UVA Darden Launches Class of 2023 Executive MBA Application

Application for class beginning in August 2021 includes test flexibility and waiver options for qualified applicants

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has launched its application for admission to the Executive MBA Class of 2023. Darden’s Executive MBA program, which features the Executive MBA (EMBA) format and the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format, is based at UVA Darden DC Metro — the School’s Washington, D.C., area Grounds — and offers unmatched flexibility for working professionals.

Through a hybrid model of in-person residencies and distance learning taught by Darden’s top-ranked faculty, the executive formats of the Darden MBA enable students to earn an MBA while continuing to work, with once-a-month weekend residencies starting at noon on Fridays and concluding at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons.

Darden’s Executive MBA program covers core business fundamentals taught via the case method, and students take a total of 12 electives over the course of the program, customizing the experience to suit their personal and professional interests. Students also participate in a required career course during the program’s first quarter. This class — in combination with pre-matriculation activities like the Darden Career Center’s WhyFinding online career exploration resource, as well as one-on-one career kickoff meetings with members of the Executive MBA career team — helps students set a roadmap that will guide their career efforts throughout the program.

“Our Executive MBA program is smaller, which allows us to be nimble and continuously innovate,” said Professor Yael Grushka-Cockayne, senior associate dean for professional degree programs. “We are always listening to our students, and we actively seek their feedback as we shape the program. At Darden, students are partners in the educational experience, and this spirit is pervasive in this program.”

Although global travel has been delayed for some Executive MBA students due to the coronavirus pandemic, global residencies are key aspects of the Executive MBA program. In 2019, the School announced a significant expansion of its global offerings, with up to 12 global residency locations spanning six continents. Students in the EMBA format take a minimum of one weeklong global residency, while those opting for the GEMBA format participate in four weeklong global residencies. EMBA format students can add additional global residencies at an additional fee. For the Class of 2022, global residency locations include Argentina, Israel, Japan, Ghana, Australia, Vietnam and more.

Latest Class Includes More Than 150 Diverse Professionals

Just days before the launch of the new application, the Class of 2022 kicked off its own Darden journey.

After a very competitive application round that featured the greatest number of applications in Executive MBA history, the Class of 2022 boasts 151 students from over 20 industries and more than 100 employers.

Top industries include government and military, biotech and health care, financial services, technology, consulting, education and manufacturing. Leading employers include Capital One, Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Vanguard, AstraZeneca, S&P Global and Inova, as well as a host of U.S. government agencies and military branches.

The average age of students in the class is 34, with a work experience average of 11 years. Women comprise 30 percent of the class, and students from racial or ethnic minority groups make up nearly 20 percent. Students hail from across the United States as well as from a diverse array of countries, including the Bahamas, Turkey, India, Peru, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico and Pakistan.

Rolling Deadlines and Test Flexibility

The Executive MBA admissions process continues to offer optionality and flexibility for applicants.

Monthly deadlines begin 10 September 2020. Applicants are encouraged to apply when they feel they can put together a strong application, but there are advantages to applying earlier, when the most seats and scholarship funding are available.

Candidates have two options regarding testing: Submit a test score or submit a test waiver request.

Waiver requests will be considered along with the full application, with an update provided regarding the test waiver at the time of decision. For candidates planning to take a test, a wide variety of standardized tests are accepted — EA, GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT — and applicants can even submit older or expired test scores.

This test optionality builds upon several Executive MBA admissions innovations introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When making test plans, applicants are encouraged to think holistically about their background. Candidates who think they can present a strong case for a test waiver are welcome to submit a waiver request. Applicants who feel they may benefit from having a more recent data point demonstrating their quantitative and analytical readiness may consider taking a standardized test.

Applicants can learn more about the program via the Discover Darden blog as well The ExecMBA Podcast. Darden will also host a variety of online events over the coming months, including webinars, networking events, mock classes and more.

Prospective students are encouraged to make a personal connection by registering for a one-on-one phone conversation or a small group coffee chat. Applicants who attend a phone conversation or virtual coffee chat and an Executive MBA webinar (or other Executive MBA-related online event) will receive an Executive MBA application fee waiver, a $250 value.