Students at a standup meeting

Code+ is your launchpad into the world of tech.

Code+ opens doors for students with varied experiences and perspectives, expanding the technology talent pipeline by welcoming those with limited exposure to tech or higher education—and offering a supportive environment to grow skills, confidence, and community.

This 10-week, project-based summer experience is designed for Duke undergraduates who want to gain real-world coding and product development skills—no prior tech work experience needed. Run by the Office of Information Technology, Code+ introduces students to cutting-edge tools and technologies in a collaborative, peer-learning environment and offers meaningful professional development.

You’ll work in small teams led by Duke IT professionals to design and build solutions that address real challenges at Duke, in Durham, or beyond. From defining the project and gathering requirements to developing a working product, you’ll be part of every step of the development process—growing your technical skills while also strengthening your communication, collaboration, and project management abilities.Other skills you may acquire include:

  • Front-end and back-end web app development
  • Mobile app development
  • User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design
  • Information integration
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Natural language processing

Code+ alumni have gone on to internships and full-time roles at Google, Salesforce, Square, Facebook, and a range of innovative startups. What makes Code+ unique? Instead of joining a project already in motion, you’ll lead the charge—from concept to completion—on something that makes a real impact.

Where and When

Code+ 2025 will be run out of The Edge in Bostock Library, with occasional use of other facilities on West Campus. In order to foster a sense of community, living on campus is strongly encouraged; students are housed with other +Programs students. On campus students receive housing and a meal plan.

Program timing:

  • Mid-January - Applications open. Apply early; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
  • February - First round of offers is extended
  • Mid-late March - Applications close; watch this site for announcements
  • Tuesday, May 20 - Program begins
  • Friday, July 25 - Program ends

Expectations

Participants are expected to participate full-time in person with their teams and may not accept employment or take classes that interfere with the business workday. If a student cannot be present for the entirety of the program, they must contact codeplus@duke.edu as soon as this is known, stating the reason for the absence. Excessive absence may impact a student's stipend. 

Criteria for selection

We consider several criteria when reviewing applications and selecting Code+ participants: 

  • Academic year – Duke undergraduates only, first-years and sophomores preferred. Juniors are considered if they are recent entrants into a tech-related major/minor. 
  • Experience – Limited or no experience working in the tech industry  
  • Major and/or minor – Intention to major and/or minor in a tech-related field    

Program Details

Code+ provides participants with a non-compensatory award. On campus students receive $1,000.00 in addition to a housing and a meal plan; off campus students receive $5,000.00.

In order to receive your first award payment on time, visit DukeHub and set up direct deposit before May 1. Payments are paid in equal halves on May 31 and June 30.

We strongly encourage Code+ participants to live on campus. +Programs students (Code+, Data+, CS+, Climate+, Applied Ethics+, and Math+) will live together in Keohane Quad on West Campus. Being co-located will provide countless opportunities to socialize, spontaneously get together, share activities, and create a sense of community.

The following apply to any +Program student living on campus:

  • New for 2025: You will need to apply for housing during Code+. If you need housing outside of the Code+ program dates, see below.
  • Your Code+ award covers your room and meal plan during the dates of the program; you are responsible for all other expenses.
  • Move-in day is Monday, May 19. Check in is typically between noon and 4pm. If you can't arrive between noon and 4pm, contact Housing.
  • You may receive a physical key for your room. Take it with you everywhere to avoid lockouts. If you lose the key or don't return it to Housing at the end of the program, you will be charged $125.
  • Move-out is July 26 before noon. If you move out before the move-out date, you must advise Housing in advance. You must return your key to Housing to avoid a $125 charge.

housing outside of Code+ dates

You can apply for housing through the housing portal if you need housing between:

  • The end of spring semester and Code+ move-in on May 19
  • The end of Code+ and the start of fall semester

For any questions, contact housing@duke.edu.

If you live on campus, a meal plan will be loaded on your DukeCard at the beginning of the program.

The plan is a declining cash balance you can use to purchase food, snacks, and drinks. Meal plans are non-refundable; we encourage you to deplete the balance.

MEAL PLAN TIPS

  • When checking out, tell the cashier you are using "Conference Food"
  • To see the balance, ask for a receipt. You can also check the balance on the eAccounts app and portal.
  • You cannot use the meal plan to order food online.

VENDORS

  • Find dining locations, menus, and hours
  • The Cafe 300 (inside Swift) will be open 7 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 8 pm daily with snacks and other provisions (opens May 31)
  • The meal plan can be used for Merchant on Points

If you have a valid parking permit for the current academic year, it is valid until mid-August. Beginning in early May, you can purchase 1-day, 7-day, and 30-day permits valid at 300 Swift Ave., Blue Zone, and East surface lots from Parking and Transportation. Buses and vans will also run. For questions, contact tranpark@duke.edu. 

If you do not have a U.S. Taxpayer ID in the form of a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), take your Code+ offer email to Duke Visa Services (no appointment necessary) to request one. It can take 10 weeks to receive an ITIN. If Duke does not have your ITIN, your award payment may be delayed.

Checks and US tax forms cannot be mailed outside of the US. If you need your Duke mailbox to remain open during the summer, contact dukepostoffice@duke.edu.

After exams end, we will schedule Meet & Greet meetings for each team so you can meet your teammates and team leads. These will be on Zoom. During the meeting, you'll learn more about the program and your project, including any languages, tools, platforms that your project may use. You will also be given resources and materials to review before the program starts.