Welcome to Duke University and to Durham, North Carolina. This page contains information for both our short term and long-term visitors. Find resources for hotels, apartments and practical information for living in Durham. The University has a wonderful resource for international students, Duke International Student Center, much of the information found on their website is also helpful for our Visiting Scholars.
Hotels
Here you will find a list of local hotels organized both by proximity to campus and by daily rate.
Apartment Rentals
Click here for a useful guide on how to find housing, common housing options including renting, subletting, furnished apartments, short term rentals, and a list of questions to ask when speaking with potential roommates or landlords.
The average rate for a 1 bedroom or studio apartment in Durham as of 2023 is $1,482. Many apartments are housed within a larger "complex" some apartment complexes have extra amenities including pool, gym and tennis courts. A list of apartment complexes near Duke Campus have been included below.
Note: if your stay is for one semester many apartment complexes do not offer short term rentals. Below are listed websites and list serves for shorter term rental options and apartment exchanges.
Setting up Utilities
Here you will find a useful guide to setting up utilities (internet, electricity, gas) for your new home.
Apartment complexes close to campus:
Trinity Properties -Twenty minutes walking distance to the Center, or take the LaSalle Loop Duke bus to get to campus.
Holly Hills (note the additional "s")
List Serves for Apartments and single rooms:
Student Exchange House- Offers short-term housing at one price for everything: furnished room, utilities, wifi, etc.
DukeList- Classified ads, including a category for rental housing. Requires a Duke ID to access.
NearDuke.com- Searchable list of rental properties near campus.
Duke International Student Center provides advocacy, advising, educational programming, and community building.
University Apartments offers some furnished apartments and is close to West Campus.
Airbnb is a popular website that lists places to stay, including individual rooms in apartments or houses.
Zillow is a real estate website that lists houses for rent.
Quote from former HOPE Visiting Scholar: "In terms of areas to live, close to East Campus is a great location and I feel very safe. It's especially nice, because the bus transportation between East and West Campus is so good. Also Whole Foods is close for shopping for healthy food."
Public transportation in Durham is offered throug the bus stytem, GoDurham. Duke offers free access to all GoTriangle buses for Duke Net ID holders. Sign up for this free service here. Go Durham has limited routes, due to this it has been the preference of many scholars to live walking/ biking distance to campus.
In addition to public transportation, there is the Duke University bus system, which is very good-and free. Duke Transport allows you to track the buses between the two campuses on your smart phone or computer.
Uber or Lyft are both used frequently by students and scholars.
Grocery Stores
There are two grocery stores near East Campus
Harris Teeter
2107 Hillsborough Rd
Durham, NC 27705
Whole Foods
621 Broad St
Durham, NC 27705
There is also a co-op on W. Chapel Hill Street (Durham Co-op Market).
Places to Eat
Visit Durham Convention webpage on local dining.
On Campus there are several dining options nearest to the center are the Brodhead Center and a coffeeshop Saladelia @ the Perk, the glass-wall space adjoining Perkins Library. For a complete list of dinning options on campus click here.
Places to Visit
Quote from former HOPE Visiting Scholar:"Good places to visit are definitely Asheville, Chapel Hill, and the beaches close to Wilmington. Washington, DC is not far and New York is close and one can find cheap flights to visit while here."
Quote from staff member Paul Dudenhefer: There are tons of great restaurants in Durham! You don't have to leave town to eat well!
Health Insurance:
All J-1 scholars and J-2 dependents are required to carry health insurance that meets specifications outlined in the J regulations, as well as Duke University policy. If you have questions concerning this requirement, please refer to our J-1 Exchange Visitor Health Insurance Requirement webpage.
J-1 Insurance providers*
- Patriot Exchange Program by International Medical Group
- Exchange Guard-International Health Insurance by Insubuy
- Exchange Superior Plan by International Student Insurance
*This list is neither comprehensive nor can it be guaranteed that they continue to meet the requirements set forth by the State Department.
Doctor/Dentist
If you are having an life threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room at Duke Hospital, located at 2301 Erwin Road.
For illness and routine medical care:
Click here for a list of urgent care locations and information on how to find a doctor.
Doctor: Find a doctor in the Duke system.
Updated Tax info coming soon.