Batten Program FAQs

Integrating Leadership & Public Policy

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is designing a new model of public policy education – one that infuses leadership with policy, and policy with leadership. Our programs are defined by a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, rigorous quantitative and qualitative analytical training, experiential learning opportunities, and evidence-based decision-making.

World-Class Teaching & Research

Our community is defined not only by academic rigor, but also real-world experience, teaching, and mentoring. This approach has attracted a multidisciplinary faculty of leading scholar-practitioners in political science, social psychology, public administration, history, economics, and law from around the globe. Our research centers – on social entrepreneurship, education, leadership simulation, global policy, legislative effectiveness, and national security policy – are hubs for collaboration and impact.

Reinvigorating Our Democracy

Through the integration of research, teaching, and practice, the Batten School seeks to strengthen democracy – in local communities and around the world. We serve as a convener of dialogue, where the free exchange of ideas is encouraged with civility and respect. We are a trusted source of insights and ideas across all corners of the policymaking community. And we cultivate leaders imbued with an ethical and moral compass, committed to serving the greater good. The Batten School is proud to be among the entities contributing to the mission of the new Karsh Institute of Democracy at UVA – an institute devoted to the study, teaching, and promotion of democracy.

Excellence with Humanity

At home in one of the world’s great public universities, we are passionate about improving lives and solving humanity’s toughest policy challenges. We seek to attract a community as diverse in thought, experience, and background as the world we want to serve, and to bring them together in an intellectually courageous and collaborative environment. We are advancing new knowledge, new skills, and new solutions, cultivating “great and good” leaders for our common future.

Definitely not. Our programs aim to prepare students for a wide variety of policy-oriented careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Visit our Career Services page for more information on employment outcomes.

Absolutely. In our most recent MPP and BA classes, for example, student interests ranged from health care, budget, education, housing, food security, and economic mobility on the domestic side to migration, global development, diplomacy, and cybersecurity on the international side. This diversity of interests is also reflected in the research, scholarship, and real-world policy experience of Batten faculty and Batten’s five research centers and numerous labs.

Currently, we offer a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs. For students interested in graduate studies, we offer a two-year Master of Public Policy program in addition to five dual degree options with other schools at the University of Virginia, and two graduate certificates. For current UVA students, we offer a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership, a Minor in Public Policy and Leadership, a Minor in Social Entrepreneurship, and an Accelerated BA/MPP option, which allows students to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in a total of five years.

Examples include congressional committees, federal agencies (e.g., EPA, GAO, CBO, CRS, FTC, CDC), cabinet departments, various state and local government agencies, the World Bank, consulting firms (e.g., Deloitte, McKinsey, Accenture), and non-profits and NGOs in many policy sectors, such as environmental, health, education, and international development policy.

Currently, we do not offer or require interviews as a part of our admissions process. You are welcome to contact our Office of Admissions or meet with us in-person or virtually to ask questions about the School and its programs.

Yes. If you have a specific ADA related need or accommodation, please contact the Admissions Office. There are also resources available to students through the University of Virginia’s Elson Student Health Center.

Please contact our Admissions Team or book an appointment with us. Additionally, be sure to sign up for our emails by filling out our interest form and check out our blog!

We are currently hosting virtual and in-person meetings and advising sessions if you would like to speak with a member of the Admissions Office staff. If you're interested in the Postgraduate MPP, please book an appointment with or contact Jeff Chidester for more information or to arrange a personal visit to Grounds. UVA students interested in the Accelerated MPP or Bachelor of Arts programs should book an appointment with Anne Carter Mulligan, and students interested in the Public Policy & Leadership Minor or Social Entrepreneurship Minor should book an appointment with or contact Estrella Burks-Parra.

The modern Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree is defined by a dual, and mutually reinforcing, focus on public administration and policy analysis. Frank Batten, Sr. and University of Virginia leadership recognized that this framework fails to cultivate the ability of students to solve great challenges or to execute difficult tasks—what the Batten School defines as leadership. The Batten School was built on the notion that the policy world needed a new model: a school of leadership and public policy that would combine the best of administration and analysis, as well as leadership, to not only identify and design solutions, but to implement them as well. This is what sets the Batten School apart within public policy education.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is the only graduate degree offered by the Batten School. There are two types of applicants into the MPP program: •        Postgraduate MPP: a traditional two-year, full-time residential program.  •        Accelerated BA/MPP: students receive their Bachelor’s degree in another discipline and a Master of Public Policy in a total of five years. Accelerated MPP candidates must be current UVA students and receive their undergraduate degree from a School or program at the University outside of Batten.

We also offer five Postgraduate dual degree options which enable you to receive an MPP and another degree concurrently while at the University of Virginia. The five dual degree options are JD (School of Law), MBA (Darden School of Business), MPH (School of Medicine), MUEP (School of Architecture), and PhD in Education Policy (School of Education and Human Development). You must apply separately to the Batten School and the other degree program. Accelerated candidates are not eligible for the dual degree options.  

Graduates of the MPP program are hired by a wide range of institutions within the broader policy community. In our most recent jobs report, from the Class of 2022, 96% of graduates from Batten’s MPP program found employment within six months. Of Batten’s 2022 MPP graduates, 12% entered governmental or non-profit consulting. Another 29% secured government positions, with 19% engaged at the federal and 10% at the state or local levels. 14% joined the private sector, and 15% are employed in private-sector consulting. Additionally, 11% are employed in the nonprofit sector. MPP graduates are working in cities all over the country and around the world, from D.C. and Colorado to Tanzania. A list of sample institutions that have hired Batten graduates can be found here.

No. This program is a full-time, residential, two-year program.  New students enter in the fall of each academic year.

The Accelerated MPP program takes place over the course of your final undergraduate year at the University plus one additional year as a full-time graduate student. It cannot be expedited further.  

There are no prerequisite courses for the Postgraduate MPP Program. However, we strongly encourage students to have taken one or more of the following courses: microeconomics, statistics, data analysis, and a calculus-based math. These will provide the best preparation for the four required analytics courses in the MPP curriculum.

The Accelerated MPP requires completion of ECON 2010: Microeconomics (or equivalent) and a calculus-based math course. This can include MATH 1190, MATH 1210, MATH 1310, APMA 1090, or AP/transfer credit. Students must receive a C or higher (or CR during the pandemic), and prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in the program. To be well prepared for the core curriculum, students are strongly encouraged to take a collegiate-level statistics course if they are relying on AP credit to fulfill the prerequisite, have fewer quantitative courses in their academic history, or would simply like to enhance their skills. STAT 1100, STAT 2120, and STAT 1601 are good options.

For the Accelerated MPP, any coursework taken at UVA during the 2021-2022 academic year or in the Fall 2023 semester towards the completion of Batten program prerequisites that earned credit (CR) will be accepted. Those who earned No Credit (NC) or General Credit (GC) in a prerequisite course will need to retake that course before their expected start term at Batten. More broadly, in evaluating your academic performance, you will not be penalized for an academic transcript reflecting CR for any semester the university offered an alternative grading policy.  Applicants should make the best choice according to their broader academic and personal circumstances.

We recognize that applicants to our Postgraduate MPP from outside institutions may also have academic transcripts reflecting changes in their grading policies due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We encourage the submission of such transcripts with additional context for the Admissions Committee, which can be included in the “addendum” section of the application.

The Postgraduate MPP has three deadlines for Fall 2025 entry: November 15, 2025 (Round 1), January 17, 2025 (Round 2) and March 28, 2025 (Round 3). There are neither benefits nor penalties for applying in any round. However, it is a competitive program with limited seats available, so we encourage all interested students to submit their application as early as possible.

The Accelerated MPP application has two deadlines. The priority deadline is January 19, 2024, and the second deadline is a rolling deadline until the class is filled, through March 29, 2024. 

Yes, educational benefits are available for veterans, family members of veterans, and active-duty military personnel. These programs have different benefit packages and eligibility requirements. To determine your eligibility and benefits package, please consult your Education Services Officer (ESO) and see Military Tuition Assistance, for active duty, or GI Bill, for veterans. For additional questions, please contact the University’s Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator.  

In addition to the materials submitted by all applicants, international students must also adhere to additional requirements. If you attended an institution outside the U.S., you must have your transcripts verified by an academic credential verification service, such as WES. If your primary language is not English, you are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS language exam and participate in a video interview with us. Upon acceptance into the MPP program, international students will also have to submit a Financial Guarantee Form and a Confirmation of Lawful Presence Form. For additional information, please visit this page.  

The Batten School has removed the standardized test requirement. If you have already taken the GRE (or, for dual degree applicants, the GMAT or LSAT), you are welcome to submit your scores if you believe they provide another useful data point for your application. 

Students admitted into the Postgraduate MPP program are able to request deferral to the following academic year. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. The structure of the curriculum and University requirements for graduation make it difficult to defer admission into the Accelerated MPP program.  Please contact our Admissions team if you believe you are eligible for deferment.  

Tuition and fees for the MPP for Academic Year 2024-25 are $33,882 for Virginia residents and $59,412 for non-Virginia residents. Students should anticipate a modest increase in tuition and fees each year. In addition to tuition and fees, students must also consider the cost of books and supplies, housing, and other living expenses.  

The Batten School is proud to offer a number of merit- and need-based fellowships to offset the cost of tuition. For more information about our different funding opportunities, please visit our financial aid page.

Please note that Accelerated MPP candidates are not eligible for graduate financial aid until their second year of the program, and AccessUVA support does not extend into the graduate year. Batten's need-based awards are unlikely to cover the full cost of tuition and fees. 

International students are eligible to be considered for merit- and need-based fellowships but are not eligible to borrow under the Stafford Student Loan Program.

Yes, many graduate students choose to secure part-time employment during their time at Batten. Some continue with their current position on a part-time basis, while others find work at the University. Please note that for University jobs, there is a 20 hour/week limit while school is in session. However, we do not recommend that students work more than 20 hours at any job during their graduate studies.

At the Batten School, typical jobs include: •        Graduate Teaching Assistant (for second-year MPP students only) •        Graduate Grader or Course Assistant •        Graduate Tutor •        Hourly positions with faculty or research centers •        Hourly positions with Batten staff units (e.g., Communications, Admissions)

Students often find employment at other parts of the University as well, such as libraries, gyms, and sporting venues, or in the local community. Second-year MPP students may also apply to serve as Community Assistants with UVA Housing & Resident Life.

Finally, some students are eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) program to help meet the cost of education. Eligibility is based on financial need and must be earned through student employment. Additional information on FWS can be found here.  

While the Batten School does not offer concentrations, students take 15 graduate credit hours of electives in the policy area(s) of their choosing. This is often where students develop their desired area(s) of topical expertise. One of the great features of the Batten MPP is that students may fulfill these elective hours with courses from other schools at UVA, so long as they are graduate-level and approved by the registrar. Examples include Urban Law and Policy (School of Law), U.S. Education Policy (School of Education and Human Development), Data Analysis and Optimization (Darden School of Business), Environmental Policy and Planning (School of Architecture), Global Health and Human Rights (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences), and Public Health Law, Ethics, and Policy (School of Medicine).    

Yes, Batten students engage with our research centers in a multitude of ways, including attending center-sponsored events, working as research assistants on center projects, or taking coursework offered by center faculty. These centers also serve as a hub of activity for the School in several policy areas, so centers have the ability to foster ongoing engagement amongst students, faculty, and practitioners with similar policy interests.  

Internships span all industries and sectors. In recent years, our students interned at all levels of the government, the nonprofit sector, research institutions, and the private sector, including the Richmond City Public Schools, Habitat for Humanity, the United Nations, the US Department of Justice, Brookings Institute, and the National Ground Intelligence Center.  

The Batten School offers its own career services team that supports students from landing a summer internship and full-time position to making career changes long after graduation. They are here to help with resumes, interviews, and networking, among other things.  

At this time, we are happy to offer both in-person and virtual appointments! Please contact us or book an appointment with Jeff or Estrella to talk about your path to Batten. We are happy to get to know you and help answer all your questions.

Our events are free and open to the public. Our calendar showcases the different interests of our students and faculty and are a great way to experience the Batten community! 

Finally, we send out emails with our recent blog posts and information about the school and the application process. If you currently do not receive emails from our office, please fill out this form to get your name into our email system.

In the 2023-24 application cycle, we admitted 155 out of the 197 applicants (79% admittance rate). The Public Policy & Leadership minor program admitted 113 of the 143 applicants (79% admittance rate) in the 2022-2023 application cycle. The minor in social entrepreneurship is a pan-university program that accepts all applicants.

Any student at the University can explore our programs! Undergraduate students majoring in any department may apply to our Social Entrepreneurship or Public Policy & Leadership minors.

When you apply to the BA program, your school of enrollment shifts over to the Batten School. It is possible to double-major only with another program in the College of Arts and Sciences or the Youth and Social Innovation program in the School of Education and Human Development.

Our Academic Affairs team will work with you if you plan to double major, or are in a highly structured major and seeking a Batten minor, to ensure you can fulfill all curricular requirements. Please schedule a meeting with an Admissions representative if you have questions about double majoring or minoring at Batten.

Undergraduate BA students take 15 credit hours of “special topics” or electives in the policy area(s) of their choosing. Students enrolled in either minor take 6 credit hours of electives. This allows students to either concentrate in a particular area of policy of cast a wider net to study different areas of interest.

Students applying to the BA are required to take ECON 2010: Principles of Economics - Microeconomics (or equivalent), PSYC 2600: Introduction to Social Psychology or LPPL 2660 (previously LPPL 3100): Introduction to Behavioral Science (or equivalent), and LPPP 2200 (previously LPPP 3200): Introduction to Public Policy. Students interested in the Public Policy & Leadership minor must take ECON 2010 and PSYC 2600 or LPPL 2600 (previously LPPL 3100). These prerequisites must be completed prior to the semester that you would begin at Batten.

LPPL 2600 is a policy-specific section of social psychology offered by the Batten School and serves as a great introduction to foundational concepts, though we have no preference between PSYC 2600 or LPPL 2600 in our application review process. Prerequisite equivalents include coursework appearing on your UVA transcript as AP or transfer credit for the courses designated above. You can check to see if a course at another institution will satisfy equivalent credit here.

Students interested in the Social Entrepreneurship minor must complete or enroll in ENTP 1010: Startup prior to application.

Yes, you can. Students must earn a C or higher in each of the prerequisites for the Batten BA and Public Policy & Leadership minor before beginning the program in the fall, so they may be taken during the semester you apply or even over the summer. LPPP 2200 is only offered during the fall and spring semesters, so make sure you plan accordingly. Keep in mind that your performance in prerequisite courses is an important data point in our evaluation, so if you haven’t yet completed the course at the point of application, be sure to amplify other dimensions of your candidacy to fill the gap!

Students interested in the Social Entrepreneurship minor must complete or be currently enrolled in ENTP 1010: Startup at the time of application.

Any coursework taken at UVA during the 2021-2022 academic year or in the Fall 2023 semester towards the completion of Batten program prerequisites that earned credit (CR) will be accepted. Those who earned No Credit (NC) or General Credit (GC) in a prerequisite course will need to retake that course before their expected start term at Batten.

More broadly, in evaluating your academic performance, you will not be penalized for an academic transcript reflecting CR for any semester the university offered an alternative grading policy. Applicants should make the best choice according to their broader academic and personal circumstances.

Absolutely. Prospective Batten students can take any non-restricted undergraduate course, including special topics, before they apply to see if the school is a good academic fit. Great courses to sample are LPPP 2000: Batten Showcase: A Collection of Lectures on Leadership & Public Policy (1-credit), LPPL 3210: Behavioral Sciences for Civic Leadership, and LPPP 3230: Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century. Additionally, while LPPP 2200 (previously LPPP 3200): Introduction to Public Policy is a prerequisite for the BA program, students interested in the Public Policy & Leadership minor can also consider enrolling in this course to sample the curriculum.

Yes. The BA is a 42-credit program, and several of our students have a second major, such as Economics, Foreign Affairs, or Youth and Social Innovation; a minor; or even both. The only major you can pursue outside of the College of Arts and Sciences in conjunction with the Batten BA is Youth and Social Innovation in the Education School. Students cannot double major with programs in other schools, like McIntire, Engineering, or Architecture.

Yes! College of Arts and Sciences students may have two minors. If you are a College of Arts and Sciences student who wants to double minor with Batten, your other minor must be in the College. Students enrolled in another school at UVA should consult their academic policies for minoring and double minoring outside their main school of enrollment. Students in the Batten BA may double minor in any program.

Yes! The Batten School understands the significant policy challenges facing our global world and encourages students to have experience abroad. Students may study abroad during their third year, but it is important to note that no Batten core courses are offered abroad. However, some courses may be able to “count” towards your special topics. Please contact us to talk about your different options.  

Not at all! We understand that you are weighing a number of different academic options. However, we do hope you showcase your particular interest in policy on your application and highlight who you are as an individual with a propensity to make change. If you are applying to other programs and need additional time before accepting your admissions offer, please contact us.

Please contact us or book an appointment with Anne or Estrella to talk about your path to Batten. We are happy to get to know you and help answer all your questions.

Our events are free and open to the public. Our calendar showcases the different interests of our students and faculty and are a great way to experience the Batten community! 

Finally, we send out weekly newsletters with our recent blog posts and information about the school and the application process. If you currently do not receive the “Batten Beginnings” newsletter, please fill out this form to get your name into our email system.

Like its peer “Upper Schools” (e.g. Architecture, Commerce, Engineering and Nursing), Batten has a differential tuition rate for the undergraduate major higher than that of the College of Arts and Sciences. This differential is factored into your financial aid eligibility by Student Financial Services, which continues to administer all financial aid awards. Tuition and fees for the Batten BA for Academic Year 2024-2025 are $31,118 for Virginia residents and $70,326 for non-Virginia residents. 

Students pursuing one of Batten’s minors continue to pay tuition to their school of enrollment – resulting in no change to tuition or fees. 

In addition to university resources, Batten offers some paid research opportunities and part-time employment to undergraduates.  You can find more information about current tuition rates and available financial aid here or check out the resources at Student Financial Services.

We don’t have access to individual student financial aid data, so we highly recommend you contact Student Financial Services for information regarding your own personal circumstances. Assuming there is no change in your financial situation (see below), AccessUVA will continue to meet 100% of financial need for all in-state and out-of-state students through a combination of grants, work-study, and need-based loans (which are capped at $4,500 per year for in-state students and $7,000 per year for out-of-state students). The starting point for determining financial need is the Cost of Attendance, and SFS will determine your new need amount using the higher tuition and fees for Batten. If you remain eligible for financial aid upon entering Batten, your need, based on the higher cost of attendance, will continue to be met.

That said, a family’s expected contribution as determined by the FAFSA can change from year to year (for example, your sibling graduates from college, or a parent pays off a loan or gets a raise) and this also factors into determinations of financial need. As long as your financial need, as defined by SFS, remains unchanged, the higher tuition should be fully covered.

Each year, we directly admit a limited number of incoming third-year students into the BA who apply to UVA through the general admissions process. You can find out more information about transferring to UVA from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.  When you submit the Common Application, specify an interest in being considered for admission into the Batten School.

Second-year transfers to the University apply to Batten via our regular application process. Keep in mind that you’ll be applying during your first spring semester at UVA, so knock out program prerequisites as soon as possible—and come talk to us as soon as you arrive on Grounds or by making an appointment. Additionally, be sure to check out our page dedicated to transfer admission.

In rare circumstances, it is possible to defer an offer of admission into the BA depending on the number of credits you have left to graduate and other academic factors.  If you believe you may be eligible for deferment, please contact Anne Carter Mulligan to discuss your particular case.  

The Batten School offers its own career services team that supports students from landing a summer internship or full-time position to making career changes long after graduation. They help with resumes, interviews, and networking, among other things.

Of the 2022 graduates who completed Batten’s BA program, 13% are engaged in the private sector and 12% have accepted positions with the federal government. Thirty-seven percent have entered consulting roles, with 26% of those graduates in private consulting and 11% in governmental or nonprofit consulting. Other popular options for our graduates in the Class of 2022 are pursuing additional education (21%) and full-time service, such as AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, and military service (9%). Graduates of the bachelor’s program in 2022 are making an impact across the country in a wide range of locations, including Dallas, NYC, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and France, China and Spain. Additionally, graduates of our BA program were admitted to some of the top graduate and law schools in the nation. You can see additional information about our BA employment outcomes here.

Yes, Batten students engage with our research centers in a multitude of ways, including attending center-sponsored events, working as research assistants on center projects, or taking coursework offered by center faculty. These centers also serve as a hub of activity for the School in several policy areas, so centers have the ability to foster ongoing engagement amongst students, faculty, and practitioners with similar policy interests.

No. The BA program is a full-time, residential, two-year program. New students enter in the fall of each academic year. The Public Policy & Leadership minor can be completed in one or two years of study at the University. Students interested in applying to complete the minor in one year should contact or make an appointment with Estrella Burks-Parra to discuss the feasibility of completing the program’s required coursework on an expedited timeline. The Social Entrepreneurship minor can be completed in one or two years. Students interested in the SE minor should contact or make an appointment with Estrella Burks-Parra. 

Courses taken in either of our certificate programs can be applied towards the full MPP in the future, if the student wishes. Our certificate programs were designed to allow students to stack them toward the MPP degree. If you are in a certificate program and interested in pursuing the MPP in the future, please book an appointment with our academic advising team to ensure that you are maximizing your time to degree.

Students must have earned a baccalaureate degree by the time of matriculation. There are no other requirements for students in our certificate programs.

This program is offered on both a part-time basis as well as spring entry. Students must complete 12 credits for each certificate, and students can take one to four classes a semester. Students interested in joining one of our graduate certificates for the Spring 2024 semester must apply by January 1, 2025 for a January 13, 2025 start date; students interested in joining one of our graduate certificates for the Fall 2024 semester must apply by August 1, 2024 for an August 27, 2024 start date. 

At the present time, courses for both graduate certificates are offered only in person during the morning and afternoon during the week. Courses are not offered in the evenings or on the weekend.

Students interested in joining one of our graduate certificates for the Fall 2024 semester must apply by August 1, 2024 for an August 27, 2024 start date; students interested in joining one of our graduate certificates for the Spring 2025 semester must apply by January 1, 2025 for an January 13, 2025 start date. 

Yes, graduate certificates qualify for military education benefits. To determine your eligibility and benefits package, please consult your Education Services Officer (ESO) and see Military Tuition Assistance, for active duty, or GI Bill, for veterans. For additional questions, please contact the University’s Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator.

In addition to the materials submitted by all applicants, international students must also adhere to additional requirements. If you attended an institution outside the U.S., you must have your transcripts verified by an academic credential verification service, such as WES. If your primary language is not English, you are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS language exam and participate in a video interview with us. Upon acceptance into the MPP program, international students will also have to submit a Financial Guarantee Form and a Confirmation of Lawful Presence Form. For additional information, please visit this page. 

The cost is determined on a per-class basis. Rates per class for AY23-24 are $3,570 for Virginia residents and $6,687 for out-of-state residents. The University additionally charges a Special Session comprehensive fee of $260 (VA) or $320 (non-VA) for students who take one class per semester. Students who take more than one class per semester are charged a flat $3,484 (VA) or $4,166 (non-VA) in comprehensive fees. UVA employees who are eligible to receive education benefits may use the full $5,270 to cover up to two classes per calendar year (or one class for $3,570 of their education benefit). No federal financial aid is available for this program. UVA student-athletes on full scholarship may be eligible to use athletics aid to cover tuition and associated fees of this program. UVA employees eligible for education benefits can apply for reimbursement to cover tuition and associated fees of this program through the university's HR.

Yes, students may be enrolled in more than one certificate program at a time.

Students in the graduate certificate program paying the full comprehensive fee have access to all University resources as a traditional student. This includes the access to Student Health and Wellness, University Recreation facilities, University transit, and Athletics. Students paying the special session comprehensive fee (1 class per semester) have access to the University Recreation facilities and University transit. 

Students must complete 12 unique credits for each certificate. If you are interested in pursuing multiple certificates and have been admitted to one or more certificate program(s), please make an appointment with our advising team to help you plan a schedule that meets your interests and needs.

All applications are reviewed holistically, and there is no single factor that will determine an offer of admission. There are no GPA cut-offs or minimum requirements (outside of undergraduate course prerequisites), and no club or activity that you must join. Among the many factors we consider are: overall academic performance including in quantitative coursework; work experience and community engagement; writing skill; leadership experience and potential; and the motivation behind your decision to apply to the Batten School or policy vision. We look for this information in your essay responses, resume, academic transcript and recommendations. In the end, we are looking for individuals not simply to join our programs for two years, but to be part of a lifelong community that will lead positive change in the policy world. We want to get to know you through your application, so make sure your voice and passion shine through.

The Social Entrepreneurship minor is a pan-university program that accepts all interested applicants. Anyone who wants to learn to be a changemaker, regardless of what profession they go into, should have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge for creating positive, entrepreneurial social impact.

All applications open in the fall. UVA students typically apply to the BA and Public Policy & Leadership minor during the spring of their second year, or the Accelerated MPP during the spring of their third year.  There are three rounds of consideration for the Postgraduate MPP, one occurring in the fall/early winter and two occurring in the spring. Students can apply for the Social Entrepreneurship minor in their second or third year after enrolling in or completing ENTP 1010: Startup. Specific program admissions deadlines are found on this page.

While we don’t have a preference regarding length or format, please curate your resume to focus on the experiences, skills, and strengths that best reflect your readiness to join your program of interest. 

We encourage current UVA students to utilize the UVA Career Center as they craft their resume. Students can review their resume during an appointment or drop-ins or through the online V-Mock tool and resume samples.

If you have declared a major at UVA, your major GPA will appear in your academic requirements report. If you have not yet declared a major, your major will be “undeclared” and your cumulative GPA will be your major GPA

Your recommendations can come from a variety of sources, from professors and TAs; to advisors or mentors; to work, internship, or volunteer supervisors. Use your recommenders to highlight your strengths both inside and outside the classroom. To the extent possible, recommenders should directly address your academic abilities, your interest in public policy, and your leadership capacity today. Do not ask for an academic reference from high school. If you are asking for someone from your high school or pre-collegiate experience to highlight another dimension of your candidacy, be sure to balance that with someone who can speak about you in the here and now.   

No! As soon as the recommender’s information is entered and saved in the system, they will receive an email with a link. We recommend putting contact information into the recommendation section of the application as soon as you start your application to allow your recommenders plenty of time.  

Yes! Recommenders have an additional week to submit recommendations. Additionally, once your application is submitted, you can send reminder emails from your application portal.

To prevent any delay in the review of your application, please have all supporting documents—including unofficial transcripts—submitted by the application deadline. Recommendations can be submitted up to a week after the application deadline and still be considered.  

Before you submit your application, make sure you have filled out all required information within the main application. If you are still having issues contact batten_apphelp@virginia.edu. 

You can log in to your application and track its status at any time. Each academic program has a different notification date, and admissions decisions will be released by email as well as reflected in the application portal.

Applications to the Entrepreneurship minor are handled collaboratively across multiple schools of enrollment, and the application is hosted by the McIntire School. Students choosing the social entrepreneurship track will have their applications reviewed and accepted by Batten. More information and a link to the application can be found at entrepreneurship.virginia.edu.

We make initial offers with the intent of filling our classes. We maintain an unranked waitlist in the event space becomes available in the class due to a candidate turning down our offer or an accepted student’s plans changing. Offers to students on the waitlist can extend until the end of summer, but most empty seats will be filled by the end of June.  Each year, the number of students placed on the waitlist and seats filled by waitlisted candidates varies. Once the class is finalized, whether by students who initially accepted our offer or those admitted from the waitlist, we will notify candidates that there is unlikely to be further movement off the waitlist.    

We do not re-evaluate applications or consider new material as part of the waitlist process. Rest assured, you have done everything you can to submit a competitive application! Batten is small by design to enhance the academic experience and offer a high level of individualized support to Batten students, which means—unfortunately—each year we turn away talented, passionate, and engaged individuals who would undoubtedly succeed in our programs. When you receive your waitlist decision, you will have the option to decline it or signal your continued interest in joining the Batten School. No additional action is necessary on your part.   

We recommend you use Google Chrome with your application. Occasionally, other browsers, like Safari, fail to properly save the information you input. This can cause issues like failing to notify your recommenders that you’ve submitted a letter request. If you are still having issues with your application after using Google Chrome, please contact Estrella Burks-Parra  

If you are having trouble with your application portal please contact batten_apphelp@virginia.edu and include a screenshot of your issue,