University of Virginia

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson (founding father of the US and the third US President), the University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university. It is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. UVA is known for being a ‘Public Ivy’, an institution that provides an academic experience similar to that of an Ivy League school. It has been a research-driven institution since its inception. For 118 years, UVA has been a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). The AAU is a group of 63 research-led American universities committed to maintaining quality education and research. 

The journal ‘Science’ accredited its faculty for two international scientific breakthroughs in a single year in 2015. In 2022, the UVA was ranked the fourth-best public university in the US  by the US News & World Report. UVA’s university campus is commonly known as the ‘Grounds.’ The Jeffersonian architecture of the buildings is one of the defining features of the campus. And it is often cited as a model for college and university campuses throughout the United States. 

Notable alumni from the university include 55 Rhodes scholars and 8 NASA astronauts and launch directors, such as  Karl Gordon Henize, Bill Nelson, and Thomas Marshburn, among others. Eight UVA alumni are also Pulitzer prize winners: Edward P. Jones, Ron Suskind, Virginius Dabney, Claudia Emerson, Henry Taylor, Lane DeGregory, George Rodrigue, and Michael Vitez.
Keep reading this article to learn more about this historical institution. 

Courses and Faculty

The University of Virginia is organised into 12 schools and colleges. Its School of Law and the Darden School of Business are ranked 1st by US News & World Report 2021 among Public Universities. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across multiple disciplines: from business to engineering to humanities. Some of the most sought-after majors among recent graduates are Liberal Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, Psychology, and Computer & Information Sciences, among others. 

Furthermore, the world-renowned faculty members are a dedicated and passionate group of educators committed to providing their students with the best possible educational experience. Since 2010, the faculty at UVA has been issued more than 130 patents for their research and innovative contributions. 10 faculty members have also served as members of one of the oldest academic societies in the US – the American Philosophical Society.  

UVA facilitates close interactions between students and professors in several ways, including small class sizes, mandatory advising sessions, and close faculty-student interaction outside the classroom. This creates a more intimate learning environment where students can get to know their professors on a first-name basis. If you are a University of Virginia student, you will probably address your professors as “Mr.” or “Ms.” rather than “Doctor,” staying true to Thomas Jefferson’s aim of nurturing intellectual equality.

The university was ranked #71 for best undergraduate teaching by US News and World Report 2022. UVA also boasts of unique resources such as the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, which contains over 2 million volumes, and houses one of only three 3D printing labs on a college campus globally.

Fees and Scholarships

UVA believes the accessibility and affordability of quality education should be based on a student’s academic performance, talent, and character – not on their ability to pay. Therefore, UVA meets 100% of financial needs. This means that students admitted to UVA will have their demonstrated financial needs met in full, regardless of their financial situation or ability to pay. The financial assistance is provided through scholarships, grants, work-study, and need-based loans. So even if you come from a low or middle-income family, you can still afford to attend this ‘Public Ivy.’ 

UVA is also committed to limiting the number of loans that students with financial needs may incur to pursue their education at the university. Therefore, graduates will leave school with less debt weighing them down. The estimated tuition fees for some of the degrees offered are provided in the following table. 

Course	Tuition Fees (Per Year)
B.Sc.	INR 35 L to INR 37 L ($44,157 – $46,680)
MS	INR 18 L to INR 41 L ($22,709 – $51,727)
MBA	INR 55 L ($69,390)
M.A.	INR 22 L ($27,756)
MFA	INR 22 L ($27,756)

Careers and Placements 

Whatever your field of interest may be, UVA has a wealth of resources to help you launch your career, and its alumni serve as an integral part of this system. UVA’s alumni network is one of the country’s largest, providing many networking and employment opportunities. 

According to a study by researchers at the Darden School and Stanford University, UVA alumni have founded over 65,000 companies that employ 2.3 million people worldwide and have annual global revenues of $1.6 trillion. That is an incredible impact, and it does not even include the jobs they have created in Virginia. 

Besides, UVA offers its students an extensive range of career opportunities and placement services. The Career Center provides individualized career counseling, job search assistance, and access to various resources, including online job databases and internship listings. The center also sponsors workshops and networking events throughout the year. 

Admission Requirements 

In order to be admitted as an undergraduate student at UVA, you must have completed a high school diploma and submit your academic transcripts. There is no minimum GPA requirement set by the university for admissions to any of the courses. Rather, the university considers the difficulty of the curriculum and whether the student has improved over time. 

The university also looks for students who exhibit strong leadership qualities and are committed to service. Students must mention all such details about their volunteering experiences, awards & achievements on their CV and personal statement. Students must also present SAT or ACT scores along with the application. 

The standards are even higher if you seek admission into one of UVA’s graduate programs. In addition to meeting the academic requirements set by each individual program, most graduate schools require GRE or GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement explaining your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study.  Additionally, all applicants must submit the score card of a recognised English proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS while applying to UVA in order to demonstrate competence in the language. 

So if you are looking for an institution with a proven track record of producing successful entrepreneurs, a diverse campus housing the best of minds, and providing endless opportunities along with affordable education, look no further than the University of Virginia!