot Secure the Signature of the Instructor 

Sometimes you may encounter difficulty securing the signature of the course instructor prior to the beginning of the semester or term. You should still submit the Personal Information Form.  Also, contact Kim Price (kprice@duke.edu) before classes begin. Along with the Personal Information Form, please include a brief cover note giving us your course information and explaining why you have been unable to secure the instructor's permission. After you have submitted this information, you should continue to make efforts to obtain the instructor's permission, even after the first day of classes, as you will not be officially registered in the class until after we have received the signed permission form from the instructor.

Cancelling Your Audit Registration

If your plans change and you cannot audit, please contact us as soon as possible.  If you contact us before the end of drop/add, we can work with the Registrar’s Office to cancel your audit registration.  If your registration is cancelled before the end of drop/add, you will not have any financial obligation. 

After drop/add ends, your registration cannot be cancelled and there is no refund of tuition.

Privileges Associated With Auditing During the Fall or Spring Semesters

You are eligible to receive a DukeCard (the Duke University official identification). The DukeCard permits you to check out books at the libraries and is also used to gain admission to academic buildings at night and over the weekend.  For information on getting a DukeCard, please see the DukeCard website

You are also eligible to use a Duke email account. You will receive a Duke NetID and initial password by email sent to the email address you provide on your Personal Information Form. The Duke Office of Information Technology (OIT) will provide instructions on how to set up your Duke email. If you need assistance, consult the OIT HelpDesk

Duke employees may qualify for a special audit fee rate of $100 per course. For additional information and a form that must be completed and submitted to receive this rate, see the section on Special Tuition Rates for Duke Employees.

Duke’s Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP), administered by Duke Human Resources, does not cover non-credit work and cannot be used for audit fees.

For more detailed information about Duke’s educational employee benefit, please visit the Duke HR website

Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Duke University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of these Reports can be obtained by contacting the Duke Police Department at 684-4602 or writing to 502 Oregon Street, Durham, NC 27708 or by accessing: https://police.duke.edu/news-stats/clery