The typical day or week in the life of an MQM student involves a lot of work. And if you’re like me, you hate studying in your bedroom. Luckily, there are many magnificent places to study at Duke!

As someone who’s explored just about every open building on campus, I’ve been able to find some of the coolest places beyond popular spots like the Ford Library at Fuqua and other nearby libraries, Gothic Reading Room, Bryan Center, and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. For anyone looking to get off the beaten path and find some hidden gems, here are the top 10 study spots at Duke that will provide the perfect environment for focus and inspiration!

10. Bella Union

Not only does this multilevel tower have a café and restaurant, but it’s located near the Duke Gardens, away from the hustle and bustle of campus. Beware, though, as it’s crawling with undergrads.

9. Oasis at Perkins Library

Located on the fourth floor of Perkins Library, in the corner facing the old chemistry building, lies a mysterious room with yoga mats, puzzles, books, a white noise machine, and comfy chairs! The room provides the perfect ambiance for trying to relax when you’re cramming for a final. It’s a small room, though, so make sure to grab it before anyone else.

8. Wilkinson Engineering Building

This modern building has a lot of tables and chairs, so there’s almost always a spot available. My favorite place here is the chairs by the big windows, but any of the several floors of the building are fantastic. The super long staircase helps get your steps in!

7. Duke Coffeehouse

Night cafes always offer good vibes. Open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day, Duke Coffeehouse is one of my favorite late-night study spots. The artwork is unique, and sometimes they have live music! This student-run organization offers free tea and coffee. It can be a little hard to find, so make sure to take the outside staircase at the east end of the building and enter the second floor.

6. Grainger Hall at the Nicholas School of the Environment

If you like studying near windows, this is the place for you, especially when you can get a pretty good view of Duke Chapel. Venture to the top floor for a glimpse at the beautiful rooftop garden. Just make sure to prop the door open, or you’ll have to take the outside staircase all the way down. I learned that the hard way.

5. Sanford School of Public Policy and Rubenstein Hall

The Sanford School occupies two adjacent buildings with a lovely courtyard in between. If you’re a fan of cool architecture, then your jaw will drop as soon as you enter the Sanford building, where the study spaces resemble something out of M.C. Escher’s Relativity.

4. Duke Student Wellness Center

While you may know this building, I bet you didn’t know that the top floor of the entrance has comfy chairs where you can face the chapel. The building is gorgeous, especially at night, and sometimes people come in and play the piano, offering the perfect live music backdrop for studying. Did I mention there are massage chairs?

3. French Family Science Center

This building is massive, featuring a giant hallway filled with staircases. I recommend studying by the benches on any level in the main atrium or going to the ends of the hallways to find a nice, quiet seat. If you need a break, you can go for a walk.

2. Gross Hall

Located right across from Duke Law School, Gross Hall is a place that students often ignore. This is unfortunate as it is one of the best places on this list. While the main lobby is nice and has lots of good places to sit, it’s nothing compared to the main atrium they have, as well as “The Connection.”

1. Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences

The picture speaks for itself. The third floor of the main atrium is arguably my favorite study spot at Duke, day or night. It has one of the best indoor views of the chapel, as well as the rest of campus.

There are so many seats, all with outlets, and it’s very quiet, making this the perfect place to get all your work done in one day.

Honorable Mentions

These two spots are still great places to get some work done but just missed the cut!

• Nello L. Teer Building: It’s a small building and can sometimes get busy, but in the evening, it’s a very nice spot.
• Rubenstein Arts Center: It’s a bit far from the rest of campus, located near the Nasher Museum, but it’s a gorgeous building with surprisingly a decent number of seats.