PhD Psychology at University of Virginia

Programme overview

PhD-only programme (no terminal master's) with close faculty mentorship and an early, sustained emphasis on research in active labs.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Psychology | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Students apply directly to one of seven specializations: Clinical, Cognitive, Community, Developmental, Quantitative, Social, and Systems & Behavioral Neuroscience, with advanced methodological, theoretical and laboratory work.

Career pathways

University professor, research scientist, clinical scientist, quantitative psychologist or data scientist, neuroscience researcher, program evaluator.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (all programmes): online application with a 500-1,000 word statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts of all postsecondary work, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation (programmes may require more), and an $85 non-refundable application fee. International applicants whose undergraduate degree was not earned entirely in English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores: TOEFL iBT 90 overall (22 speaking, 22 writing, 23 reading, 23 listening) for tests taken before 1/21/26, IELTS 7.0 in each section, Duolingo 130 overall; committees may still consider scores below these minimums. GRE is not required for this programme. PhD application deadline: December 1.

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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