DukeLIFE has resources to help eligible students access materials for one course each semester. The program is intended to assist students who are not receiving other forms of support from the university.
Who is eligible to apply?
Actively enrolled Trinity or Pratt DukeLIFE undergraduates with high financial need as indicated in their need-based financial aid records.
At the beginning of each academic year, DukeLIFE emails all students who meet the financial eligibility criteria. Check your email for receipt of this communication to confirm your eligibility before applying. Students may also email dukelife@duke.edu to inquire about their eligibility.
Students may receive assistance with materials for one course per semester. Students who apply for materials for more than one course will be referred to the financial aid office to inquire about additional forms of aid, including interest-free loans.
Eligible Items:
- Required materials the instructor has adopted through the Duke Textbook Store, including:
- Courseware subscriptions (one-semester subscriptions)
- Textbooks (one-semester rentals of digital or physical editions)
- Physical workbooks and lab notebooks (for purchase)
Recommended materials and items not adopted through the Duke Textbook Store are ineligible.
Calculators, lab goggles, and recent textbooks are available to borrow from the DukeLIFE Resource Library.
Instructions:
1. Navigate to the "Student Orders" section of the Duke Textbook Store homepage to identify materials that have been adopted for your courses. Select one course for DukeLIFE's assistance acquiring materials.
Note: If you're requesting materials for Chem 101, Bio 201, Spanish 101/102, or Spanish 203/204/205/211, then use this application instead.
2. Fill out the request form linked below. Place the items for the course in a shopping cart and upload a screenshot of the cart to your application. Ensure that your screenshot shows the exact cost of one-semester courseware subscriptions and/or one semester loans of any textbooks.
3. Submit your application by February 15. We review applications on a rolling basis and we aim to provide you with an email notification about the status of your request within 4 business days.
4. If we approve your request, we will load a voucher for the total cost of your approved items into your Duke eCampus account so that you can order them. Be sure to use your "firstname.lastname@duke.edu" to log into your account.
5. Use the voucher to order your items by February 28, 2025.
6. If you rented physical items, return them to the Duke Stores at the end of the semester. If you do not return rented items, you will not be eligible to use this program in the future.
Other Campus Resources
Students having difficulty with textbooks and supply costs associated with their courses may also use the following resources.
- Browse our Resource Library to see if the item is in stock. If it is, send an email to dukelife@duke.edu to borrow it. Borrowing from our Resource Library does not count towards your one course per semester allotment.
- Contact the financial aid office (whether or not you are on aid). They have loans and resources for connecting students with campus programs that might be able to help alleviate these costs.
- Bursar refunds and work study are funding sources intended for educational expenses, including course materials and textbooks.
- Students who are receiving financial aid packages as part of the Initiative for Students from the Carolinas are packaged with refunds to help them cover the costs of course materials.
- Check out textbooks from the Duke Libraries.
- For course-specific technology needs such as Digital Voice Recorder, HD Video Camera, TI-84 Plus CE, DSLR camera kit, Tripod, shotgun mic, iPad mini 4, handheld projector, or a GoPro, visit the Link and reserve rental equipment.
FAQ
DukeLIFE is now working with the Duke Bookstore and eCampus to improve our process and fulfill requests more quickly.
As of Spring 2025, we can provide students with vouchers to purchase their items through the DukeBookstore/eCampus portal.
We can only fulfill requests for courses in which the instructor has adopted their materials through the Duke Bookstore.
We can often approve requests for physical materials within 4 business days. Due to the substantial number of applications during the first two weeks of each semester, there may be delays.
If you are approved, we will provide you with an eCampus Voucher.
No. We are unable to reimburse students for their purchases.
No. DukeLIFE runs a separate loaner laptop program. We do not have iPads available for students to borrow.