Ph.D. in Education - Education Policy

Program Details

• Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

  The GRE is not required for applicants applying to begin in 2022.  Due to test center closures related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic applicants may apply without submitting GRE scores.

  ENSURING FIT: Our Education Policy program seeks students whose research interests are well-aligned with one or more of our faculty members. We strongly suggest applicants review faculty member's profiles, to learn more about faculty members’ areas of expertise and current research projects.  When submitting their application materials and personal statements, applicants are encouraged to specifically highlight why they believe the Education Policy program at UVA may be a good fit for them, and explicitly discuss faculty members with whom they would be interested in collaborating. Prospective students are welcome to reach out to individual faculty members via email to ask questions about the program, research interests, etc. 

  APPLICATION FORMS: Application for admission is made to the Admissions Office of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the School of Education and Human Development's Admissions Team and the University of Virginia prospective student information.  For the dual degree program (Ph.D. in Educational Policy & Master's of Public Policy), separate application should be made to the M.P.P. at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.  (Alumni of our Summer Undergraduate Research Program receive a fee waiver when applying to the School of Education and Human Development graduate programs; please contact us for details.)

  REQUIRED MATERIALS include the online application (which includes the statement of professional goals), current, unofficial test scores (official scores are required after acceptance of admission, unofficial transcripts (official transcripts are required after acceptance of admission), and two recommendations. Please also submit a resume.  When submitting a statement of professional goals, identify your specific interests in education policy, your rationale for applying to this program, and your long term goals. 

  ADMISSIONS: 

  • Applicants should demonstrate a background and interest in quantitative approaches to educational policy, as evidenced, for example, by appropriate social science undergraduate or master’s degrees or prior work experience. 
  • A master’s degree is not a prerequisite for admission.
  • In addition to the Ph.D., the School of Education and Human Development offers a dual Ph.D. and Master's of Public Policy in conjunction with the Frank Batten School of Public Policy.  We strongly encourage applicants to apply to the dual degree program.
  • The faculty is especially interested in considering applications from persons of traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education.
  • More information is available from the School of Education and Human Development Admissions and our Prospective Graduate Student webpage

  Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be cancelled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application.

• Application Due Date

  December 1st

  Application decisions will be released by February 15th.

  Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be cancelled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application.

• Degree Requirements
  • A set of rigorous METHODS COURSES, including at least 5 courses
  • COURSES in the following areas: (1) Foundations and Institutions in Education, (2) Social Science Tools and Approaches to Education, and (3) Educational Policy
  • An ongoing, personalized, intensive RESEARCH APPRENTICESHIP during each semester.
  • TEACHING EXPERIENCE at the undergraduate or graduate level.
  • Completion of a COMPREHENSIVE EXAM and DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS.
• Funding Opportunities

  The program faculty aims to provide financial support to all of its trainees so that they may focus their attention fully on their training experiences. A typical funding package includes (a) a minimum of $18,000 for 9 months in a combination of wages and stipends, (b) tuition and all mandatory fees, and (c) funds to cover student health insurance costs. Although the faculty cannot guarantee financial support, we work closely with students to identify means for funding that match their interests and goals. All applicants are automatically considered for funding. Possible sources include:

  1. Research Assistantships

  Applicants are automatically considered for research assistantships funded through faculty grants or the EDLF Department.  A typical package through the School of Education and Human Development provides tuition, health insurance, and a biweekly wages in return for 20 hours of weekly work.

  2. IES-VEST Fellowships

  In 2020, the School of Education and Human Development was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences to fund the Virginia Education Science Training (VEST) program to train future leaders in education research. A limited number of fellowships are available each year and application is very competitive.  All applicants to the Educational Policy PhD program are automatically considered for VEST Fellowships. 

  3. Federal Need-Based Financial Aid

  To apply for need-based financial aid, applicants should submit: 1) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to the U.S. Department of Education by February 1 and 2) University of Virginia Financial Aid Application (UFAA) form to the UVA Office of Student Financial Services by February 1. Please also see the School of Education and Human Development's Financial Aid page.

  4. Additional Sources

  Students are encouraged to apply for funding from other sources. A few options are listed below.  If you are already receiving IES-VEST or UVA support, please contact your advisor to discuss the specifics of the grant you are applying for and how that would work with your current funding.

  • Jacob K. Javits Fellowships Program (stipend of up to $30K/year)
  • American Educational Research Association Minority Fellowship Program in Education Research ($25K for dissertation research)
  • Spencer Foundation Fellowships ($25K for dissertation research)
  • School of Education and Human Development Foundation Scholarships (ranging from a few hundred dollars to 10K)

  5. Optional Monthly Payment Plan

  If you will be paying for your tuition or part of your tuition yourself, please see information about billing and setting up monthly tuition payments on the Student Accounts website and contact Student Financial Services to discuss your payment options.

• Typical Length of Study

  5 years

  Semester of Entry:

  Fall

  Full or Part Time:

  Full-time

• Course Overview

  Batten M.P.P.-Ph.D. Program in Educational Policy Typical Program of Study*

  

  * Any deviations from these requirements must be approved by the program committee. 

  We encourage applicants to review the current iteration of our Education Policy Handbook, understanding that admitted students will receive a copy of the latest handbook with potential changes. 

• Sample Jobs After Graduation

  Graduates are prepared to take positions in academia as postdoctoral fellows or university faculty, or as education researchers in research organizations. Check out our recent Alum Placements here.