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GRADUATE DIVISION

ACADEMIC POLICIES

Student Responsibilities

Admission

Standardized Examinations

Additional Requirements and Information

Classification of Students

Summer Session

Registration

Enrollment Requirements

Credit Hours

Grades

Requirements for Continued Registration

Diplomas

Degree Checks

Conferring of Degrees

Transcripts

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

TUITION, FEES, AND FINANCIAL AID

Application Procedures and Deadlines

You may apply for graduate admission by downloading an application form or by electronic application from the website listed below. Specific program information should be obtained directly from the appropriate graduate program. For a listing of graduate programs contact information, visit the website: www.hawaii.edu/graduatestudies. Communication should be addressed to the graduate chair of the appropriate graduate program.

For further information on general graduate admissions, write or e-mail the Graduate Division Admissions Office at info@grad.hawaii.edu. Architecture, medicine and law are not part of the Graduate Division. Applicants should apply directly to the School of Architecture (see the “School of Architecture” section), John A. Burns School of Medicine (see the “John A. Burns School of Medicine” section) or to the William S. Richardson School of Law (see the “William S. Richardson School of Law” section).

Application Requirements

Students applying for admission to graduate programs must submit the following:

To the Graduate Division

  1. Application form and $50.00 fee—no fee waivers;
  2. One official transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Division or received in a sealed institutional envelope. Transcripts are NOT required for course work completed at any of the UH campuses. The Graduate Admissions Office will obtain UH transcripts on behalf of applicants;
  3. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS Academic Modules Test score report, if required (for international applicants, as well as some immigrant and U.S. applicants); and
  4. Verification of financial status (for international applicants).

If more than 25 percent of a student’s undergraduate course work at a U.S. institution has been graded under a nontraditional grading system (i.e., pass/fail, credit/no credit, S/U, etc.), then:

  1. Transcripts must be accompanied by official course performance reports, i.e., faculty evaluations (one copy each of transcripts and performance reports);
  2. Transcripts from nontraditional grading systems must include course descriptions and grade conversion information; and
  3. The applicant must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and have the results forwarded to the Graduate Division. [Applicants to the Shidler College of Business and the School of Accountancy should take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) in place of the GRE. Applicants to the School of Travel Industry Management may take the GMAT instead of the GRE.]
To the Graduate Program
  1. Letters of recommendation if required by the graduate program;
  2. One official transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, sent directly to the graduate program by the institution, if required by the graduate program;
  3. Standardized test scores (excluding TOEFL and IELTS) such as GRE, GMAT, if required by the graduate program;
  4. Special application forms, statement of objectives and long-range goals if required by the graduate program; and
  5. Samples of work (slides, manuscripts, portfolio, or tapes), résumés, and writing samples if required by the graduate program.
For details, refer to the specific graduate program brochure and application instructions. Materials submitted in support of an application are not released for other purposes and cannot be returned to the applicant. Failure to fill out the application completely according to instructions may result in delays and file closure.

Application Deadlines

Please refer to the Graduate Division Admissions application form or specific graduate program brochure for specific application deadlines. Each graduate program may have different deadlines and some programs do not have spring admissions.

In many cases, admission offers include financial support, such as assistantships, scholarships, fellowships and tuition waivers. Frequently, this support is awarded early to highly qualified applicants. Applications are processed by the Graduate Division as early as October 1 for the fall semester and May 1 for the spring semester. It is recommended that a completed graduate admissions application be submitted as early as possible.

International Applicants

International applicants must submit official academic records in the original language accompanied by certified English translations. These translations must bear either the embossed seal or inked stamp of the issuing institution or governmental agency or the original signature of the translator, and they must be complete and exact word-for-word translations of the original documents.

The following lists the minimum academic qualifications expected of international applicants from the following selected countries or areas for admissions consideration. These qualifications must be completed prior to enrollment. Not all regions and countries are represented and admission eligibility is determined upon review of all required application materials.

  • Australia, Canada, South Africa: Bachelor’s degree requiring at least four years of study or an honours bachelor degree.
  • Baltic and East European States, former Soviet Republics: Diplom, Inzenyr, Magister, Oklevél: diploma requiring four to five years of post-secondary study.
  • Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan: Completed master’s degree at the time of application or a four-five year bachelor’s degree such as the B. Engineering, B. Technology, or B. Agriculture.
  • United Kingdom and British patterned systems: Honours bachelor degree.
  • France or French patterned systems: Maîtrise or title of Ingênieur; four-five year degree.
  • Germany: University Diplom, Magister Artium or Staatsexamen. The vordiplom alone is not sufficient.
  • Philippines: Bachelor’s degree from chartered higher education institutions (state universities and colleges) or CHED approved institutions and degree programs or FAAP certified level II or III accreditation status.

If admitted, international students must receive two clearances in order to register: (1) University Health Services clearance documenting adherence with health regulations; and (2) International Student Services (ISS) clearance documenting adherence to international student regulations and proof of adequate health insurance. NOTE: International applicants with a non-immigrant visa status other than student status should contact the ISS. Federal restrictions on full-time study may apply.

Concurrent Pursuit of Multiple Graduate Programs

Current UH Manoa graduate students who wish to pursue an additional graduate degree concurrently are required to obtain advance approval from their program chair and the Graduate Dean. Upon approval, a student may apply for admission to an additional program after completing one semester of study in their initial program.
Students must submit the Petition to Apply for Concurrent Degree to their current program chair for approval prior to applying for an additional graduate program. It is recommended that the petition be submitted at least two weeks prior to the program’s admission deadline. The petition is located on the Graduate Division website at www.hawaii.edu/graduate/.

Upon approval from their graduate chair, the student submits the approved petition, a new graduate admissions application and the $50.00 application fee to the Graduate Admissions Office. Approval of this petition only grants permission to apply and does not imply admission.

Approval is not required to apply to official dual degrees, joint degrees or to graduate certificate programs. Concurrent doctorates are not permitted and multiple doctoral degrees are generally not permitted. If approved each degree must be distinct, and representing a unique body of knowledge. Each dissertation must be distinct and not incorporate parts of the previous dissertation.

Concurrent Graduate Certificates

Current UH Manoa graduate students who wish to pursue an additional graduate certificate concurrently are required to apply directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Concurrent Graduate Certificate Program application can be downloaded from the Graduate Division website at www.hawaii.edu/graduate/. The application and $50.00 application fee must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office, 2540 Maile Way, Spalding 354, Honolulu, HI 96822.

English Language Institute

International and immigrant students admitted to the UH whose native language is not English may be referred to the English Language Institute to determine if they must take the ELI placement examinations. If a student does not fulfill this obligation, ELI will place a hold on the student’s registration. Please refer to the “English as a Second Language” section within the Colleges of Arts and Sciences for additional information.