Darden Ph.D. Application Process

Application Process

1. Application Deadline/Timeline and Degree Prerequisites

The Application for Darden’s PhD Program in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences will open in early September.  The deadline for applications will be 15 December 2025. Decisions will be released in early March 2026.  We will not be accepting applications for our concentration in Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship until Fall of 2026.  

An MBA or Master’s degree is not required to apply but preferred.

 

2. Review our Application

We encourage you to review our application. During this first pass, don’t worry about completing anything--just gather information and think about a timeline that will help you plan and strategize working through the application. 

As you craft your application, consider how each constituent element of your application contributes to this overall narrative. Approach the application process as a storytelling exercise--this is an initial introduction to you, and we look forward to learning more about you. Prioritize examples that demonstrate the authentic person behind the application. 

Data Analytics & Decision Sciences – If you are interested in this area, students are expected to be strong in several areas of fundamental theory (e.g., real analysis, probability theory, micro-economics, game theory, decision theory, optimization) as well as methods (e.g., statistics, econometrics, experimental design, coding).

3. Acquire your Transcript

Unofficial transcripts are fine for the purposes of our application process, and we require transcripts for all degree-related coursework. An unofficial transcript is a transcript issued directly to you. It could be in the form of a PDF download or a document you scan and upload to your application. An official transcript is a transcript issued directly from the institution in question to our office. You will be asked to upload a transcript for each institution you enter in the Education History section of your application.

If you completed your education at a non-English-speaking institution, you will need to make arrangements to have your academic records translated and sent to our office with the official transcript. All translations must be complete and literal versions of the original records.

If you matriculate at Darden, we will require you to submit official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions prior to the start of school. But for now, unofficial copies are just fine.

4. Take a Standardized Test

We require one of two standardized tests, the GMAT or GRE, and we view these tests equivalently. We recommend choosing the test that best aligns with your strengths and your application plans.

Self-reported scores are fine for the purposes of our application process. We do not require official test scores in order to process your application and get it to the committee for review, however, if offered admission, you will need to send official test scores from GMAC, ETS, or Pearson Vue to the Darden Admissions office. If you choose to send official documents in lieu of self-reporting on the online application, they must arrive in our office by the application deadline.

 

5. English Language Proficiency

To succeed in the Darden environment, students must possess a highly developed proficiency in written and oral English. Darden accepts English testing scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or the Duolingo English Test (DET).

Use the following guidelines to determine whether or not you need to take one of these exams:

• Not Required: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was English are not required to take an English language assessment test.
   
• Required: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was not English are required to take an English language assessment test.
   
• Strongly Recommended: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was not English, but received a master's or Ph.D. from a university where the medium of instruction was English, are strongly encouraged to take an English language assessment test.

Darden does not have a minimum score requirement, but the average TOEFL is 106. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.

Candidates who are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or DET must have received at least their unofficial scores prior to submitting their application. Both overall and component test scores must be reported on the application form. All applicants must request that ETS (for the TOEFL), IELTS, Pearson and/or DET send official copies of their scores to Darden. 

Darden's code for TOEFL is 5820 Dept. 02 and the code for IELTS is 5099.

There is not a school code for the DET. To submit your score for the DET, login to your DET dashboard and search for "UVA Darden." Here are step-by-step instructions.

6. Upload Your Resume

As a rough guide, we recommend one resume page for every 10 years of work experience. If you’ve reviewed our application, you know there is an Employment History section, and, in this section, you will provide basic details about your various roles and responsibilities.

Submit a CV/Resume that lists your educational background and any relevant work you have done to prepare you for a doctoral program. Any awards, publications, teaching experience, or other similar items relevant to your candidacy as a doctoral student should be included.

7. Identify Your Recommenders

The recommendation is an opportunity for us to hear from someone other than you regarding your candidacy. The recommendation is the one part of your application you will not fill out yourself. Recommendations are typically the slowest part of the application process, so identify your recommenders well in advance of the deadline.

Identifying Your Recommenders:

We require two letters of recommendation and candidates may include a third letter if they wish to do so. We strongly recommend you choose faculty members to write letters on your behalf and that they be able to speak to your demonstrated academic abilities as well as your potential to become an academic researcher who can contribute to the literature of their chosen field at the highest level. We also encourage letter writers to speak to other qualities you possess that give them confidence that you can successfully complete a doctoral program and learn to become an original thinker in your chosen field.

Our recommendation process is completely electronic, and your recommenders will fill out two pieces of information — a ratings grid in which they will evaluate you across a set of competencies and a short answer question. The short answer question is:

• Please write a letter of no more than 700 words that speaks directly to the demonstrated academic abilities of this student as well as their potential to become an academic researcher who can contribute to the literature of their chosen field at the highest level. You should also speak to other qualities the candidate possesses that give you confidence that they can successfully complete a doctoral program and learn to become an original thinker in their chosen field.

About the Recommendation Process:

Once you enter your recommender’s information and contact details, they will receive an email with a link to our recommendation materials. Occasionally, this email gets caught in spam filters and does not reach the recommender. In this situation, simply contact our Admissions team ([email protected]) and we will re-send the recommendation link to your recommender.

Our recommendation process is completely electronic, and your recommendation will automatically associate with your application once the recommendation is submitted. In other words, once you have finished your portion of the application, you may go ahead and submit your materials. However, once you have submitted your application, you will be unable to edit your application or enter additional recommender information.  

We find that most recommenders are deadline-oriented, so be sure to stay in touch to make sure they know your application timing. You will receive an email notification once your recommender submits their recommendation. You will also notice a green check mark next to their name and information on your Application Status page (a red “X” will display if the recommendation is still pending). 

8. Respond to Our Essay Question

For the 2025-2026 application cycle, we present a single essay question that offers a more extensive platform to demonstrate your aspirations to become an academic. This question allows you to showcase your interests, experiences, and passions, as well as the qualities that make you believe you have the potential to pursue this career, such as perseverance, diligence, and passion.

Essay question: Please describe why you wish to join the Darden Doctoral Program and why you believe you would be a successful candidate who can not only complete the program, but contribute to the learning of your peers and the academic environment of the school. Please also provide indications of why you believe you will develop as a scholar who can make original contributions to the cutting edge of research in your chosen field. (700 words maximum)

9. Pay the Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $100 is required to process your application. However, we do offer fee waivers in select circumstances.

The following are eligible for application fee waivers:

• UVA alumni and current UVA graduate students 
   
• Any alumni from any college/university in the commonwealth of Virginia (any degree program) 
   
• First Generation college students
   
• U.S. Military Veterans/Active Duty Service members

If you qualify for a waiver, your application fee waiver will be applied automatically and you will receive an email confirmation for any fee waiver applied. If you have further questions, please email us at [email protected].

10. Additional Comments

Once you’ve finished your application, take a moment to think about your materials holistically. The Additional Comments section is not an additional essay, just a place to connect the dots.

Our advice is to be brief, make your point and provide action items if appropriate. Anything you choose to share should be valuable to both you and potentially our Admissions Committee.