Business / MBA School in Virginia

The Darden School of Business, Charlottesville:
The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, is ranked among the world’s best business schools. Our full-time, two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is noted for its top notch faculty, case study method and commitment to ethics and honor. We also offer a 21-month MBA for Executives degree program as well as a range of Executive Education programs.

At Darden, there is a shared expectation and understanding among all members of the community to be engaged and engage others—a distinction that sets Darden apart from other business schools. We invite you to learn more about the Darden Distinction along four dimensions:

- Perspective
The #1 ranked Darden faculty use the case method, which focuses on class participation, to draw out the different perspectives of each individual student. While it requires intense commitment and teamwork, this process also broadens students’ understanding of global business issues and builds strategic communication skills like no other method of learning can.

- Involvement
The University of Virginia’s traditions of student self-governance and the Honor Code hold true at Darden. Students, faculty, and staff are all highly involved in co-curricular clubs and activities at Darden and also in the Charlottesville community. The diverse environment outside of class complements the case method and enhances learning by practice.

- Connectivity
The Darden alumni network and Career Development Center are committed to the success of future classes in the job search. Darden partners with organizations like the Consortium and Forté as well as top companies from around the world. While students benefit from the connectivity of the School, Darden seeks students who are also eager to contribute to the process.

- Impact
Attending Darden is ultimately about leadership: making an impact on society by building on experience and potential. Darden students and alumni have strong decision-making skills developed through the case method, a bias for action, and commitment to integrity and to each other.

Darden Mission Statement:
The mission of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business is to develop principled leaders in the world of practical affairs.

We offer a two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. Academic areas include:

- Accounting
- Global Economies and Markets
- Finance
- Leadership and Organizational Behavior
- Management Communication
- Marketing
- Operations
- Quantitative Analysis
- Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics

We also offer:

- MBA for Executives Degree Program (21 months):
Darden’s MBA for Executives students receive the same degree as the full-time students receive: an MBA from the University of Virginia. Throughout the 21-month program, we maintain Darden’s highly regarded integrated curriculum which helps executive MBA students develop a broader, ‘enterprise’ perspective, which makes you a stronger leader. Our on-grounds residencies take advantage of students coming together in a case-method classroom to discuss, challenge and arrive at decisions addressing complex global business problems.

Executive Education Programs:
Darden Executive Education programs address the current issues and significant challenges faced by managers and organizations each day.

Academic Record:
Qualifications for admission are the same for international students as they are for U.S. citizens. All application materials, including transcripts and recommendations, must be submitted online and in English. International applicants are required to hold a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree. Darden will also recognize undergraduate degrees that were earned in only three years of study.

English Language Proficiency:
Darden’s MBA Program is built upon an immersive learning experience that requires public speaking, group discussion and active class participation. To succeed, students must possess a highly developed proficiency in written and oral English. Darden will accept English testing scores from either The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Interviews:
An evaluative interview is conducted by invitation only after your application has been submitted and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Interviews play a critical role in our assessment of candidates and are required prior to acceptance into the program.

Candidates living in the United States must interview on the Darden Grounds with a member of the Admissions staff or Student Admissions Committee. Candidates living abroad are welcome to interview on the Darden Grounds, but are not expected to do so. International interviews are conducted by alumni or Admissions Committee members traveling overseas or by phone.

Darden Request for Form I-20:
While not a required part of the application, admitted international applicants are required to submit a supplemental Darden Request for Form I-20 outlining the financial resources available for their study in the United States. The Form I-20 must show that a student has the financial resources necessary for both years of study.

Financial aid & merit-based scholarships may be available for eligible international students. For further information, please contact us quickly via our Contact Page.