Applying: Master of Public Policy REQUEST MORE INFO PROGRAM FAQS Admissions & Aid Applying to Batten Applying to Graduate Programs Applying to the Master of Public Policy Application Information The Master of Public Policy is a two-year, full-time graduate program. Students must complete 49 credits, as well as a summer internship between the first and second year. The core curriculum consists of eleven three-credit core courses: analysis, leadership, foundations and contexts, and experiential. All application materials for admission must be submitted by the corresponding deadline by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. In this moment, ethical, resilient, solutions-oriented policy leaders are needed more than ever. Batten is committed to fostering an intellectual community that is innovative, inclusive, and equitable. In this spirit, the application fee has been waived for all applicants to Batten programs. Applications for Fall 2025 entry open September 1! All applications go through the same evaluation process, independent of the date in which they are submitted. However, this is a competitive program with limited seats available, so we encourage all interested students to submit their application as early as possible. A walkthrough of the MPP application can be found here. Join the Charge Apply to MPP Program ROUND 1 Application Deadline: November 15, 2024 Decisions Released: January 3, 2025 Deposit Deadline: April 15, 2025 ROUND 2 Application Deadline: January 17, 2025 Decisions Released: February 28, 2025 Deposit Deadline: April 15, 2025 ROUND 3 Application Deadline: March 28, 2025 Round 3 decisions/deposits will be on rolling basis ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS Students with an undergraduate degree by the time of matriculation Admissions contact Jeff Chidester Executive Director of External Affairsjchidester@virginia.edu Application Materials Online Application 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. Resume or Curriculum Vitae You will be prompted to upload this document in the online application. A Word or PDF document is recommended. Three Mandatory Essays 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) 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) 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) Two Recommendations 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 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. Optional Test Scores 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 Optional Application Addendum 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. Dual Degree Applicants If you are applying for any of the five dual degrees that we offer, remember that you must apply to and gain admission to both schools separately. LEARN MORE International Applicants International applicants are required to provide additional information when applying to the Batten School. LEARN MORE