No matter whether you are considering a graduate program right after completing your undergraduate degree or after you’ve gotten a few years of work experience under your belt, finding the right program for you is an important choice.
Here at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, we don’t want you to go on this search alone. This is your complete guide to all things graduate admissions at UVA Batten.
One-on-one appointments
One of the best ways to get all your graduate search questions answered is to book a virtual or in-person appointment with the graduate admissions team. Jeff Chidester handles questions from those interested in our Master of Public Policy, Master of Science in Public Policy & Data, combination degree options, and those who may be considering multiple graduate programs at Batten. Courtney Leistensnider handles questions for those interested in the Graduate Certificates in Public Policy and Public Leadership.
Personalized visits and our Charlottesville Open House
If you are within driving distance of Charlottesville, we would love to host you in Charlottesville at our Graduate Programs Open House on Saturday, Oct. 17. Throughout the day, you will have the chance to hear about UVA Batten from faculty, staff, current students and alumni perspectives.
Can’t make the Open House? Consider booking a personalized visit to UVA Batten. During a visit to our school, you will have the chance to sit in on a class, have lunch or a coffee with a current student, meet with the Admissions team and see our facilities.
Additionally, we will be taking the UVA Batten show on the road, giving you the chance to connect with our admissions team and local alums! Learn more about and register today for our Oct. 27 Richmond Open House and Nov. 18 Washington, D.C. Open House.
Virtual events
We know not everyone has the opportunity to visit before applying (or even accepting their offer), so we’re hosting a series of virtual webinars that help answer the top questions we hear from prospective students. You can see the full fall schedule below:
- Sept. 16: Graduate Certificate Information Session
- Oct. 8: How to Build a Strong Graduate Application
- Oct. 21: Batten MPP Student Experience
- Nov. 4: Faculty Q&A with Professor Dan Player
- Nov. 19: Graduate Academics Deep Dive
- Dec. 2: Financing Your Degree
- Dec. 16: Explore Our Programs and Prepare for Your Application
Ambassador open office hours
Finally, you may book appointments directly with current MPP students. Be prepared to ask questions about the student experience, life in Charlottesville and much more. Below, you will find their appointment availability:
- Ashley, MPP ‘27: Monday (9-10 a.m.), Tuesday (10 a.m.-12 p.m.)
- Riley, MPP ‘27: Tuesday (9-11 a.m.)
- Seamus, MPP/MBA ‘27: Tuesday (2-3 p.m.)
- Sarai, MPP ‘27: Monday (10-11 a.m.), Thursday (11 a.m.-12 p.m.)
- Emma, MPP/MBA ‘28: Thursday (4-6 p.m.), Friday (3-5 p.m.)
- Aoife, MPP ‘27: Friday (10-11 a.m.)
We hope these different events and opportunities give you the best possible insight into our programs and our community. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us at BattenAdmissions@virginia.edu.
