The Duke University Global Education Office (GEO) is committed to inclusion on its study away programs. We work closely with Duke’s Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) to help students with disabilities request and receive approved reasonable accommodations on study away programs. 

With your Duke accommodation on file, GEO will help you explore each program’s ability to meet your needs, determine the feasibility of offering particular accommodations in particular program locations, and help arrange accommodations if needed and available. 

It takes time and planning to arrange accommodations abroad. If it should become apparent at any point in this process that your preferred program/program location cannot reasonably accommodate your specific needs, we will work with you to explore other program options that may fit both your interests and needs.

If you rely on a housing accommodation from SDAO or Housing & Residence Life (HRL) at Duke that you want to apply abroad, you must schedule a Pre-Application Housing Accommodation Meeting (see below under "Housing Accommodations") prior to applying/submitting a worksheet for any study away program.

Please note: GEO does not review medical documentation or determine accommodations; all documentation must come through SDAO or HRL. 

Already registered with Duke SDAO?

Duke students who are planning to study away via a Duke-Administered program, Duke-Approved program, or Petition Program should ensure they are registered to receive accommodations at Duke through the SDAO. 

All students with existing accommodations should request that SDAO send your existing accommodations letter to GEOSDAO@duke.edu.  
 

For Duke Students with Existing SDAO Accommodations

Your SDAO letter must be received within 2 weeks of acceptance. GEO will do our best to honor requests made after this deadline, but they are not guaranteed.

  1. SDAO  will email an accommodation letter to GEO and copy you. GEO will then connect you with the GEO Program Manager of your program. This individual will serve as the disability liaison with the study away program in question and will assist SDAO  in the coordination and implementation of accommodations where available.
  2. It is imperative that you and the GEO Program Manager discuss your specific accommodations if you have any concerns as to whether your accommodation(s) can be met while studying away from Duke. Do not assume that any or all accommodations can be offered/arranged.
  3. After the GEO Program Manager receives your accommodation letter from our office, they will provide this letter to the designated individual(s) at the institution/program you will be attending, or will assist you in contacting the designated individual(s) at the institution/program you will be attending.
  4. You may be required to “register” with the host institution or their disability office. If this is requested of you, please follow the instructions provided by the GEO Program Manager and/or host institution. In some cases, you will need to provide documentation, not only from Duke but also from your medical provider. If needed, you may need to confer with your designated GEO Program Manager for clarification as to next steps.

GEO cannot guarantee that every accommodation can be implemented in every Duke-Approved program location. Please follow the steps below to meet with a GEO Director prior to submitting a worksheet.

  1. If you need to apply an SDAO/HRL Housing Accommodation, schedule a Pre-Application Housing Accommodation Meeting by emailing geodirectors@duke.edu prior to submitting a worksheet. Use the subject line: 

    “Request for Housing Accommodation Meeting – [Semester, Year]” 

    Include several available meeting times during GEO business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).  
  2. A GEO director will help you to evaluate program options and identify those that are strong fit for your needs.
  3. Apply to your identified program(s)
  4. Once you have been accepted, you may be required to “register” with the host institution or their disability office. If this is requested of you, please follow the instructions provided by program provider and/or host institution. In some cases, you will need to provide documentation, not only from Duke but also from your medical provider. If you have questions, you should connect with the GEO director you met with for clarification on next steps.

Not yet registered with Duke SDAO?

Students who require accommodations and are not registered with Duke SDAO should register prior to submitting a worksheet or application.

Duke students who are planning to study away via a Duke-Administered, Duke-Approved, or Petition Program and who are not already registered to receive accommodations at Duke through the SDAO, will first need to request accommodations through Duke SDAO. Once you have received notification that your requested accommodations have been reviewed and approved by SDAO, you will go through the steps outlined above under "For Duke Students with Existing SDAO Accommodations". 

If you have any questions or concerns throughout this process, please reach out to GEOSDAO@duke.edu.

If you develop a new need for access or functional needs accommodations, please seek out the assistance of the program on which you are studying. 

Non-Duke students my also request their accommodations from their home institution on Duke-Administered Programs. Students should reach out to the GEO Program Manager for their program for information on applying their existing accommodations to their time on a Duke-Administered program. Your Program Manager will then work with you, Duke SDAO, and your program director to explore possible accommodations. 

If you have any questions or concerns throughout this process, please reach out to GEOSDAO@duke.edu.

Housing Accommodations

Study away programs operate within the housing systems and legal frameworks of their host countries, so housing options and accommodations may differ from those on Duke’s campus. 

Students with existing housing accommodations through the Student Disability and Access Office (SDAO) or religious or cultural accommodations through Housing and Residence Life (HRL) should note that these accommodations are designed for Duke’s campus and do not automatically transfer abroad. That said, many programs can support common needs—such as single rooms, dietary considerations, or separation by sex—within their existing housing structures. 

Students who rely on specific housing features are encouraged to prioritize programs that offer those features and are required to meet with a GEO Director prior to submitting a study away worksheet or application.

 

Pre-Application Housing Accommodation Meeting

Students who wish to apply their existing SDAO or HRL housing accommodation while studying away should meet with a GEO Director before submitting a study away worksheet or application. These conversations help identify programs that are a strong fit and reduce the likelihood of housing challenges later in the process. 

Students can request a meeting by emailing GEODirectors@duke.edu with the subject line: “Request for Housing Accommodation Meeting – [Semester, Year]” and including several available meeting times during GEO business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.). 

Recommended timeline for meeting

  • Fall or Academic Year away: September–December of the year before your intended study away
  • Spring away: February–May of the year before your intended study away

Students should share a copy of their current SDAO or HRL accommodation letter in advance of the meeting by requesting that SDAO/HRL email their accommodation letter to GEOSDAO@duke.edu.

GEO will work with students to identify programs that can reasonably meet their needs within existing program housing and, when appropriate, coordinate with program partners. 

In the uncommon case that no suitable program housing option is available, GEO may approve an exception for independent housing.

FAQ for Housing Accommodations

"Existing" means that the accommodation is on file with the appropriate office at Duke, up-to-date, and issued for the same semester in which the student is applying to study away (for example, Fall 2026 accommodations for Fall 2027 study away).

”Reasonably meet” means that the program will make reasonable efforts to address the functional needs described in a student’s accommodation using the housing types and facilities already available through the program. 

Programs are not required to replicate Duke housing configurations or provide housing features that are not part of the program’s standard housing options (for example, private bathrooms, private apartments, air-conditioning, no carpet, or modified building infrastructure). 

When specific housing features are not available, programs may provide the closest reasonable alternative within their existing housing structures. Local laws, housing regulations, and host‑country housing practices may also limit the types of accommodations that can be provided.