Darden School of Business

About the school

The Darden School of Business, founded in 1955, pays tribute to Colgate Whitehead Darden Jr., a former Democratic congressman, governor of Virginia, and president of the University of Virginia. It was the first graduate business school in the south of the US. Darden resides within the University of Virginia, an esteemed public institution founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 and recognised as both one of the nation's top public colleges and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darden's Full-Time MBA programme ranks in the Top 10 by Bloomberg Businessweek, and it earned Top 10 spots in 11 categories according to The Princeton Review in 2021, surpassing other business schools. Fernando Merce (CEO/president of Melissa & Doug), Lynnette Crowder (chief human resources officer at Mill Rock Packaging Partners), and Carl Peoples (managing director at Goldman Sachs) are some of the notable alumni of the School. Darden School of Business has campuses in Washington, DC, and Charlottesville, Virginia, and a branch office in Shanghai, China.

Where is the school located?

Life at the Darden School of Business

The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia aims to create accountable individuals to alter society through exceptional learning opportunities. By putting students' purposes into motion with degree and non-degree programmes taught by the top professors in the world and supported by their research and ideas, they lay the groundwork for an entire life of career progress and influence. The University provides various on-campus living options for students. Apartments with 1-3 bedrooms are available in graduate housing, both furnished and unfurnished. Students can fill out an application form to apply for housing, and they can visit UVAHousing for further information. For off-campus accommodations, students may refer to [Off-Ground Housing (https://offgroundshousing.student.virginia.edu/) where the University has listed the potential rentals and properties. Students can access a wide range of dining options, including dining rooms, food courts, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. Students may select lunch options that suit their preferences and pay with Flex Dollars or Meal Swipe. The University offers University Transit Services (UTS), a fare-free transportation option that serves the students with safe, dependable, fast, and friendly transit service. The Department of Parking and Transportation provides parking permits for students throughout the university grounds.

Additional benefits of studying at the Darden School of Business

The Darden School of Business has established a global network of partner businesses and partner organisations over the last 60 years. They collaborate with organisations such as the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, Intel Corporation, Unilever, and the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies. These partnerships provide Darden students with the opportunity to learn about and work on real-world business challenges, which can help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers. To promote academic collaboration, faculty participation and research, exchange opportunities, and other activities, Darden partners with other leading business schools worldwide. The Darden Center for Global Initiatives (DCGI) creates and administers International Partner Programs (IPPs), a 1-2 week theme-based programme involving courses taught by Darden professors. IPPs attract students from affiliated institutions and educational leaders from all over the world to Darden.

Admissions criteria

International students are generally required to provide the following information. Please be aware that, depending on the programme chosen, specifications can change.

• An educational qualification comparable to a 4-year American bachelor's degree
• The personal information form
• Statement of purpose
• A letter of recommendation in English
• Undergraduate transcripts, translated in English
• A graduate admissions test result (GMAT, GRE, LSAT)
• Proof of proficiency in English is required if candidates earned their bachelor's degree from a university where English wasn't the primary language of teaching
• Resume/CV
• Minimum scores required:
• GMAT: 700+
• GRE: 300+
• TOEFL: 106+
• IELTS: 6+

Note: Students can visit Admission guidelines for detailed information regarding international admissions.

• Other expected expenses that are inconsistent throughout school admissions information online:

• Health service/health insurance: USD 3,600 (approx)

• Cost of books and course materials: USD 1,400 (approx)

• Housing: USD 7,000 to USD 12,500 (approx)

• Food expenses: USD 6,000 (approx)

• Transportation: USD 1,800 (approx) Please consult the school's necessary admissions and financial aid website for detailed information or any updates to this information.

Job placements

Within 3 months of graduation, 97% of students at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia received job offers. Darden also offers a career centre where students can receive personalised career searches, assistance, and resources to help them achieve their career goals. - Darden is dedicated to the best-in-class resources required to transform personal goals into professional encouragement, thanks to the Career Center's one-on-one professional career coaching, career administration skill development, and superior work assistance. - Students can access the online, self-paced Career Development WhyFinding (CDWhy) course for career and recruiting preparation. Students can use various self-evaluation tools, get information about MBA career prospects, and prepare their stories, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles using CDWhy. This course prepares students for success in pre-MBA activities and internships.