Admissions and
Application Requirements

The online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership offered by the UNC School of Education is designed to equip you with the leadership tools and strategies to help people within your organization succeed. Successful applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0, have at least three years of managerial or leadership experience, demonstrate a genuine interest in leadership and a passion for empowering others, and want to improve business for the greater good.

See below for more information on the application process and requirements.

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Application Deadlines

Admissions Criteria

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines

The online Ed.D. concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership offers three start dates per year (January, May, and August).

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you can receive an admissions decision and begin planning your future. If you apply by the priority deadline, you are eligible to have your application fee waived.

Program Start DateEarly Priority DeadlinePriority DeadlineFinal Deadline
April 28, 2025
January 14, 2025
February 11, 2025
March 4, 2025
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Application Deadlines

Admissions Criteria

Application Requirements

Admissions Criteria

To be eligible for admission into the online Ed.D. concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

You will also need an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and three years of managerial or leadership experience. For applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0, an explanation will need to be provided.

For applicants with less than three years of leadership and managerial experience, we know leadership can take many forms. Most importantly, we aim for our students to have professional experiences that they can connect with what they are learning in the classroom, accelerating their leadership practice and making their learning experience more meaningful and actionable.

Jump to:

Application Deadlines

Admissions Criteria

Application Requirements

Application Requirements

The UNC School of Education reviews applications holistically. No GRE or GMAT scores are required to apply. You will need to submit the following materials to be considered for admission:

Online Application

Complete the online applicationExternal link:. The application fee is $95. You may qualify for an application fee waiver.

Transcripts

Submit unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions you have attended. If you do not have unofficial transcripts, you will need to request copies be sent directly to you from the school(s). You can then upload them to your application or email them to eduappsvcs@online.unc.edu.

Official transcripts are not required to render an admissions decision, but we will need to receive them before you can register for your second term of the program. (Official transcripts must be sent separately. You may upload official copies in the online application, but they will be considered unofficial.)

For military applicants, military transcripts are required, including JST (Joint Service Transcript) or ACE.

If your study abroad credits and grades are included on the home institution transcript, then an additional transcript is not required. If your study abroad credits and grades are listed as transfer credits, then an official transcript from the study abroad institution is required.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

Submit your current resume or CV, and be sure to structure it to include a summary, education background, work experience, and relevant accomplishments and skills. Please limit your resume to 2–3 pages. The resume or CV should also explain any gaps in work experience.

Statement of Purpose

The Ed.D. concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership at UNC aims to provide experienced professionals with the knowledge and skills to transform organizations. Submit an essay of 750 words or less that explains the following:

  • How have your experiences prepared you to lead for organizational learning and excellence?
  • What role does earning this degree play in your professional goals?
  • Provide an example of a complex and/or pervasive problem within the organization in which you work, or another organization’s practice, that you could utilize the resources and curriculum available in this program to investigate further.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. It’s recommended to include one from a person who can speak to your academic background, and one from a person who knows your professional work and background. Ask your references to speak to your leadership experience and potential, and ask them to provide specific examples in their letters, especially of experiences or activities in which they have observed your leadership. Letters of recommendation are submitted through the online application process.

Considerations for International Applicants

Transcript Evaluations

International applicants with degrees from institutions outside the United States are required to submit a copy of their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES)External link: or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)External link:. An unofficial copy of the WES or ECE evaluation is required for the application process. An official copy of the WES or ECE evaluation may be required if you are admitted into the program. The UNC School of Education institution code is 5816.

TOEFL or IELTS Test Scores

International applicants must submit official TOEFL scores (reported directly from ETS.org) or IELTS scores (reported directly from IELTS.org). We accept no other English language tests. While self-reported scores are useful for informal evaluation, the official report of your scores must arrive before final application review. 

The required minimum total score for each exam is:

TOEFL: 90

IELTS: 7

Standardized test scores must be official and are reportable for a period of two years from the date of the exam. TOEFL or IELTS exam results more than two years old will not be considered. Standardized test scores that are submitted to the institution are kept on file for one year after the term for which you are applying.

Exceptions to the English standardized exams are available for the following applicant categories:

  • Applicants from countries where English is the sole official language of instruction (i.e., Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Canada, excluding Québec; England; Ghana; Ireland; India; Jamaica; Kenya; New Zealand; Nigeria; Scotland; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Uganda; and Wales).
  • Applicants who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university in the United States. (Within the online application, you must upload an unofficial transcript showing the degree awarded or in progress, or a letter from the registrar or dean verifying your degree candidate status from that institution. If you are offered admission, the official transcript must be received, or English exam scores will be required for enrollment.)
  • Applicants who have received or will receive a degree from an accredited university where English is the sole language of instruction. (If you are a degree candidate, you must submit an official verification from the university that English is the sole language of instruction, along with your anticipated date of graduation. If you don’t submit the degree or official verification, English exam scores will be required.)

Learn More About the Program

Request information to learn more about the Ed.D. concentration in Organizational Learning and Leadership — or start your application today.

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