Applying: Master of Public Policy

All supplemental materials (e.g. unofficial transcripts and recommendations) must be submitted by the date of the official deadline. Your application may be completed online and submitted electronically once you have answered all the required questions. You do not have to complete the online application in one sitting – you may access your application and change your answers as many times as you like. To do that, use the Username and Password that you created when you first completed the Interest Page and/or started your application.

You will be prompted to upload this document in the online application. A Word or PDF document is recommended.

1. What is the motivation behind your decision to pursue public policy and leadership? Please indicate your interest in addressing one or more policy areas or societal issues. What work, activity, or educational experiences have best equipped you for graduate studies in this field? (Please limit your answer to 500 words)​
2. One of our aims is to enhance students’ abilities to lead in a diverse and divided world. Tell us about a time you had to work across lines of difference to navigate a challenge or improve some outcome. What did you learn from the experience? How can those lessons inform your future success, especially professionally? (Please limit your answer to 250 words)
3. What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA?  Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you. ( Please limit your answer to 250 words)

Recommendations for the MPP will be submitted using a form evaluating your candidacy along a set of criteria addressing your potential for success in the program.  If your recommender has prepared a traditional letter of recommendation, they will have the option to include it.  There will be more instructions regarding letters of recommendation within the application itself. 

Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded directly to your online application. Should you gain acceptance to the MPP program, a required official transcript will be requested at that time.

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. Please direct your unofficial scores to BattenAdmissions@virginia.edu, and we will attach it to your application

There is no penalty for not submitting an application addendum! However, some applicants may have additional information that would be useful for the admissions committee to consider. Feel free to amplify the positive dimensions of your background that are not covered in other parts of this application. Similarly, you may wish to put some seemingly negative information in your application into context. Please format this application addendum as a letter to the admissions committee, not to exceed one page.

If you believe you qualify for in-state tuition, you must apply directly with UVA’s Office of Virginia Status using the following form. If you have any questions, please email vastatus@virginia.edu. Their office will be in communication with the Batten School once they have reviewed your residency application. If you do not complete this application, you will be considered a non-Virginia resident.