Part-Time MBA - Admissions FAQ

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Prospective applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (conferred prior to matriculation). While there is no work experience requirement for the Part-Time MBA format, it is expected that students will have at least two years of professional work experience prior to matriculation.

The Darden School of Business does not admit students who have already completed an MBA from an AACSB accredited institution. To find out if a school is accredited by the AACSB, please refer to the AACSB website.

DO I NEED TO BE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME?

Part-Time MBA students are expected to be employed during their course of study. The program has been designed for students who wish to pursue their MBA while continuing to advance their career. It's flexibility accommodates the schedules of working professionals because the program consists of weeknight classes delivered both in-person at UVA Darden DC metro and virtually. It is expected that Part-Time MBA students will be based in the Washington, D.C. area or the nearby vicinity. 

WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS? 

The application requirements for the Part-Time MBA program are as follows:

• Application (including short answer responses)
• Standardized test score (optional)
• Resume
• Transcripts (for all degree-related coursework; unofficial transcripts accepted in application process)
• One recommendation (up to two recommendations accepted)
• Application fee (application fee waivers available)
• Interview (by invitation only)

IS A STANDARDIZED TEST REQUIRED? 

A standardized test score is not required in our Part-Time MBA application process.

Applicants may provide a test score as a way of strengthening their application. We accept a number of standardized tests: Executive Assessment, GMAT Focus, GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT. We view these tests equivalently. We will also accept older or expired scores for any of these tests, but candidates who wish to submit an expired score will need to have access to their full score breakdown.

Applicants planning to submit a test score with their application do not need to have taken the test by their target deadline. As long as we receive the test scores at least two days prior to the decision release date for the round in question, we can keep an applicant on schedule for an on-time decision release. 

MAY I APPLY TO MORE THAN ONE FORMAT? 

No. Applicants may apply to only one Darden MBA format at a time, and simultaneous applications are not accepted. You must select a deadline for your preferred format, aligned with your goals. For guidance, schedule a conversation with Admissions. 

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE?

The program begins with a cohort-based, core curriculum, followed by an elective period. The core curricular period begins and ends with a week-long leadership residency in Charlottesville, and during this period, students have the opportunity to build deep and meaningful relationships with classmates while taking the same core courses as students in Darden’s Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA programs.

During the elective period, students will have the option of speeding up or slowing down their course of study according to their plans and goals, and we expect that students will be able to complete the program in anywhere from 28 to 48 months. The standard pacing for the program will likely be 33 months. As a sample, view the Class of 2027 calendar here.

HOW MANY CREDITS IS THE PART-TIME MBA PROGRAM?

As with other formats of the Darden MBA, the Part-Time MBA program is 60 credits.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE?

While the base location for the Part-Time MBA program is UVA Darden DC Metro in Arlington, Virginia, all Part-Time MBA students will participate in two week-long residencies in Charlottesville. The first residency – Residency 1 (R1) – will take place at the beginning of the program, and the second residency – Residency 2 (R2) – will occur about 20 months into the program, after the conclusion of the cohort-based core curricular period.  

AS A PART-TIME STUDENT, WHAT DEGREE WILL I RECEIVE AT GRADUATION?

All MBA candidates at Darden graduate with the same Darden MBA degree.

WHAT ARE FOCUS AREAS?

All Darden MBA students may earn any existing specialization, concentration or focus area provided the student meets the requirements of the offering. Focus areas and concentrations are not noted on a student’s transcript, but students do receive documentation from the Registrar when they have satisfied the requirements for a particular offering and students may list the focus area or concentration on their resume.

Explore more on the Electives page.

WHO TEACHES IN THE PART-TIME MBA PROGRAM? 

All core classes in the Part-Time MBA program will be taught by full-time Darden faculty. Electives will be taught by a broader set of instructors, including Darden faculty, alumni, professors of practice and adjunct faculty. This is in accordance with the other formats of the Darden MBA.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL STUDY?

Yes! Part-Time MBA students have the opportunity to participate in a global elective during the fall of their second year. 

WILL THERE BE CAREER SUPPORT?

Yes, the Darden Career Center will provide career support to Part-Time MBA students. Students will have access to virtual and face-to-face workshops, one-on-one coaching with a dedicated career services team and both virtual and in-person networking events. In addition, all students participate in a required course, the "Professional Advancement Course" (PAC), offered during the core curricular period.

What career resources will be available to Part-Time MBA students? 

Career support for Part-Time MBA students will begin prior to matriculation, and the Career team is prepared to support students with a wide range of career goals, including switching function or industry, climbing within their current organization, launching their own venture, or simply investigating multiple paths.

In the summer before the start of the program, students will gain access to the professional degree career portal that will help them begin to explore career possibilities and provide them with immediate resources and tools. In addition, during the fall of their first year, students will have the opportunity to participate in a Career Kick-Off meeting, a one-on-one meeting with a career coach.

This exploration will continue throughout the first year of the program with career discovery panel discussions, networking opportunities with Darden alumni and company visits, as well as skills-oriented workshops.

During J-term, a short, 10-day term between the fall and spring semester, students will participate in the Professional Advancement Course (PAC), a required, credit-bearing course in which students will begin to chart a roadmap for their career. 

Students will also have access to recruiting opportunities, including thousands of job postings from over 150 corporate partners. 

Can Part-Time MBA students participate in internships? 

The Part-Time MBA program is designed for working professionals, and we expect students to be fully employed during their course of study. As a result, students seeking to do an internship (specifically those considering moving into the investment banking industry) should consider Darden's Full-Time MBA program.

Can Part-Time MBA students participate in recruiting? 

Yes. Part-Time MBA students can participate in Darden facilitated recruiting for full-time MBA job opportunities. Depending upon career stage and interest, this path may not be the right fit for all Part-Time MBA students, and the Career team can help students determine if recruiting is a potentially viable channel. 

As most students will be recruiting for full-time positions for which firms will expect the student will have completed their MBA prior to beginning the role, the recruiting process for Part-Time MBA will typically not begin in earnest until the student enters the fall of their final year of study.

As a Part-Time MBA student will I have access to the full Darden network? 

Yes. All Darden students, regardless of format, have access to the same, powerful network of over 20,000 Darden alumni in 90+ countries. The Washington, D.C. metro is the largest base of Darden alumni and is also home to the largest alumni chapter for the University of Virginia.

In addition, all Darden alumni have access to complimentary career services for life through the Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services.

HOW MUCH WILL THE PROGRAM COST?

Please visit the Part-Time MBA Tuition, Fees, and Billing Information page on our website to stay up to date on tuition and fees.

If you will be using student loans to finance any portion of the costs, please refer to the Cost of Attendance budget for information on expenses that can be covered with financial aid.

WILL THERE BE AN IN-STATE TUITION RATE? 

There is no in-state tuition rate for the Part-Time MBA. All students pay the same tuition rate regardless of domicile. 

WILL SCHOLARSHIPS BE AVAILABLE FOR PART-TIME MBA STUDENTS? 

Yes. All admitted students will be evaluated for a scholarship award. No additional documents are required for scholarship consideration. 

These competitive awards are based upon a variety of metrics and considerations, including but not limited to indicators of academic merit such as undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA, advanced degree, professional certification(s) and standardized test scores. Admitted students are typically notified of the outcome of the scholarship review process when they receive their admissions decision.

For the Part-Time MBA, scholarship award values typically range from $6,000 to $45,000 total for the program. The average scholarship award is typically around $15,000 to $18,000.

HOW WILL THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING BE APPLIED?

Scholarship awards will be applied on a per-credit basis over the duration of the program. At Darden, billing periods generally track the semester schedule, with a bill due typically prior to the start of the program and every four months thereafter until program completion.

ARE PART-TIME MBA STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR EDUCATIONAL LOANS?

Financial aid is available to students in the Part-Time MBA program in the form of federal and private loan programs. These loans are not "need-based." Therefore, students with an acceptable credit rating will be eligible. 

U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens may access direct loans through the U.S. federal student aid program. Students may also seek private loans.

Pursuant to UVA guidelines, in most semesters, students will need to be enrolled at least six credit hours of coursework per semester to maintain educational loan eligibility.

WHAT IS THE COMPANY SUPPORT LETTER?

The company support letter is NOT an admissions requirement. It is a pre-matriculation requirement. Your support letter can be submitted at any time by email, and it will be added to your file.

At minimum, the letter should:

• Indicate that your company is aware of your interest in applying to the program.
• Acknowledge the time commitment required to attend the required residencies.
• If applicable, indicate the level of financial support your employer will provide.

This letter must be submitted on company letterhead with an original signature from your supervisor. The letter may also speak to the company’s belief in your strength as a high potential manager. The letter may be scanned and submitted as a PDF. View a sample company support letter.

If you are self-employed, please submit a letter acknowledging the schedule requirements of Darden's Part-Time MBA format, noting that you have the time and resources necessary to complete the program.

ARE EMPLOYERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM?

No. While we encourage employers to make a financial contribution, allowing students to participate is the only investment on their part that we require.

CAN SPONSORS TALK WITH SOMEONE DURING THE ADMISSION PROCESS?

Yes. Contact ptmba@virginia.edu and we will put you in touch with someone who can speak about sponsorship.