PhD Education Policy at University of Virginia

Programme overview

A full-time, in-person PhD in education with an education policy concentration, built on close faculty mentoring and applied research with EdPolicyWorks. It is organised around methods for causal inference, a social science discipline, the working of schools, and the policy landscape.

Faculty: School of Education and Human Development | Department: Education Leadership, Foundations & Policy | Duration: 5 years full time | Intake: Not inviting applications for Fall 2027 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Four components: strong preparation in methods permitting causal inference, grounding in a social science discipline, understanding of how schools work, and knowledge of the education policy literature, with students working on faculty research projects. Many students also pursue the MPP at the Batten School.

Career pathways

Postdoctoral fellow, university faculty or education researcher in research organisations.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

School of Education and Human Development graduate applicants (all programmes): application through the school's online system with two to three recommenders, an application fee of $65, and programme-specific materials that often include a resume or CV, goal statement and/or writing sample. Programme is not inviting applications for Fall 2027 enrollment; applicants' research interests should align with faculty.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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