Admissions

We welcome applicants from all undergraduate majors or programs of study who have earned their bachelor's degree prior to matriculation from a three- or four-year accredited institution.

The M.S. in Data Science program has four prerequisites for admission:  

• Calculus II (including our Calculus for Data Scientists Boot Camp)
• Introductory Statistics
• Programming
• Linear Algebra (including our Linear Algebra for Data Scientists Boot Camp)

You can still apply without having all prerequisites, but they must be completed prior to matriculation. Proof of completion will be required for any incomplete prerequisites if an applicant is admitted and accepts their offer of admission.

Review the Prerequisite Key Topics page for more information about how you may meet the prerequisites for admission.

Short Answer Questions

We ask for your responses to the following questions to learn more about you, your goals, and your preparedness for the program. We do not require letters of recommendations or long statements of purpose, and instead refer to these responses to get to know you better as an applicant. There is no "right" answer — just be yourself. 

• Required: Excellence in data science requires collaboration; students and faculty succeed by working together and relying on one another. What about your background, perspective, or life experiences will enable you to contribute to our collaborative community? (250 words or fewer)
• Required: What are the specific steps you will take to incorporate this rigorous program into your personal and professional life? (150 words or fewer)
• Required: What skills and/or knowledge do you want to gain from our program to help you achieve your professional goals? (150-250 words)
• Optional: Use this space to provide insight and/or context regarding aspects of your application not otherwise addressed in the application, including, but not limited to, aberrant grades, gaps in your academic record or resume, or other extenuating circumstances. (250 words or fewer)

Résumé

In addition to work experience, we hope your résumé will demonstrate your involvement in activities outside of school or work, including leadership, service, family responsibilities, civic engagement, coding or research projects you’re proud of, and any other accomplishments you’d like to share. You can find guidance about résumé formatting on the UVA Career Center site. 

Transcripts

All applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level institutions attended. 

All enrolling students must submit proof of degree conferral at least two weeks prior to the start of their first term in the MSDS Online program. Send official transcripts electronically to sdsadmission@virginia.edu (preferred) or by mail to:

Mailing Address  
School of Data Science Admissions  
PO Box 401109  
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Physical Address (for DHL and FedEx)  
School of Data Science Admissions  
Room 232  
1001 Emmet Street North  
Charlottesville, VA 22903

English-language Test Scores

If English was NOT the primary language of instruction at your undergraduate institution, you are required to submit your TOEFL or IELTS scores. These can be self-reported on the application, but all enrolling students must submit an official score report. Test scores are considered valid if taken within two years from the application deadline.  

TOEFL scores should be sent via ETS to institution code B875 (no department code needed). IELTS scores should be submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper test report forms will be accepted. We have minimum scores of:

• TOEFL (iBT): 100 overall (including minimum section scores of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading, and 23 in listening).
• IELTS: 7.0 overall (including minimum section scores of 6.5).

We will only waive the English Language Test Score requirement if your undergraduate degree was taught in English. We will not waive this requirement for graduate degrees taught in English or based upon your citizenship status.

All graduate applications to the School of Data Science require an application fee of $85 USD or qualifying waiver. Domestic applicants may be eligible for an application fee waiver through the University's Office of Graduate Outreach and Engagement; check your eligibility here. If you are eligible, you will have the option to request a waiver after submitting the application and BEFORE making the payment. 

We also offer select automated fee waivers; qualifying applicants will automatically have their application fee waived, with no further action or documentation required:

• Active duty and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Current undergraduate students who receive the Pell Grant
• Citizens of countries on the United Nation's LDC list

Finally, email us at SDSadmissions@virginia.edu to request a departmental fee waiver code if you:

• Are employed full-time by the University of Virginia (Academic Division or Medical Center)
• Are employed full-time by a Qualifying Public Services Employer as determined by the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Completed your associate's degree at a school within the Virginia Community College System prior to earning your bachelor's degree

We cannot grant a fee waiver after payment has been made, and fees paid are non-refundable. An application will not be considered submitted until the fee is paid or the waiver has been processed. 

I was admitted and need to delay my enrollment. Is that possible?

Students admitted to the School of Data Science’s MSDS Online program may request a deferral of their enrollment for up to one year if facing extreme hardship or mitigating circumstances. To request a deferral, students must accept their offer of admission, pay the non-refundable $500 tuition deposit (applied toward future tuition), and submit the deferral request form located in the Application Portal. Please be specific in your deferral request.  

The Admissions team will review deferrals within 72 business hours. If granted, students must accept a revised offer of admission with the new cohort start date within two weeks. Deferrals are not guaranteed and are granted at the discretion of the School of Data Science. Students admitted from the waitlist may not request a deferral. Students who are not granted a deferral may reapply to the program in the future.  

I'm an international applicant. Is this program eligible for the F-1 Visa?

No. The MSDS Online program is a fully remote, part-time program, and MSDS Online students are not eligible for an F-1 visa. Those seeking an F-1 Visa should consider the full-time, in-person MSDS Residential option.